Vocal Recording - Absorption In Front vs. Behind - Rode K2
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- Free PDF guide on vocal recording: creativesoundla...
I personally like to surround the vocalist with a tent-like structure of packing blankets, but what side of the microphone is the most effective to treat?
I've seen this debated online, and I figured I would run a test.
You would think that placing the absorption in the area that the microphone is most sensitive would be effective. However, what if we treated the sound coming out of the vocalist's mouth? If we were able to lessen the amount of acoustic energy in the room, then certainly we would have less vocal reverberance in the room.
people are forgetting that instruments have directional patterns, too... this means that the main part of sound is send on 0°, which means that it's a great idea to absorb in front of the singer, because then the room isn't stimulated.
Yep so right on man.
Honestly your room sounds pretty dry already and I can't hear much difference, I assume you already have acoustic panels in the room. In an untreated room I'd put it in front, behind and at least one of left and right. Floor or ceiling as well if there is no carpet.
I was using one of those curved mini isolation booths, but they can be a bit claustrophobic for the singer. The blanket wall looks like a better situation. In any case, getting the vocalist comfortable gives you the best opportunity for a better performance ... and for me, that will always take precedence over a 'pristine' recording.
Right on man! Yeah I use to have vocal booths and it always sucked. It was always hot and they hated it. Big open spaces give better performances.
I actually use two blankets in a V shape behind the singer. I thought your test sounded better with the blanket behind too. All of them sounded good though. I have two reasons for the blanket behind. 1. The mic sounds more open to me YMMV. 2. I can see and communicate with the singer which is the most important factor for recording a vocalist.
Great insight about seeing the vocalist.
Hey Ryan, before I built my booth that is what I did. Put a foam mattress just behind the mic, best thing I ever did for my K2 in a bad space. That still sounds like the stock tube in your K2, have you tried others?
Yeah, that might have been the stock tube. I put the telefunken tube in, and it's not a big difference, but I'm sure the difference is there.
Just as long as you don't stumble into the studio half in the bag in the middle of the night and set the blanket up between the singer and the mic.....
Haha. I can always count on a creative comment from you! Hope you've been well.
consulta , la respuesta de frecuencia del rode k2 en omni y figura 8 es igual? en el manuel no muestra el de figura 8
I've been putting gobos in front of the vocalist because everyone else does, and wondered if putting it behind might be better. Thanks for putting that to rest (at least for me and my crappy room!) :)
Yeah totally!
Hey Ryan, I like the deadening quality and flexibility that blankets give. Lately I have been pondering how to use blankets in a variety of unconventional or home recording studio spaces. Not everyone has a beefy mic stand handy that can support the weight of a blanket. An easy fix - drape one over the top of a door and close the door to hold the blanket in place. This could be done with a household quilt as well. If it tries to slide off the top of the door, attach a couple of clothes pins or those grocery food clamps to the top of the fabric and the door frame will snag those add-ons and hold the blanket in place. Does anyone else have any other ideas?
Yeah, that's a great point. I think that some of those A shaped clips are handy to have, and perhaps clipping across a double wide door, or closet door so you get a wider area would work well. I would avoid recording in a corner though, which is where a lot of doors are located.
Do you think that blanket might be a little reflective? Wondering if you tried one (or more) of your absorption panels. Those are OC 703 right? Might make a difference.
I'm sure it would be different. I know I can hear a difference from 2 inches of 703 vs 4 inches of it.
on the line "oh the best is yet to come" on "best" you can hear more room resonance with the blanket in front of the singer. i'd rather have the blanket behind the singer in this case. i hear less room resonances that would cause a problem during the mix like that.
Ok cool. Good ear
I agree
I have to agree. The vocal was indeed better with the blanket behind the microphone. I may consider doing a blanket behind the vocalist and behind the microphone.
Yeah, if it matters a lot for the song, then I'm putting up as much blankets around the vocalist as I can.
there is a noticeable difference when there absorbtion material in the back ( love the clarity)
It's a race between the directivity of the human voice and the studio cardioid. If the voice is more directional, put the blanket in front for a drier sound.
Very interesting!
WHAT microphone you recommend for hip hop? I want a big sounding vocals
I would say get it as dry as possible, absorption around as many sides as you can. Then use a fast release on a compression but at low ratios. Have it working around -10 db of reduction.
weird but i always have it behind the talent.... maybe because that way I get proper eye contact through the window! my whole room is dressed but I find pointing capsules at the far end picks up drum reverb from skins cymbals etc, will try your method looks promising!
Yes, the drums resonate too don't they! Good point
I didn't like the color of the blanket... what else you got? 😜👈🏻🎴
Ha, yeah, a lot of people say crazy stuff like that.
I always seem to prefer not using any absorption (unless the room sound is very obviously causing problems). I like to have just a touch of ambience in the vocal track, makes it seem a bit more lively.
Nice!
I'd say that most of the time the end product vocal sounds better with some ambience. The point of absorption to deaden the recording would be to then add nice sounding artificial ambience when the room's own ambience is unpleasant.
Dude ur awesome. I've had a headache wondering whats better.
Thanks!
Why not both?
I like none, front, back...all different...all good...
Damn - Is that an Acoustic 150b and matching 2 x 15 cabinet I see in the background?
Yep a 150b. I just got it. What kind of sound is it good for?
It's like a baby Acoustic 360. Instant John Paul Jones bass sound. I had a 150b back in the day (early seventies). I used it with two 2 x 15 matching Acoustic cabinets. Basic settings -Volume at ten o'clock, treble at noon, bass at one o'clock. I varied volume and tone on my Precision.
Oh nice, so a Zeppelin tone. Yeah I could see that.
Seriously though... I'm ordering some of those shipping blankets. Cool idea for something you can put anywhere as a sound curtain.
Yeah, they are great. Get thick ones if you can
Hardly noticeable on the mix... Maybe?
Depends of the song, of course ;)
Yeah, I might upload a video with compression which would bring it out more.
Why not do both
What about one on each side?
Sure why not. I just wanted to start with just one variable though.
I'd put absorbtion on both sides :D
I agree. I like to make a tent around the vocalist if I need it dry.