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Microphone Technique and Room Management [Recording Vocals Pt 3]

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Filming Sound – The Art of the Microphone

The quality of the visuals is more important than the

camera. The framing of the shot can transform a scene.

The microphone, like the camera, captures what is set

before it. Learn to use your microphone like a camera,

capturing the details of the story to maximize its impact.

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Shooting On Location

That setting is the place that you record in. Unfortunately,

microphone is only as good as the room you’re recording

in and the way you record with it.

So, we have to be adaptable.

Image © Bill Selak via Compfight

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Vocal Valhalla

Vocal Valhalla method (my terminology) is a workaround

for producers with limited space. You need to set aside a

corner of your studio for recording vocals. It needn’t be

huge and the setup is simple.

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First, get some soundproofing. Real soundproofing. Then place this

soundproofing at a 45 degree angle in the corner.

The microphone then placed up to 6 feet away

from the panel, and pointed directly at it, with

the singer in betwixt the two.

There’s one more piece of gear I recommend for this operation. A

reflection filter mounts onto your microphone stand and stops room

reflections from reaching your mic from the sides, or behind.

Image © Aaron via Flicker

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Plosive Expert

Plosives are the syllables, Ps Bs and Ts, that

are louder and more distorted in recordings

than other syllables. They’re the result of the

human voice, which projects air to make these

sounds. As you would expect, this causes a

pressure spike when the air hits the

microphone diaphragm. And it sounds terrible.

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Framing the Shot

Good microphone technique for most vocal tracks is no rocket

science. Keep the singer somewhere around a foot away from the

microphone. You’re going to find that the exact distance varies from

singer to singer and with different microphones.

Take some time to adjust the input signal level with your interface and

some precautions against sibilance.

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Mic Test

Before you press record, experiment. Start experimenting

with using various mic positions to affect the tone of the

song.

More aptly, listen to the quality of the mic position. Play

around with minor variations until you get the best sound.

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Microphone Technique and Room Management [Recording Vocals Pt 3]

http://homerecordinghome.com/microphone-technique-and-room-management/