Mic technique for guests who have never done this
Most bad guest audio has nothing to do with the microphone. Four things to say before you press record.
Your guest is nervous, leaning back, turning to look at you. All three habits pull them off the microphone. The fix is a thirty-second briefing.
1. The fist rule
"Keep one fist between your mouth and the mic." It is easy to remember and easy to check on camera.
2. Talk to the mic, look at me
Hosts naturally turn to face each other. Place the mics so the natural turn lands on the capsule, or ask guests to keep their nose pointed at the mic while their eyes move.
3. Headphones stay on
Guests take them off when they feel odd. With headphones off they cannot hear themselves drifting away from the mic.
4. Plosives
Speak slightly across the mic, not straight into it. A windscreen handles the rest.
Gear that forgives
Dynamic broadcast mics with a wide sweet spot, arms set at mouth height before the guest sits down, and a mixer with a gentle compressor on every channel.
This briefing is part of Team Training, and the arm positions are part of every Studio Layout we draw.
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