@patchdstudio

What they said

1. High-pass filter: cuts everything below ~100 Hz; almost none of your voice there, only environmental rumble (graph with red rumble area).
2. Downward expander: when your voice gets quiet it turns the sound down even more, so fan, keyboard and breathing between words get quieter.
3. De-esser: S sounds make a sharp hiss that can be too loud; the de-esser targets only the hiss.
4. EQ boost around 3,500 Hz: the range that makes words clear; "some radio mics have a switch for exactly this boost" (photo of a mic with a presence-boost switch).
5. Compressor: dynamic range = gap between quietest and loudest words; compressor lowers the loudest then raises the whole voice, giving steadier volume, set level once, quiet words don't get lost, loud words don't jump out; also pulls the voice "to the front of the mix" (mix = everything heard at once: you, game, music).
6. Limiter: a ceiling your voice can't exceed so laughs or shouts don't distort.
7. Order: high-pass, expander, de-esser, EQ, compressor, limiter, "and typically all done in that order". Caption adds: "Put the expander before the compressor. Without it, the compressor raises the quiet sounds between your words too."
8. Product plug: "Patch has all six in its mixer, and the whole app is in open beta right now. Click the link in bio to join." (Caption: "Save this for the next time you set up your mic.")

Try this

• Anyone recording voice: Use a basic chain in your editor in this order: high-pass filter at about 80 to 100 Hz, light de-essing, a mild boost near 3.5 kHz for clarity, gentle compression, then a limiter at about minus 1 dB.
• Anyone recording voice: Put a downward expander before the compressor if you have background noise. Without it, the compressor raises the quiet sounds between words. Go easy on it.
• Video makers: Set the level once with the compressor so quiet words are not lost and loud words do not jump out. Check on phone speakers.
• Video makers: Radio processing can sound too heavy for social video or dialogue. Compare with and without it before you commit.
• Creators and teams: Treat the order as debatable. Some engineers put the de-esser after the compressor. Trust your ears over a rule.
• Creators: A dark-mode animated graph per concept is a good way to explain a technical topic, such as ad metrics or conversion rates.

Links

• Patchd (app; live audio mixer with a driver/engine, open beta, link in bio). Supports VST plugins (creator reply). Multi-track recording planned.
• Concepts only: high-pass, expander/gate, de-esser, EQ, compressor, limiter.
• Commenters mention Audacity, Voicemeeter, GoXLR, SSL VocalStrip, Soothe, Equalizer APO.