Talent Services Help

ProNounce - Tips on Selecting and Using a Microphone


Your microphone is the most important piece of gear you have. It's also one of the most expensive. Proper technique will take full advantage of your investment.

ProComm recommends the use of a Neumann TLM-103. This recommendation takes several factors into account:

  • Relative affordability for voice talent. Hey, we know you're not a big studio loaded with lots of money to throw at microphones. At its $900 price tag, even the TLM isn't cheap, but it's the best value for what it offers.
  • Matching the sound of other studios is an important factor in what ProComm does. Most studios have either U-87s or TLM-103s. The TLM 103's capsule is based on the K87 used in the ubiquitous U-87 so matching to other studios is easy.
  • The U-87 has two capsules, a pattern switch and a price tag almost 3 times the TLM-103. Since most voice talent never use the pattern switch found on the U-87, the TLM-103 offers no sacrifice.
  • Upon its introduction, the TLM-103 was the quietest mic produced.
  • Esoteric mics, e.g. with tube inputs, are great for specialized uses but are not a good idea for a standard.
To properly use the TLM-103:
  • Use the mic in a properly designed shock mount. The Neumann shock mount is also recommend by ProComm. It's about $100.
  • Use a floor mounted, heavy base mic stand with a boom attachment. A dense base helps keep structure-borne noise down and also protects your microphone investment. Lighter tripod stands get knocked over easily.
  • Place the microphone about six inches away from your mouth and just a bit above it to dodge the plosives. You might also want to angle the mic slightly away from being directly in front of you. This also helps in eliminating plosives.
  • Make sure you're talking in the right end. Don't laugh. It's happened. If in doubt or if you suddenly sound really weird, make sure you are talking into the badged side. If you don't see the familiar Neumann badge, you're sitting on the wrong side of the room.
  • Microphones need maintenance. Usually a cleaning of the diaphragm is in order after about 5-7 years of use. Maintenance periods vary with respect to the amount of humidity in your studio, how much you expectorate when you speak. If you compare your mic to another and notice it sounding dull, it probably needs to be sent off for cleaning.
  • Neumann microphones operate best when you use a properly made mic cable. In most cases, folks lift the ground on audio cables to kill the possibility of recirculation currents and hum but when making a mic cable, you should most definitely connect the ground on both ends for safety and noise elimination. It's best if the shield conductor is NOT used as the ground conductor, however. For this reason, ProComm highly recommends using Gotham mic cable (GAC 3) with 3 conductors plus a shield.