You have a gig that you’d love to get, and you record your best acting possible to show that you’ve got what it takes. Then, you hear the recording, and to your horror, it sounds muffled. While you should not expect perfect audio quality, your potential client’s first impression of you should not sound like you’re recording from inside the trunk of the car.

So what gives? Well, there may be several reasons why you sound like this. Let’s look at some fixes.

Try Fixing the Direction and Position

This solution almost seems like a “No duh,” but many people don’t realize that the position matters the most. Your full range may not be captured properly if you’re too close or far away.

First, follow the general advice. Have the mic be 6-8 inches away from your face and position it at a 45-degree angle from your mouth.

Note that this is general advice, and it ultimately depends on what microphone you have. Some microphones may require you to position them differently than others. If you’re unsure, you can read the manual, look at forums, or try experimenting.

Move Your Location

Sometimes, you may be in the wrong location. Maybe you’re in an area with a lot of background noise, or maybe the room you have has poor acoustics. This is when you may need to move shop and go to a different location.

Now, depending on where you are, you may not have the space to move around to a specific location. If that’s the case, you may need to install soundproofing on your walls or find another way to block unwanted sounds. Sometimes, you can do so through your mic settings.

Play Around With the Microphone Settings

Depending on what microphone you have, there are probably some settings you can adjust. Let’s look at some of them.

Gain/Volume

Many microphones will have a gain knob, which is how sensitive the microphone will be. The right gain level depends on your setup. Monitor your audio, and keep it in the green zone on whatever recording software you use. Too much gain and your voice can distort. Too little, and it can be hard to hear. Experiment to find that sweet spot.

High-Pass Filter

Some mics come with a high-pass filter. This filter lets specific frequencies pass through, while lower frequencies are not heard as much. You may need to enable it, as background noise may be making you sound muffled.

Polar Patterns

Some microphones have polar patterns, which can adjust the microphone’s pickup pattern. Different pattern settings work well for different situations; for example, some work well for podcasts, while others work well for multiple people. Play around with these and see which one works best.

Any Other Features

There are many, many microphones, each with different options. We’d be here all day if we listed them all. So it’s up to you to play with them all and see if they make your voice less muffled. Ideally, it would be best if you wrote down what settings work and what don’t. And if you ever move studios, it’s time for you to do another mic check.

Use Pop Filters

Pop filters are a cheap option to make your voice sound clearer, so if you’re not using them already, you should. Essentially, these filters will help to reduce any “pop” sounds. These sounds can occur if you say pronounced letters like a “p” or a “b” in a certain way. You can apply the pop filter to the mic, and your voice sounds a lot better!

Get a Better Microphone

Finally, if you tried everything, the solution may be to get a better microphone.

This is not the solution you want to hear, but if you have bought a low-budget mic, they can only do so much. You can clean up the audio with software, but you’re only going to get so far.

To get a good microphone for recording demos, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars, but you at least need several hundred as a starter. Do not use $20 microphones. Also, be sure that the microphone you have is working properly. Sometimes, you may have a good mic, but it’s not plugged in or is failing in some way.

If you have a lower budget, there are some ways you can get a good mic. For example, you can buy one used, rent one, or look around for sale groups like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

Always Test Beforehand

If you get annoyed when you record a demo and your voice sounds muffled, test the microphone beforehand.

Even if you feel like your microphone settings are correct, you may have accidentally moved the gain knob, or the recording software defaulted. Say a few words into the microphone, then play it back. Always use a good pair of headphones, too, so you can hear the nuances in your voice. Invest in a decent pair that you can wear around your head. Avoid using cheap earbuds.

Get a Professional

Finally, if you’ve tried everything, you may need to pay an audio professional to come to your studio and audit your home. There may be something you’re overlooking or ways you can adjust your space to make your voice sound less muffled.

It can cost a lot to do this, but it will pay off in the long run as you get better gigs. Plus, you may be considering investing in more expensive equipment as the answer when the solution may be to play around with your settings or microphone positioning.

Final Thoughts

There are many reasons why your microphone may be picking up your voice muffled. It could be your positioning, settings, or other factors. It’s vital to find what settings are the culprit and fix them ASAP. This way, you will impress potential clients more and land more gigs. We hope this article helped your recordings sound less muffled.