Mic shootout: redo

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im about 6 inches. except for mic 1 i came closer to capitalize on proximity. prob 3-4 inch

I guess you know that full proximity effect on its own will likely make the differences between similar class mics seem like nothing.

The difference in bass response between standing 8"' and 2" from the same unidirectional mic is huge.
Unless you can strictly control for that across mic samples, you risk the test becoming almost meaningless. Sorry but that's the way it is.

Tim
 
I guess you know that full proximity effect on its own will likely make the differences between similar class mics seem like nothing.

The difference in bass response between standing 8"' and 2" from the same unidirectional mic is huge.
Unless you can strictly control for that across mic samples, you risk the test becoming almost meaningless. Sorry but that's the way it is.

Tim

A pop filter, aside from its main purpose, can also limit the proximity effect by simply limiting your proximity :D
 
1. Really? What's a pop filter? I must have missed something in the last 40 years...

2. He just said he consciously worked the proximity effect. How could he have done that if the pop filter prevented him from doing that?

Tim
 
1. Really? What's a pop filter? I must have missed something in the last 40 years...

2. He just said he consciously worked the proximity effect. How could he have done that if the pop filter prevented him from doing that?

Tim

I was responding to you, not Adam. It was a suggestion to limit how much proximity effect you get. It seems to follow the inverse square law to some extent. Up close and personal, it can result in large variation. By limiting the minimum distance with a more or less physical barrier like a pop filter, you could work it however much you want without going extreme
 
I was responding to you, not Adam.

Since I already knew what you told me here , and since it was me who raised the "wild card" of the proximity effect in the mic testing, (nobody else apparently did) perhaps you should be be directing your comments to the people who dont know it rather than those who do...
 
Since I already knew what you told me here , and since it was me who raised the "wild card" of the proximity effect in the mic testing, (nobody else apparently did) perhaps you should be be directing your comments to the people who dont know it rather than those who do...

Can anyone say anything to you that doesn't offend you in some way? I was responding to something you said, I didn't say I was instructing you. Ever heard of conversation? Every spoken word is not necessarily an attack on your superior intellect...
 
Can anyone say anything to you that doesn't offend you in some way? I was responding to something you said, I didn't say I was instructing you. Ever heard of conversation? Every spoken word is not necessarily an attack on your superior intellect...

That's totally un called for.

Your post #22 was obvious sarcasm, confirmed by the grinning icon.

Now you're doing it again with your "superior intellect" jibe.

A page or so ago you said I had just given a lecture in the "philosopy of audio" or some such nonsense. Whatever the "philosophy of audio" might be anyway. I have no idea. No need for that sarcasm either.

By contrast, gekko calmly discussed the issues, factually, and without sarcasm or attack. Follow his example, not because he supports me but because he is balanced and thinks before speaking.

Tim
 
I can try it with equal proximity. My reasoning for doing that was because I wanted to compare the best I could get out of each specific Mic
 
Really?

1. Really? What's a pop filter? I must have missed something in the last 40 years...

This tells me that your a little too proud of your experience and obviously can't take a joke, or sarcasm.....

Not to mention, how does any of this meaningless bicker help anyone, especially Adam?
 
I can try it with equal proximity. My reasoning for doing that was because I wanted to compare the best I could get out of each specific Mic

You are doing fine Adam, experimenting with technique is the best way of learning. Keep it up and keep us posted :)
 
I can try it with equal proximity. My reasoning for doing that was because I wanted to compare the best I could get out of each specific Mic

That's fine as far as it goes but proximity effect is very hard to control for especially when you're standing and singing into a mic. If you want consistent results across mic tests, I suggest to choose a standardised distance from the mics which is outside the proximity effect zone by a small but safe margin, using the pop screen as the barrier, as guitar legend quite rightly suggested.

Otherwise it's almost impossible to judge what is the natural sound of the mic and how much is the bass boost of proximity effect.

Again, I suggest mixing a fully produced backing track with an unproduced vocal track is unhelpful.
Regardless of the mics tested, your voice would sound much better in a finished mix, and it's the finished mix which everybody hears, not a mixture of finished and unfinished. You used the words, "clarity and sheen" as the improvement you were wanting. Clarity and sheen could well describe the improvement to the vocal line once it was produced to match the backing tracks, and "sit" properly in the mix.
Just on its own, basic compression would make a huge improvement by lifting up to audibility your quieter parts, (clarity) and taming the ragged, sharp spikes in volume (sheen). Just some thoughts.

I guess my overall point has been that enormous R and D has gone into the manufacture of mics for generations. We are the beneficiaries. Be thankful for that.

I fear you are "stuck" at the mic stage and need to get "unstuck".

Why not just buy a reputable mid priced vocal mic (edit: I forgot. You might already own some) and get on with what you love: singing and recording? Once you commit to the equipment, you can start to make complete recordings and productions. That's when you start to learn all sorts of things -by doing it from start to finish.

Cheers Tim
 
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Hey all,

It'd be sweet if we could refrain from lashing out at other members...don't make it personal. Feel free to smash mics/opinions but leave the people themselves out of it ;)

Thanks
 
I like them in the order you have them.

Mic A- Best - Sounds "open" but not harsh.
Mic B- Better - Smooth upper end.
Mic C- Good - A little on the dull side.

Mind you...they are pretty close, especially A & B.

Also...don't want to make you feel bad, but I think at least half the problem really is your singing, which was already mentioned. Rather constrained, tight...like you're choking back. You have to let that voice out.
You might want to work on that so that you can then get the most out of whatever mic you end up with as your go-to vocal mic.
 
I would say that progress is being made Adam. Curious, the backing track for Alabama has a sharp cutoff at around 10hKz where the vocal track covers the full range up to 20kHz. I'm not sure what's happening there. It's not a rolloff, it's like you took a knife and sliced off everything above 10kHz on the backing track. Wouldn't mind looking at the original track. Was it a low-res MP3 perhaps?

Spec1.webp
 
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it was converted from a youtube video so yeah mp3 not sure the quality
 
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