> Choosing a voice–over mic
I need to record audio to accompany slides in Keynote. How best to do that with my M1 Mac mini?
Intel Mac mini 2018 and M1 models lack audio input except through other ports, such as USB. If you have an analogue studio mic, you could buy an audio interface for less than $30 to well over $100 depending on features. That can be hard with some mics, and you need to check its power and other requirements.
It’s simpler to buy a mic which already does the analogue–to–digital conversion to USB, which you can plug straight into one of your mini’s two USB–A ports. There’s a wide range of products from around $40 to well over $100. Reputable manufacturers include
Røde, Audio–Technica, Blue, Shure and others. For spoken voice, a pop filter is recommended as you’ll speak six inches from the mic.
More expensive mics come with their own software, but ultimately all work through the Input tab in the Sound pane, where you adjust their volume (gain) against input level. Soften the acoustic environment in the room; hard surfaces like walls can be draped with fabrics to improve audio quality. Keynote can record audio to accompany each slide, needing only short takes, or you can record the whole presentation at once.