Thus, I got a USB microphone, which Camtasia saw ok -- but on laptops (at least mine), there's an issue with power leaks that create a very annoying buzzing sound. What I figured out though is that while my USB microphone is connected, Camtasia sees the analog one plugged on line-in.
I was thinking about trying out a Snowball mic because so many people mention it. But, I currently use a Boss Digital Recorder - The Micro BR, because my I already have it.
It works really well, but I think I'll eventually get a stand alone mic at some point. I usually prop the blue snowflake mic on top of a cd spindle so its close to my face when I do a recording. But yes you do need to be close to it or you will get different levels if you move around.
The other option I use is a giant squid lapel mic I got for 20 that works great. But I use a usb adapter since my mac doesnt have a powered mic line in. But that works good too.
But for top audio quality I use the blue snowflake. I also have a $100 m-audio and $300 rhode nt3 mic, but I still prefer the ease of use with the blue snowflake. The good thing about a headset is your volume output won't change if you move around in your chair or turn your head. With a mic that isn't attached to your body you have to keep a pretty consistent distance between your mouth and the mic if you speak relatively softly. With a non headset mic you can also put it several feet away and speak louder than normal. Believe me, you don't want to go into your audio files and find your voice level is all over the place.
The editing involved to make it all sound good and even is work you could avoid by recording your original signal at a consistent volume in the first place. I suggest having a look at the headsets that Skype sell. It's good to have a mic that's close to, but not directly in front of your mouth, so you reduce any 'wind blasting' effects.
A clip mic on the shirt can be good, but will pick up more background noise and echo from the room, as well as rustling from the shirt (depending on the fabric) when you move. A mic on a stand can be an option - some models are designed to be used very close up, and some further away; while others are designed to reject sounds which are to the side or begind the mic. Sorry, I'm going on a bit, but I work in audio as my day job!! Best wishes, Jon. If you are running a mic into a small (non usb) jack on a computer, you may need to use a mic with a battery (preamp) in it. The advantage of such mics is they can also be plugged into video cameras, which require a preamped mic to catch an adequate signal. USB mics don't usually require a preamp since they are powered by the USB port, however latency can be an issue (though if your computer is reasonably new or older and fast it shouldn't be a problem).
Latency causes a delay when monitoring through headphones, which is no big deal for speaking, but it can also sometimes result in pops, crackles, and drop-outs (which suck) and ruin your recording. The truth is if no mic will do everything you'll eventually want to do well. I'd recommend a headset mic, either USB or mini-plug style if you just want to sound consistent and aren't worried about making your voice sound like Barry White. Sometimes cheap mics (or poor settings) will make the speaker sound reedy or like he or she has a speech impediment (lisp). I used to think some internet marketers were computer nerds with speech problems until I learned how easy it to sound bad if you don't set things up right. Your voice tonality does matter - if you're a man marketing in the West I think you should watch your tonality and try to speak at the lower end of your range.
With a better signal you have better raw material to work with for any post-recording processing, which sounds intimidating, but even Audacity (opensource) has some cool effects which can make your voice sound better. A mic with a pop filter (foam hat) can be a good idea.
Even still, I try to remember to pronounce my p's almost like b's to avoid popping. I was having problems with my audio too. Then I purchased another (expensive) microphone and nothing changed! Fortunately, I found out a solution for my problem. Just record the video, don't care about the audio.
Then, you are done, edit your video, increase the volume (it's always necessary for me) and click on (top menu) 'edit'/'audio enhancements'. There is an option called 'Bacjground Noise Removal'.
Set it yo manually, slect your whole video in the timeline and click 'Remove Noise'. Your audio will be perfect It solved my problem, hope it helps you too William.
Troubleshooting audio and recognition Supported Devices A complete list of Nuance-supported devices is available at. If your microphone is not on this list, Nuance cannot guarantee that it will work with Dragon for Mac. All iMac and MacBook computers have excellent built-in microphones.
Nuance encourages users to dictate using the internal microphone where possible. USB devices must be plugged directly into your computer.
USB hubs are not supported. To use a Bluetooth audio device, you must have a USB adapter (dongle). The audio quality of the built-in Bluetooth receiver is too low. Be aware that older devices, such as analog devices with two 1/8 inch jacks, are likely to cause more audio problems than an internal or USB device. No audio signal If Dragon is unable to hear you speak, try these steps to solve the problem.
Check your microphone mode Make sure that your microphone is turned on. The microphone button in the Status Window should appear green ( ). If the button is red ( ), your microphone is off.
Click the button to turn the microphone on. If the microphone button does not turn green, your microphone may not be properly connected. See Check your connection below. If the button is blue ( ), the microphone is in sleep mode. Say Wake up to turn it on. See for more information. Check your connection Make sure your selected microphone is connected to your computer.
If you're not sure what microphone is selected, click the icon in the menu bar and select Manage Profiles. You should see your selected profile on the left and your selected microphone on the right under Dictation Sources. Missing microphones will be marked with a icon. If your microphone is missing, do one of the following:. Select another microphone from the Dictation Sources panel and click Load.
If you don't have an alternative audio source listed, click the icon under the Dictation Sources panel to add one to your profile. See for more. Unplug the microphone and plug it in again.
If you are using a USB microphone, make sure it is plugged directly into your computer and not a USB hub. For a Bluetooth microphone, go to System Preferences Bluetooth and make sure that Bluetooth is turned on for your computer and that your microphone is connected. Check microphone settings If your microphone is not shown as missing, check for problems with the microphone itself. In the Apple menu, select System Preferences. Click Sound. The Sound Preference Pane appears.
Click the Input tab. Make sure the microphone appears in the listed devices.
If your microphone does not appear in the Sound Preference Pane, it will not work in any application. Make sure the microphone you configured with Dragon is selected, then speak into the microphone. You should see the Input level indicator respond to the sound of your voice. If it does not respond, there is a problem with your microphone. Check whether your microphone has a mute switch. If it does, make sure the mute switch is off. If you are using a Bluetooth microphone, make sure it is turned on and has enough charge.
If your microphone can be turned off, try restarting it. Try using your microphone with a different computer or device. Important: If you change the Input volume slider while you are in System Preferences, make sure you run Microphone Setup when you run Dragon again. Restart Try restarting Dragon. Click the icon in the menu bar and select Quit Dragon. Go to your Applications folder and double-click Dragon. You may also want to try restarting your computer.
Poor audio quality If Dragon is able to hear your voice, but the recognition seems poor, you may have a problem with the quality of your audio input. While dictating, watch the sound input bar in the Status Window. If it seems very high or low, try these steps to solve the problem. Check your microphone placement Ensure the microphone is positioned properly and has not moved away from where you originally positioned it when you ran Microphone Setup. For more information, see.
Recalibrate your microphone To make sure your microphone is properly calibrated for your voice and environment, you must go through for every profile and every audio source you use. If your audio input level is too high or low, you can go through Microphone Setup again at any time by clicking the icon in the menu bar and selecting Improve Recognition Microphone Setup. Reduce background noise For best recognition, you should always try to minimize background noise. Many microphones have noise canceling capabilities, which filter out background noise, but it's still a good idea to keep background noise consistent. Listen to your audio If the above steps do not solve the problem, try dictating some text into a document, then and say Play the selection. If you hear gaps in the audio, or interference such as crackling sounds, your microphone may be the source of the problem.
If your microphone needs to be plugged into your computer, check the connection. Try unplugging the microphone and plugging it in again. If you are using a USB microphone, make sure it is plugged directly into your computer and not a USB hub. If you are using a Bluetooth microphone, make sure it is adequately charged. Try using the microphone with a different computer or device, if possible. Try using a different microphone. Make sure you run Microphone Setup when you connect a new microphone.
Poor recognition If your audio quality is good, but Dragon is not recognizing your speech, try these steps. Check your profile If you have multiple profiles on your computer, make sure the correct user profile is open. Click the icon in the menu bar and make sure that your profile has a check mark next to it. If a different profile is checked, select your profile from the Recent Profiles list. If you don't see your profile, click Manage Profiles. And select from the Profiles pane. Voice Training The more Dragon hears you speak, the better it understands you.
Voice Training helps Dragon learn your speech patterns, intonations, and accent. To start Voice Training, click the icon in the menu bar and select Improve Recognition Voice Training. See for more information.
Vocabulary Training You can use Vocabulary Training to teach Dragon how you use language. Dragon will read one or more text files you select to analyze what words you use and when, and how often, you use them. To start Vocabulary Training, click the icon in the menu bar and select Improve Recognition Vocabulary Training. See for more information. If you are struggling with recognition on a specific word, go to the Vocabulary Editor to. Re-create audio source In Dragon for Mac version 5.0. 3 and later, you can improve recognition by re-creating your audio source.
This will preserve all your custom vocabulary and commands, while allowing Dragon to improve how it recognizes your voice. Click the icon in the menu bar and select Manage Profiles. Select your profile in the left column. Under Dictation Sources, click the button. Select the same microphone you are currently using and give it a unique name (for example, if you are using the Internal Microphone, you could name this new audio source 'Internal Mic' to distinguish it. Click Continue. Preferences will close and will open.
Complete Microphone Setup. This step can take up to 5 minutes. Optional: Go back to the Profiles pane and delete the old audio source by selecting it from the Dictation Sources list and clicking the button.