Mic-locker worksheet
Microphone room and signal checklist
A practical microphone checklist covering source, room noise, working distance, pattern, gain, phantom power, stands, pop control, cables, and monitoring.
A microphone purchase is easier to judge when the room and signal path are written down first. The capsule will hear reflections, fans, cable movement, desk vibration, and whatever the preamp adds.
Use this sheet before comparing vocal, podcast, instrument, broadcast, USB, or wireless microphones.
01
Source and room
- Name the source, its loudest level, and the closest comfortable working distance.
- Listen for fans, traffic, bare walls, keyboard noise, and other sounds the microphone may capture.
- Decide whether isolation or fine detail matters more in this room.
02
Connection and gain
- Confirm USB or XLR, available preamp gain, phantom-power needs, and simultaneous input count.
- Plan direct headphone monitoring before the first recording session.
- Match every microphone with the correct cable, adapter, receiver, or interface input.
03
Position and support
- Include the microphone, shock mount, windscreen, and cable pull when checking stand or arm capacity.
- Keep desk vibration and floor traffic away from the capsule where possible.
- Mark a repeatable distance and angle for long sessions or recurring speakers.
Mistakes that show up around the mic locker
- Choosing a sensitive condenser before listening to an untreated room.
- Buying a low-output dynamic microphone without checking available clean gain.
- Treating the stand, cable, pop control, and monitoring path as later purchases.