Eliminating room reverbs in recordings...

[LCD]

Here's the deal. We're now going to be tracking here at my crib and then sending the sessions to NY to be mixed. My ONLY concern is having too much natural reverb in our recordings. Besides buying a Whisper Room or something similar, what can we do to improve our vocal recordings and eliminate any excess reverbs?

Thanks
-LCD-

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

The new SE Electronics Reflexion Filter has been getting great reviews. Until recently it has been hard to find in stock, but it looks like the inventory levels are finally getting in place here in the USA. AudioMIDI.com shows 2-3 days shipping on it.

G.

 

[LCD]

Wow... it looks like Auralex Aural Xpanders on steroids... Going to look into these

 

[LCD]

And speaking of SE Electronics..... how do people like the SE2200A??

 

[Farview]

YOu can make gobos out of rigid fiberglass (or packing blankets for that matter) and place them behind and along side of you. It will give you the advantages of a booth without the low end problems, the clostrophobia, and the stink of home made vocal booths. Plus, you can move them around to suit your needs.

 

[someguy]

In my studio I hung up four medium-thick drapes. They can be rolled up like a pair of blinds so I can keep the room open and drop them down to reduce reflections. They form a square that a person can stand and sing or play inside. I've found it sounds better than a heavily padded isolation booth since it reduces unwanted reflections (reverb) but vocals still sound "airy" and not dead like isolation booths or heavily dampended rooms can somtimes sound.

 

[MessianicDreams]

And speaking of SE Electronics..... how do people like the SE2200A??

i love it. wonderful vocal mic. decent instrument mic. don't want to jump to conclusions, but are you recording rap vocals? i did a session with a rapper, did a shoot-out between U87, SE2200a and a few others..the sE won hands down.


of course it all depends on the persons vocals etc, but i think for the price it is a brilliant mic.

 

[Ethan Winer]

Jay,

> YOu can make gobos out of rigid fiberglass <

Agreed, and that works a lot better than absorbers that are too small to truly keep the room sound out of the microphones. Something more along the size shown below works much better.

--Ethan

Click HERE to see the photo.

 

[Chibi Nappa]

The new SE Electronics Reflexion Filter has been getting great reviews. Until recently it has been hard to find in stock, but it looks like the inventory levels are finally getting in place here in the USA. AudioMIDI.com shows 2-3 days shipping on it.

G.

I wouldn't throw gear at an already recorded signal to solve the problem. Just go right to the source and put stuff in the room (treat it, etc,) until the room verb is how you want it. And remember, you most likely want at least some of that room verb. Unless the room sounds like ass. Then move to another room.

 

[LCD]

Messianic - yes its rap vocals. I'm glad its such a nice mic. How does it compare to the AT4047 or the AT4050??

Ethan - How the hell can I do/buy something like that. I have NO skill with building things AT ALL...

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

I wouldn't throw gear at an already recorded signal to solve the problem. Just go right to the source and put stuff in the room (treat it, etc,) until the room verb is how you want it. And remember, you most likely want at least some of that room verb. Unless the room sounds like ass. Then move to another room.

Ummm...you might want to actually look at the link before you post .

The "Reflexion Filter" is a form of acoustic treatment, rather like a mini-gobo that surrounds the microphone. It has nothing to do with processing a recorded signal.

G.

 

[j-boy]

In my studio I hung up four medium-thick drapes. They can be rolled up like a pair of blinds so I can keep the room open and drop them down to reduce reflections. They form a square that a person can stand and sing or play inside. I've found it sounds better than a heavily padded isolation booth since it reduces unwanted reflections (reverb) but vocals still sound "airy" and not dead like isolation booths or heavily dampended rooms can somtimes sound.

Yeas, this is the easy way to go IMO. I've been using this approach (with sheets), and it's cheap, easy and effective. Skip the "reflexion" devices and save your money for mic's, pre's and other "fun" stuff...

 

[MessianicDreams]

Messianic - yes its rap vocals. I'm glad its such a nice mic. How does it compare to the AT4047 or the AT4050??

never used the AT4047, but compared to the AT4050 i would say it has a more crispt high-end, and is generally a little more clear than the AT4050, which i would describe as slightly grainy.



of course all these descriptors are very subjective, as is trying to describe with words the difference between mics

 

[TragikRemix]

do you have a mattress laying around?

i put an old mattress in front of my guitar amp, behind the mic of course, and that helped tremendously...

go in a corner, turn around, facing out into the room. set up your mic in front of you and have someone hold up the mattress...

it could help. just a quick/easy way to get some results. its not perfect, but it works ok.

 

[jimmy2sticks]

Another way is to use a closet. I am not sure what instruments you are tracking, but putting a mic in front of some clothes and singing into used to work well for me back in the day.

Then there is always the un-verb plug-in.

 

[LCD]

lmao @ unverb...

I actually won't hardly be tracking instruments, 98% of the time it will be vocals.

 

[TragikRemix]

yeah the closet trick is better than nothing.