I’ve recorded with two different setups. The first one (Blue Yeti, $100) produced a voice that peaked at €50/month and was earning €2.84 by month 8. ElevenLabs rejected it for the High Quality badge because of plosives and mouth sounds.

The second setup is what I’m sharing here. It costs €160 total and paid for itself during month 2. The voice is still growing – €263.42 total in 3 months so far.

The Exact Shopping List (€160 Total)

This is an XLR microphone setup, not USB. XLR means you need an audio interface to connect the mic to your computer. It’s one extra piece of hardware but the audio quality difference is real – and the AT2020 is the mic ElevenLabs actually recommends in their own documentation.

What About a Phone or USB Mic?

If you’re broke and need to start now, a phone mic or cheap USB mic can work. But the quality ceiling is lower, and your earnings will reflect that.

My Blue Yeti ($100 USB mic) produced a voice that peaked at €50 and died. The AT2020 setup (€160 XLR) produced a voice that’s still growing at €100+/month. The difference is real. If you can afford the €160, buy it.

Room Setup: No Acoustic Panels Needed

You don’t need to buy acoustic foam or build panels. Here’s what I did:

• Bedroom with door closed
• Windows shut, AC off during recording
• Quilts hung on the walls near the mic
• Thick blanket on the back of my chair

Anything soft and thick near the mic absorbs reflections and makes your room sound “deader” – which is what you want for voice recording. This costs nothing if you already own blankets.

Microphone Positioning

• Sit 6-8 inches from the mic
• Pop filter between your mouth and the mic (about 2 inches from the mic capsule)
• Speak ACROSS the mic, not directly into it (about 30-degree angle)
• Mic at mouth level or slightly above

Why off-axis? Reduces harsh sibilance (S sounds), minimizes plosives, and creates a warmer, more natural tone. Test it by recording “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” – if you hear harsh P sounds, angle yourself more.

The ROI

Here’s what my €160 investment actually returned:

Same person, same platform. The equipment and editing made the difference. Your results will depend on your voice, your category, and your recording quality – but the €160 gives you the tools to do it right.

Three Mistakes That Kill Otherwise Good Recordings

Mistake 1: Skipping the pop filter. This is what got my first voice rejected for the High Quality badge. Plosives (“P” and “B” sounds) make your audio sound amateur. A €8 pop filter fixes it. Non-negotiable.

Mistake 2: Recording when your room isn’t quiet. Condenser mics pick up everything – computer fans, traffic, AC. Close the door, shut the windows, turn off the AC. Record 10 seconds of silence first and check the waveform in Audacity. If you see anything other than a flat line, find the noise source before recording your full session.

Mistake 3: Speaking directly into the mic. It feels natural but it causes proximity effect (boomy bass) and harsh sibilance. Angle yourself 30 degrees off-axis and speak across the mic, not into it.

*This article contains affiliate links. If you sign up through one of these links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. The price you pay stays the same. I only recommend tools I actually use.