Dialogue audio sounds thin and roomy – how do you clean it up in post?

I feel your pain – roomy dialogue is a nightmare. First, make sure you're using the NTG4+ correctly: it's a shotgun, so it needs to be close to your mouth (6-12 inches) and pointed directly at your mouth, not at your chest. Also, the NTG4+ has a high-pass filter switch – if it's on, it might be cutting too much low end, making it sound thin. Turn that off unless you're dealing with rumble.

In DaVinci Resolve, try the Fairlight page. Add a compressor (like the built-in 'Dialog Compressor' preset) to even out levels, then use the EQ to add a presence boost around 3-5 kHz (try +2-3 dB) and a high-pass filter at 80-100 Hz to cut rumble. For the roominess, you can use the 'Voice Isolation' effect in Fairlight – it's surprisingly good at removing reverb. Set the amount to around 50-60% to avoid artifacts.

If you want a free standalone tool, download Audacity and use its 'Noise Reduction' effect: capture a noise profile from a silent section (like a room tone), then apply it with moderate settings. But be careful – overdoing it can make your voice sound hollow. Also, consider using a dynamic mic like the Shure SM7B if you can; they're less sensitive to room acoustics than shotguns.

That's solid advice, but I'd also recommend looking into iZotope RX if you can afford it – the De-reverb module is a game-changer for this exact issue. I use RX 10 Elements (the free version) which has a basic De-reverb, and it works wonders on roomy dialogue. You can also use the spectral repair tool to remove specific echoes if you have a really bad reflection.

Another trick: record a few seconds of room tone in your space (just silence, but with the ambient noise). Then, in Resolve, you can use that as a reference to create a noise reduction profile with the 'Noise Reduction' effect in Fairlight (the one with the 'Learn' button). It's not as advanced as RX, but it helps.

For the thinness, try a multiband compressor – Resolve has one. Use it to gently compress the 200-400 Hz range to add body, and the 4-6 kHz range to add clarity. Also, don't be afraid to use a de-esser if you have sibilance issues after boosting the highs.

I've been in the same boat, and honestly, the best fix is to get the mic closer and treat the room minimally. You don't need to spend a fortune – just hang some thick blankets on the wall behind you and lay a rug on the floor. That kills the slap echo instantly. I did that with a $20 moving blanket and it made a huge difference.

In post, I use a combination of a high-pass filter (100 Hz), a gentle EQ dip at 300-500 Hz to reduce muddiness, and a presence boost at 5 kHz. Then I add a subtle slapback delay (like 15-20 ms) to thicken the voice – it mimics the effect of a doubling track and gives it more body. But be careful with delay time; too long and it'll sound like a cave.

Also, check your mic placement relative to reflective surfaces – the NTG4+ has a narrow pickup pattern, but it still picks up reflections from the sides. Try pointing it away from the window and any bare walls. If you're using a boom, make sure the mic is angled so the null points (the sides) are facing the reflective surfaces.

Thanks everyone for the detailed replies! I tried the Fairlight Voice Isolation and the EQ tips from framezone92, and my dialogue sounds way cleaner already. The room tone trick from audiowave77 also helped a lot – I recorded a few seconds of silence and used the noise reduction to tame the hum from my PC. I also moved my desk so the mic points away from the window, and I hung a thick blanket on the wall behind me – that made a noticeable difference even before post.

I'm still saving up for iZotope RX, but for now the free tools in Resolve are doing the job. I really appreciate the advice on the high-pass filter and the presence boost – my voice sounds much more present and less thin. Thanks again for saving my audio!