Not visible microphone

[Dekade]

What type of a microphone do I need to be searching for to keep far enough away from my face that the webcam will not see it. Maybe something overhead or off to one side or the other. Most below $100 microphones suggest about 4 inches from mouth which obviously positions the mic in the webcam field of view. I still wish to preserve adequate gain adjustment and realistic natural clarity of voice while not viewing the mic in a video. My studio area is adequately sound absorbent. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,
Dekade

 

[Tito Tims Videos]

I use a levalier mic (lapel mic). In windy situations I clip it inside my shirt and it is not visible.

 

[Dekade]

Yes, I have one also and did think of using it. However, I struggle with the quality. I am looking for a USB mic situation so that I can obtain the highest quality realistic replication of my voice. I do not feel my lapel fits that model. Just now thought of something . . . I might try the lapel on my boom arm though and see what happens with that scenario, but still looking for a dynamic or condenser mic solution.

 

[LandyVlad]

What sort of conditions do you film in? Home studio? Same background every time?

If so, you can remove the microphone in post production (you just need to take an image of the background with you not in it, and do some masking).

Far easier though is a boom mic above the camera's field of view.

 

[Dekade]

LandyVlad. Thanks for the reply. Home studio. Green screen, alternating background scenes. Boom mic. However, the issue I am having is the boom mic is not delivering the same depth of voice as when it is 4" from my mouth. Thus making things more difficult in post edit. I was hoping for a mic solution that would do a better job of picking me up when the mic is not in view. I realize I won't get any mic that is exactly like being 4" away - but I was just hoping for a better result than my current mic. Below is a link to my current mic. Believe it or not the mic is exceptionally good in vocal realism and duplication when at a 4" range from mouth. However, it is not as intimate, obviously, when out of camera view. That is what I'm trying to improve upon.

Kind Regards,
Dekade

https://www.amazon.com/Microphone-TONOR-Podcasting-Compatible-TC-777/dp/B07WLWN2ZT/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0?crid=1VR8C3IMGLQX6&cv_ct_cx=tc-777+microphone&dchild=1&keywords=tc-777+microphone&pd_rd_i=B07WLWN2ZT&pd_rd_r=2acf91da-052d-4934-8099-4b6df3906cd3&pd_rd_w=7RvIU&pd_rd_wg=SSj3r&pf_rd_p=1835a2a9-7ed8-48dc-ad07-fcd7527bd2bc&pf_rd_r=4F418KKCP8F24KDR9XKA&psc=1&qid=1608564747&sprefix=TC-777%2Caps%2C226&sr=1-1-80ba0e26-a1cd-4e7b-87a0-a2ffae3a273c

 

[LandyVlad]

Well yeah for what you want you need a higher quality microphone, which is going to mean significantly higher cost. I can;t guide you to particular devices as I don't claim to have much knowledge of the matter.
Does the current placement of that microphone mean that it is in front of your face/body and not off to the side at all?

 

[Dekade]

. . . Does the current placement of that microphone mean that it is in front of your face/body and not off to the side at all?

Yes

 

[Nicekid76]

I would suggest looking for a hypercardioid shotgun microphone. I've never seen a usb connected one before though.
that being said, what you are referring to as "intimate" is known as the proximity effect. The closer you are to the microphone the warmer and more boomy your voice will be. No matter the microphone you pick, the closer you are the warmer and more "intimate" it will sound because physics.

 

[Dekade]

. . . what you are referring to as "intimate" is known as the proximity effect.

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated and provides a better understanding of what sound is.