Audio quality setup for Youtube videos

I'm interested in upgrading my audio quality and content for my YT videos.
I've been getting a lot of good feedback and reviews from viewers about some of
my videos in which I do reviews, commentaries, analysis, debates and discussions
but right now I've only been using the Zoom H1 voice recorder (w/ pop filter) and Audacity
software to take out some noise and add some base.

It's a pretty decent quality for only $100 mic but I think I want to do better and take it to the
next level.

I was looking at this setup: Shure SM7B microphone (the one Joe Rogan uses on his podcast),
+ cloudlifter (to add clean 25 db) and Focusrite Solo (3rd gen) as my audio interface. I think in total
it will come to around $700 usd. Any recommendations or feedback on this setup? I think it should
be more than adequate for me.

dbuck said:

Your setup sounds fine. You should also master your mix to the (CALM) Act Loudness for Broadcast.
I can do this for you. Send me a sample if you want and I will master it for free.
You can read more about the Calm act here if you like....https://www.izotope.com/content/izotope/en/learn/the-mixers-guide-to-loudness-for-broadcast.html

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Thanks for your advice. I will check that out!

wow that CALM Act is exactly what I was talking about in another issue. For the longest time, I have been complaining (to no one) why ad/commercials on the internet are so DAMN LOUD. I'd be watching my favorite sports highlights and between highlights they'd force me to watch a commercial (only 10-15 seconds) but the problem was it was so LOUD compared to the programming I was viewing so I'd constantly have to adjust the volume level on my PC when it came to ads/commercial time. It's so annoying! I hope they take this CALM Act over to the internet and major broadcasting corporations because it's crazy. My example I'm mainly referring to is TSN. I like to watch a lot of my sports highlights on TSN but the ads between the highlights are like 300% louder than the videos on their site.

A lot of people now watch youtube on tv now. so its important to have your video at the right sound level as to not run people off. Glad you agree with the CALM Act...

dbuck said:

A lot of people now watch youtube on tv now. so its important to have your video at the right sound level as to not run people off. Glad you agree with the CALM Act...

Click to expand...

Agreed! I just ordered cloudlifter, focusrite solo (3rd gen), Rode PSA1 boom arm, and will order the Shure SM7B next week. I feel really excited but anxious too because I've never used any of this stuff before and hope everything will work out fine! The focusrite solo comes with ProTools...I'm assuming that is something like Audacity where you can record and edit the sound files?

LOL and one day after I ordered them my youtube channel got demonetized for reused content.

I'm still glad I made the orders though cuz I want to get them and will order the Shure SM7B still.
I will re-apply for monetization in 30 days but if by any chance they never re-approve my channel,
I'll try to start new ones from scratch and still want to do a lot of podcasting or speaking type videos.
This audio setup should be a huge boost for me!