Audio Quality Issues with Filter Presets

Hi all!

I'm a voice actor and I've been using Audition for close to two decades now. Until about a month ago, I was running CS6 on a 2011 iMac that sounded incredible with my Rode AI-1 interface and MXL BCD-1 condenser microphone. I regularly used the "Podcast Voice" filter to clean up and "pop" my audio. It was my bread and butter.

I've now upgraded to a 2023 Mac Mini. Still using the Rode and MXL mic. Upgraded to CC because, well I was kind of forced to.

However, now when I use the podcast voice filter, the audio (especially the first sentence or two) sound muffled and aren't very dynamic. The rest of the audio eventually "pops" and sounds ok, but it also sounds very digitized at points. It's not at all clear and "punchy" like it was on my old Mac with CS6.

Anyone else encounter this? Is there a remedy? Should I adjust settings? Try a different mic/interface setup?

Any recommendations welcome as this is my livelihood and I can't have sub-par audio quality.

Thanks!