Few things bring a session to a screeching halt faster than a microphone that suddenly refuses to cooperate. Bizarre noises, unexplained silence, or a performance that just doesn’t sound right can rattle even the most seasoned engineer. In this episode of Inside the Recording Studio, Chris and Jody walk through a simple yet powerful checklist for troubleshooting mics—a must-have process for anyone working under pressure.
They begin with the obvious (but often overlooked) basics: checking cables, phantom power, and input channels. Then they move deeper into audio interface troubleshooting, gain staging, and hardware quirks that can throw off a session. You’ll hear real-world advice on how to quickly isolate whether the issue lies with the mic, the preamp, or the signal chain—so you can fix problems fast without derailing the creative flow.
But it’s not just a technical exercise. Chris and Jody also bring humor to the process, including a hilarious and slightly embarrassing personal story about a mic sounding terrible for the simplest (and most obvious) reason imaginable. It’s proof that even experienced engineers can miss the basics in the heat of the moment—and a reminder to always double-check.
The episode also emphasizes understanding your gear, from recognizing hidden features in studio gear to knowing when a strange sound is operator error versus actual failure. Whether you’re working in a professional studio or experimenting with home studio gear, this checklist will give you confidence to handle mic issues gracefully.
If you’ve ever been under the gun with a client staring at you while a mic refuses to work, this episode is the lifeline you’ll want in your back pocket. Practical, clear, and sprinkled with laughter, it’s all about getting back to making music as quickly as possible.
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Gear we used:
Jody’s Mic & Voice Chain: Telefunken C12 – Groove Tubes Vipre – Apollo – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA Studer A800
Jody’s Channel Strip: iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E
Chris’ Mic & Voice Chain: Slate ML1 – Apollo – UA – Slate VMR (FG12, FG73, API Eq, SSL 4kE) – iZotope RX Voice – DeNoise
Chris’ Channel Strip: Eventide Precision Time Align – iZotope RX Spectral DeNoise – iZotope RX Mouth DeClick – UA Neve 1073 – UA LA2A – UA 1176E
Master: Oek Sound Soothe 2 – iZotope Ozone Imager – iZotope Ozone Maximize.
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If you want to collaborate, sponsor a podcast, donate, or want us to review your product – contact us at: collaborate@insidetherecordingstudio.com