Is this unheard of?

  • Thread starter Thread starter loquat
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loquat

loquat

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So the other day I was playing around with my NT2A condenser microphone. I use it primarily for vocals. Which up until now has meant having it setup properly on a stand with a shock mount and a pop filter. But for fun I decided to try just holding the microphone. I switched the 20dB PAD on my preamp on to prevent clipping and just held it tightly without fidgeting. I was pretty impressed with the sound I got out of it. I thought I was going to get a bunch of noise from the capsule and even a heartbeat or two, but even with some light compression I got neither of these. So my question is this unheard of? Is this a big no-no? Am I risking damaging my microphone? Is there anyone else out there doing this?
 
Well what about the pop filter? more for the moisture from your mouth than Ps and Ss and at some point you will touch the cord or tap the mic in such a way that you'll get some noise in your recording.



:cool:
 
I think the effect it psychological. And I don't mean it that you hear something that's not there. What I mean is when you hold it in your hand, you feel more free, instead of having to stand in front of the mic rigidly. This in turn translates in better performance and more feeling.

I may be wrong of course :)
 
moresound said:
Well what about the pop filter? more for the moisture from your mouth than Ps and Ss and at some point you will touch the cord or tap the mic in such a way that you'll get some noise in your recording.
:cool:
Click to expand...

I'm still a little bit worried about that, but in today's little recording I notice any problems. I'm not sure if I should be worried about moisture problems either


Like Noisewreck suggested it could all be psychological. I just seemed easier to relax and sing with mic in hand. I also had great control of my proximity to the mic.

Unless there's a risk of me destroying my mic I think I'm going to keep it up. But I'll watch my plosives.
 
i know this method is fairly common for metal vocalists who like to scream/roar but often this is with a dynamic mic.
 
I would consider putting a foam filter over the capsule to ward off moisture-the charged capsule can act like like a particle magnet. otherwise, as long as you are not causing clipping in the signal chain you should be ok.

DJ
 
loquat said:
I'm still a little bit worried about that, but in today's little recording I notice any problems. I'm not sure if I should be worried about moisture problems either


Like Noisewreck suggested it could all be psychological. I just seemed easier to relax and sing with mic in hand. I also had great control of my proximity to the mic.

Unless there's a risk of me destroying my mic I think I'm going to keep it up. But I'll watch my plosives.
Click to expand...

So you didn't experience any anomalies ! Be sure to listen real close to the lower end of the recording of it then....keep on keeping on.



:cool:
 
Most of the time live and recording, I just find it easier to use a stand although I hate keeping still. I should train a parrot to sit on my shoulder and hold the mike (and not take the mick....ouch ! :p). But I've got a friend that likes to hold the mic when singing and following her example, other singers started doing likewise. And it never made things worse, though it did get a little loud initially. If you're getting results you like, rock on, Tommy.
 
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