The Invasion of Massive Microphones: A Corporate Comedy
By using oversized cardioid microphones, corporate and educational presenters are achieving the opposite of looking cool. Instead of appearing tech-savvy, they come across as out of touch and visually awkward. These bulky mics distract from the message and undermine the professional aesthetic. A simple lavalier or USB mic would be more appropriate and effective
Picture this: a high-stakes corporate meeting. The room is filled with executives in crisp suits, ties perfectly knotted, discussing serious business matters. And right in front of them, occupying more desk space than the coffee mugs and notepads combined, is a gigantic, radio-station DJ-style microphone. This isn't a gaming podcast, nor is it a late-night radio show. Welcome to the bizarre trend of over-the-top, unnecessarily massive microphones infiltrating the world of YouTube podcasts, corporate webinars, educational videos, media and creative agencies, insurance company briefings, and even wellbeing sessions.
Singer using a cardioid mic in the studio. Note the sound treatment of the walls (to achieve dry, quality sound), which requires a highly sensitive pro mic, unlike an office space that has not been treated for sound (nor has the average living room!)
What is a Cardioid Mic?
First, let’s understand what a cardioid microphone is. The term "cardioid" refers to the heart-shaped pickup pattern of these mics. They are designed to capture sound predominantly from the front while minimizing noise from the sides and rear. This makes them ideal for environments where isolating the speaker’s voice from background noise is crucial. Great for radio hosts juggling records, or gamers deep in the throes of battle, but for a corporate presentation or a simple podcast? Not so much.
The Corporate Microphone Misadventure
The sight of a corporate suit huddled behind a massive mic is becoming all too common. Banks, educational institutions, media and creative agencies, insurance companies, and wellbeing specialists, in their earnest attempt to appear tech-savvy and "with it," have embraced this trend, leading to some unintentionally hilarious visuals. Imagine a banker, discussing interest rates and market forecasts, obscured by a microphone so large it looks like it's about to start a broadcast of the latest EDM hits.
But why? Why have these institutions fallen prey to the allure of oversized mics?
Misplaced Mimicry: The YouTuber Aesthetic
The trend can be traced back to the growing influence of YouTube culture. YouTubers, especially those in gaming and music, often use large, high-quality mics for practical reasons – they’re handling noisy environments, multiple audio sources, or simply want to offer the best possible sound quality to their viewers. However, this visual style has been mistakenly adopted by corporate content creators who believe that mimicking this look will lend them the same credibility and engagement.
Where is this being recorded… are they using a soundcard… Logic pro…? are they recording separate mono tracks?
When Functionality Meets Absurdity
Here’s the truth: most corporate and educational content doesn't require the same level of audio fidelity as a professional gaming stream or a music podcast. A good-quality lavalier mic or even a modest USB microphone would suffice. The overuse of cardioid mics, particularly the bulky ones designed for studio settings, is unnecessary and, frankly, looks ridiculous in a corporate environment.
The massive mic setup implies an active engagement with the equipment – adjusting levels, switching between audio feeds, or, in the case of radio DJs, spinning records. For a banker discussing quarterly earnings, a CEO delivering a keynote, an educator explaining a concept, or a marketing / PR manager interviewing someone, this gear becomes a bizarre, out-of-place centerpiece.
The Visual Disconnect
The visual disconnect is striking. A person in formal attire, surrounded by the trappings of a professional office, and corporate branding, suddenly seems out of place when they’re dwarfed by a mic meant for a completely different setting. It’s akin to wearing a tuxedo to a beach party – it draws attention but for all the wrong reasons.
The Right Mic for the Right Setting
To avoid these audio-visual mishaps, here’s a breakdown of the right type of mic for various settings:
Corporate Meetings and Webinars:
Lavalier (Lapel) Mics: Discreet, hands-free, and provides excellent sound quality. Ideal for presentations and meetings where the speaker needs to move around.
Rode Wireless GO: Compact, wireless, and unobtrusive. Perfect for a professional look without the bulk.
Educational Videos:
Lavalier Mics: Great for educators who need to use their hands while teaching.
Boom Mics: Positioned just out of frame, these provide high-quality sound without being seen.
Media and Creative Agencies:
USB Condenser Mics: Simple and effective for desktop recordings, offering good quality without the visual clutter.
Shotgun Mics: Ideal for video shoots, capturing focused audio while staying out of the shot.
Insurance Companies and Financial Institutions:
Lavalier Mics or Desktop USB Mics: Professional and unobtrusive, these mics provide clear audio for client briefings and internal communications.
Wellbeing Specialists:
Lavalier Mics: Allow freedom of movement during demonstrations or guided sessions.
Headset Mics: Combine microphone and headphones, ideal for interactive sessions and clear communication.
General Video Podcasts:
Cardioid Mics: Good for two speakers having a conversation if placed correctly on the table. They capture the nuances of a dialogue without needing to be oversized.
Handheld Mics: Excellent for dynamic, interview-style podcasts or audience interactions.
A Call for Sensible Audio Choices
It’s time for a reality check. Corporations, educators, agencies, and communication and marketing teams need to listen to specialists and reassess their equipment choices. The goal should be clear, crisp audio, and overall professional sound, not the replication of a gaming or music studio setup to then put the sound through a laptop into a single track, without a soundcard, nor any professional editing software to manage the recording coming in.
Investing in practical, appropriately sized microphones will not only improve the overall aesthetic but also eliminate the distraction of an oversized, unnecessary piece of equipment… and you will not end up hating seeing yourself in the future when these videos grow old, you learn more about sound, and finally realise why it is wrong on some many levels!
In the end, less can indeed be more. Let’s leave the massive mics to the DJs, studios, and gamers, and keep our corporate and educational content visually and functionally appropriate. Because if there's one thing worse than a dull presentation, it's a dull presentation delivered from behind an absurdly large microphone. Likewise a video podcast with ties and corporate branding doesn’t need the dangling furry friend either.
If you want to know more about sound, engineering, the right setup for you, or talk to a pro to get advice from our team of Sound specialists, we will be delighted to help you, so get in touch before buying a hairy monster mic!
