Microphone isolation and acoustic treatment

M

mbouteneff

New member
I'm looking for ways to reduce room ambiance in my vocal recordings. Has anyone ever tried one of these products, or tried building something like them?

Reflexion Filter
http://www.seelectronics.com/rf.html
= a portable device for recording live sound sources with reduced room ambience.

Microphone Isolation Panel
http://www.smproaudio.com/MICTHING.htm
= a portable multi-purpose acoustic treatment panel suitable for minimizing room artifacts and improving separation during microphone recording sessions.

Alternatively, have you tried a home-grown set up like the one in this photo:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul05/articles/qa0705_5.htm
(Btw, is a "duvet" just a "mattress", or is it something more specific?)

Thanks!

-M
 
Shit man - don't double post. Bet this actually is in the studio building forum as well, just as my response in the microphone forum indicated :p
 
The real trick to absorbing sound is having multiple materials. Certain material absorb particular frequencies while reflecting others and transmitting others (there will also be a frequency that causes pure materials to resonate). Do you have any idea which frequencies that you are trying to absorb? As a general rule materials that are more dense absorb lower frequencies, and materials that are less dense aborb higher frequencies. Mattresses contain both making them useful (yet cumbersome). It is also worth noting that bass frequencies are amplified in corners due to the physics of sound.

Another helpful thing could be to add some diffusion to the room. Diffusion helps break up sound reflections and reduce standing wave with occur between any parallel surfaces such as walls, and ceiling/floor. These are pretty easy to build if you have a power saw (table saw is even better!). Here's a link to get the general idea. http://www.orionsound.com/diffuser_array.htm

Hope this helps :)
www.themixbus.com
 
mbouteneff said:
I'm looking for ways to reduce room ambiance in my vocal recordings. Has anyone ever tried one of these products, or tried building something like them?
Click to expand...

I sell a competing product so I may be biased. But you should definitely look at this before buying anything else:

www.realtraps.com/p_pvb.htm

Look especially at the data comparing sound isolation and coloration of the devices.

--Ethan
 
Another low cost / no cost way to isolate your mic is to just open and stand your hard shelled guitar case up. It works pretty well in a jam:D
 
Thanks for the feedback, guys.

Izzy Pop: thanks for the explanation. I'll have to try sticking a lot of random stuff in my new recording "space" (i.e. part of a dining room / living room..! :) ), since I just finished moving.

Ethan: Very interesting product. Does the angular shape work well? I'll be sure to read more about how it compares to other products -- thanks.

NYMorningStar: That's simply brilliant. I'm totally going to use that. :D

AndyHix: Another nice set up. Man, I need to learn more in the way of carpentry, clearly.

Thanks everyone!

-Mike
 
Friend,

All good suggestions here but I'd urge you to read, heed and understand the info on Ethan's site. It doesn't get any better. This guy's in business for sure but he doesn't keep any secrets from the DIY guy. He's a gold mine in the field.

Again, he's in business and well recognized in the industry. Acoustics is a science and short cuts aren't his thing but cost effective real world results, that's him.
 
Cat Box

I saw the Reflexion unit and was interested; but not for almost $300.00. When we had our cat put to sleep, at age 18, I disinfected her litter bax top and made my own Reflexion thingy. I lined the inside with foam.

You can sese a picture of it here: http://www.myspace.com/garyroyer. Click on the song Unbelievable.
 
Just found this thread, after looking on the website, im pretty sure im getting a realtrap PVB, but is one 'piece' reffering to one panel? if so, would that mean I would have to get 2?
 
Ridickolas said:
Just found this thread, after looking on the website, im pretty sure im getting a realtrap PVB, but is one 'piece' reffering to one panel? if so, would that mean I would have to get 2?
Click to expand...

No, the PVB is a complete system with two panels joined by a hinge, plus the metal pieces to mount it to your boom stand.

--Ethan
 
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