Microphone question?????

[DL da ARSUN]

Why do some studio's record their artist with the microphone upside down?? HOw does that benefit the sound of the vocals?

[MadAudio]

There are a few reasons that this is done. With tube mics, it is done to keep the heat generated by the tube from changing the response of the diaphragm. Also you get a better line of sight between the singer and the control room. A singer I've been working with likes to have a music stand with his lyrics on it in front of him, and hanging the mic upside down gives him the room to do this. Also it just looks cool!

[Secret Clubhous]

Another reason to do this is to avoid sibilance. If the mic is a few inches above the singer's mouth & they sing looking straight ahead (not toward the mic) it can avoid those nasty ssss sounds. And sometimes it just might sound better in that position after trying different mic placements.

& another reason is to make the singer tilt their head upward, which can open up their air passages & thereby get a fuller sound, more from the chest.