recording vocals - soundproofing?
Author: admin Category: Home Studio Soundproofing
i have been putting together a home recording studio but i find that i don’t like the sound of my vocals. i find if i sing too loudly they don’t end up clear enough and if i sing too quietly with a high gain on the mic it’s clearer but i can also hear everything else that is going on like any little sound my mouth/tongue makes from movement.
i’m guessing the reason why i can’t get clear recordings when i try to project is because i have no sound proofing done at my place. I rent a suite so i can’t just build a booth or glue anything to the walls because i don’t own the place. I was thinking of getting some acoustic foam an putting it in a corner of my room (just maybe 3 feet one 2 walls)but i’m wondering if it will even make a difference if the rest of the room isn’t done?
i’ve seen those mic isolaters and i’m thinking about making something like that but i’ve only been able to find one review on how well they work and it wasn’t very good.
is some sound proofing better than none or will it just be a waste of money if i don’t have an enclosed, soundproof space?
Im think that the mic isolation thing ure talking about is this:
http://www.seelectronics.com/rf.html
Ive read good reviews and a few bad..most of the bads were from forums where ppl thought it was too expensive and they didnt like the sound. However, Ive seen it endorsed by Sound-on-Sound, Recording Magazine, Electronic Musician, or Mix magazine…whichever one does the "studio rescue’ thing where they come to ur sh**ty project studio and revamp it.
The best way to use it is to hang a duvet or two against the two walls of the corner. Then place the mic and mic stand so that ure singing out into the room with ur back to the now padded corner. Then put the Reflexion filter on the mic stand. This prevents too much of ur voice going out into the room and whatever does go out and comes back reflected should be absorbed by the duvets behind u.
Theres also a smaller Reflexion ‘project filter’ and even a cheaper generic version which I read makes recordings sound like sh*t for some people. Im sure u could resell it on ebay for some partial payback if u dont like it. I’ve also seen some DIYs about building ur own personal mic reflection filter with some pretty hilarious results!
U might also want to consider a compressor if ure having issues with high/low volume singing. Also, if ur loud singing isnt ‘clear’ ur SPL (Sound Pressure Level) on ur mic might be lower than u need. I think this normally causes distortion which is pretty noticeable. Are u using a condenser or a dynamic mic? U might wanna try the industry standard Shure SM58 (dynamic) mic it shouldnt produce any unclear vocals at high-volume.In addition, hearing ur mouth sounds is sometimes normal and can be helped with a noise-gate if it bothers u. U can also go ahead and work on ur ‘mouth-technique’ so u dont make these funny noises as much.
April 19th, 2010
yo u should get a friend to hook u up with some recording time or use a a pop filter caause thats what i be usin
References :
April 19th, 2010
If you have a closet you can record with the door open if you position the mic so you face the inner wall. This way you only have to soundproof a small amount of space. Or you could use the old fasioned technique of egg cartons stuffed with newspaper, it may not be the best but it sure can save money for that on the rise star. (alternative to closte culd jus be the smalest roon in your suite or the bathroom.)
References :
April 19th, 2010
Built a studio in my garage and two for other friends homes. The best sound proofing is foam but it’s expesive. Heavy Theater Curtains are great for deadening a room or even a closet. So there is a difference in what your looking for…sound proofing to keep the sound in that room…or just creating a dead/flat sound isolation area for vocals or acoustic instruments. Shapes are also good for deadening and adding texture to recordings. In my garage I did a combo of heavy curtains on two walls and the cardboard egg cartons on the other walls and ceiling. ( Cartons are free if your willing to lean over a dumpster at the Waffle House or Denny’s on Mondays.)
Now if you do not own your dwelling…put cartons on cardboard and tack it up, or get some curtain rods and find some heavy curtains with backing on them and hang.
For your vocals…save and get a good studio mic…with a pop-screen. Things like breath noise, AC in the background, clicks from electrical appliances turning on or off can all be edited out with Noise Reduction tools. Most home recording software programs have them.
Good luck!
Blaade
Drums/Vocals
KNucklefish & RubHerSole, Orlando FL
References :
30 year musician.
April 19th, 2010
get some tacs and just tack up comforters and blankets to the wall. You just need something to absorb the vibration. You might have to do all four walls. or maybe you can just go into the closet. Don’t take anything out the closet.
References :
April 19th, 2010
I’ve seen this question answered a ton of times at http://www.audioneeds.com in their forums they have a section on sound proofing… Confident it will help
References :
http://www.audioneeds.com
April 19th, 2010
Im think that the mic isolation thing ure talking about is this:
http://www.seelectronics.com/rf.html
Ive read good reviews and a few bad..most of the bads were from forums where ppl thought it was too expensive and they didnt like the sound. However, Ive seen it endorsed by Sound-on-Sound, Recording Magazine, Electronic Musician, or Mix magazine…whichever one does the "studio rescue’ thing where they come to ur sh**ty project studio and revamp it.
The best way to use it is to hang a duvet or two against the two walls of the corner. Then place the mic and mic stand so that ure singing out into the room with ur back to the now padded corner. Then put the Reflexion filter on the mic stand. This prevents too much of ur voice going out into the room and whatever does go out and comes back reflected should be absorbed by the duvets behind u.
Theres also a smaller Reflexion ‘project filter’ and even a cheaper generic version which I read makes recordings sound like sh*t for some people. Im sure u could resell it on ebay for some partial payback if u dont like it. I’ve also seen some DIYs about building ur own personal mic reflection filter with some pretty hilarious results!
U might also want to consider a compressor if ure having issues with high/low volume singing. Also, if ur loud singing isnt ‘clear’ ur SPL (Sound Pressure Level) on ur mic might be lower than u need. I think this normally causes distortion which is pretty noticeable. Are u using a condenser or a dynamic mic? U might wanna try the industry standard Shure SM58 (dynamic) mic it shouldnt produce any unclear vocals at high-volume.In addition, hearing ur mouth sounds is sometimes normal and can be helped with a noise-gate if it bothers u. U can also go ahead and work on ur ‘mouth-technique’ so u dont make these funny noises as much.
References :
recording engineer 7 years