Using a cup over a microphone?

[thehymns]

I was browsing through a recording technique book and I saw a SM57 on a snare drum with a foam cup over it...is this some super-cheap way to block out surrounding noise? Would it work on Small Diaphram condensors as overheads as well? I record in a small 10X10 room, and if this techique works I might try it out today since I have drummer coming in. Please respond quickly!?!

[ocnor]

You also might want to use 2 tin cans and a piece of string for the overheads.

[hampy]

If you mean the bottow of the cup was cut out and slid over the 57 so the capsule is still facing the snare then they probably are attempting to reduce hi-hat and tom bleed into the snare mic. There are some commercial products for that, too.

I would skip the foam cup and try to position the snare mic so the hi-hat is in the null of the pattern (cardoid).

[metalhead28]

It might block out a little sound but I think it would make the sound you wanted sound like shit. I would expect it to give a strange boxy sound......I don't know.

[Farview]

Cut out the bottom of a cup. Put the cup up to your ear. Do things sound better or worse?

[mixsit]

I figured about the same; the cup thing is to light, and is apt to be boxy sounding.
My solution was to put about an inch of dense foam on an 8 x 8" slab of hard plastic, curved it (about a six inch radius), and mounted it on a gooseneck. The mic hugs in right between the shield foam and the snare. It does a little, but not as much as you might like (or expect).
Wayne

[Track Rat]

http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=178109

[tourettes5139]

It's an endless loop!!! I keep clicking on Track Rat's links back and forth and I am eternally trapped!!! HELP!!!!









Evil crossposter.

[EDAN]

Originally Posted by Farview

Cut out the bottom of a cup. Put the cup up to your ear. Do things sound better or worse?

Try it and find out instead of giving smart ass replies. The old cup over the mic has been done for years in real studios on real albums by real producers and engineers.

[Farview]

I did, about 20 years ago. It was terrible, in fact, it sounded about the same as putting a cup with no bottom up to your ear. Imagine that!

[chessrock]

It can actually be a pretty cool on re-amping vocals. Run a vocal track in to a guitar amp, close mic it with a 57 and a cup over the mic. It's an Albini thing, I believe.

.

[Farview]

Originally Posted by chessrock

It can actually be a pretty cool on re-amping vocals. Run a vocal track in to a guitar amp, close mic it with a 57 and a cup over the mic. It's an Albini thing, I believe.

.

And your doing that to acheave the highest fidelity recording? I think not. As an effect, anything goes.

[chessrock]

Originally Posted by Farview

I did, about 20 years ago.

Why'd you go and do something like that? I'll bet it sounded like crap.

[vestast]

Originally Posted by EDAN

Try it and find out instead of giving smart ass replies. The old cup over the mic has been done for years in real studios on real albums by real producers and engineers.

The "try it and find out" part applies to the original question as well, doesn't it?

[c7sus]

You guys are doing it wrong.

You're supposed to use a SUPPORT CUP, not a foam cup.

Fasten it to the mic with a jockstrap.

[noisewreck]

Originally Posted by Farview

Do things sound better or worse?

That's subjective. They may sound different and not necessarily better or worse

[vestast]

Originally Posted by vestast

The "try it and find out" part applies to the original question as well, doesn't it?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Someone called me a peckerhead for this comment.

Gee... I wonder who it was?

[rory]

I believe that this technique is quoted in the Recording Engineer's Handbook. I was curious about it too and want to give it a try. Thats a well respected book is it not?

[LRosario]

Makes you wonder why they don't sell especially designed cups for recording engineers.


"The Ultimo Force Full Frequency Response Cup with optional 50$ shockmount"

[corban]

I won't comment on putting a cup over a snare mic, cause I haven't tried it, but putting a cup over your overheads sounds completely useless to me. On the snare it might keep out hihat bleed, but on the overheads, what are you trying to block out? You're not going to bypass the sound of your room that way, you're just adding another potential reason for your drums to sound bad. If you're in a small room with bad acoustics, sound treatment is the way to go.

[mixsit]

Originally Posted by LRosario

Makes you wonder why they don't sell especially designed cups for recording engineers.


"The Ultimo Force Full Frequency Response Cup with optional 50$ shockmount"

They do. They're little foam square thingies that set around and behind the head. Don't recall the brand.


I hate the way the straps ride up your butt though.

Wayne

[brandondrury]

I actually had some free time a few days ago and gave this one a try. I used a toilet paper roll. I'm guessing it only stuck out about 1/4" past the tip of mic.

In this one situation, I was amazed at how well the snare sounded and the hihat was reduced. It may have been a fluke, but I plan on trying it again. I may try it on toms too.

Brandon Drury

[noisewreck]

Originally Posted by mixsit

They do. They're little foam square thingies that set around and behind the head. Don't recall the brand.

Auralex:
http://www.auralex.com/sound_isolati...n_xpanders.asp

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by noisewreck

Auralex:
http://www.auralex.com/sound_isolati...n_xpanders.asp

You can get many of the same benefits by placing a foam cup over the mic.