Noob - Help with Background Noise and Noise Cancelling

  • Thread starter Thread starter shadowoflight
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Countryman Isomax? There are good options from A-T and Shure as well.

that looks awesome, but I'd rather not spend any more, not to mention that I've already an at2020.

hmmm..

but I'd definitely keep the isomax in mind, I was thinking about those mics just a few moments ago
 
Well if you're set on using the at2020 then some kind of baffles might be useful, but just keep in mind you're going at this the worst possible way.
Not saying it's your fault, but don't expect earth shattering results.
 
btw, as I understand it, compressors are used to smooth out the peaks and lows...but I was also reading that it reduces noise? How does that work?
 
See, you're ticking all the 'don't do' boxed.

Your creative sound card isn't serious recording equipment.
I'm guessing your headset is designed to match it.

If you mix and match studio gear with gaming gear, you get lowest common denominator out.


It's been said but do everything you can to reduce or eliminate noises in the room.
The buy a respectable usb interface (or similar) and a headset mic with XLR output.

BSG..recommend any names?

any recommendations for a usb interface?
 
Well if you're set on using the at2020 then some kind of baffles might be useful, but just keep in mind you're going at this the worst possible way.
Not saying it's your fault, but don't expect earth shattering results.

understood, btw thanks everyone for your patience guys =)
 
btw, as I understand it, compressors are used to smooth out the peaks and lows...but I was also reading that it reduces noise? How does that work?

A compressor is the last thing you want if noise is an issue.
A compressor can reduce the dynamic range of a recording, typically by reducing how far past a volume threshold your audio can go.

Long story short, reduce peaks = room to turn up track = louder noise.

For USB interfaces (or fw or whatever), you'd need to shop around based on your needs.
Sort out how many simultaneous inputs and outputs you're going to need then have a google armed with that knowledge.

There are some wallet friendly options from tascam, presonus, etc.
If it's literally just one voice you need to record, both of those manufacturers have two channel units.
 
sigh... I was hoping to avoid having a dildo on my table, much less one that's close to my face...but it looks like there's not much choice considering my environment huh =\

"people often meet their destiny on the road they take to avoid it" - I bought a pre amp thinking that it's a workaround so that I don't need a dildo in my face. But from there, I got a condenser mic, thinking hey since I already have a preamp might as well, then to get that to work properly in my environment, I'll need to put it nearer to my face.

Master Wu Gui man, I'm telling you.

How about a lavalier mic? Pin it on your shirt and you're good to go.

Rode smartLav | Sweetwater.com
 
How about a lavalier mic? Pin it on your shirt and you're good to go.

Rode smartLav | Sweetwater.com

why didn't I think about that! I guess it's coz I didn't know they were called lavalier mics lol.

But I'm curious though, they can't be used with a pre-amp right? Their output seems low, and it looks like they can't be used by plugging straight into my sound card because it needs power that is provided when connected to a a transmitter?
 
Countryman Isomax? There are good options from A-T and Shure as well.

btw, mics like the countrymax, these are meant to be used in 'uber noise' environments...like on a stage during a performance yes? Was that part of the reason why you recommended it?

Could you kindly point me to similar mics by AT?
 
why didn't I think about that! I guess it's coz I didn't know they were called lavalier mics lol.

But I'm curious though, they can't be used with a pre-amp right? Their output seems low, and it looks like they can't be used by plugging straight into my sound card because it needs power that is provided when connected to a a transmitter?

You can get wired lavs. The problem is that a lav is a bit far from your mouth to really isolate your voice from the noises in the room.
 
I wonder if we can invent some sort of adapter to boost gaming mic signals.

Target price should be $49.95 or $39.95... the idea being with this you can use your existing headset mics for recording without resorting to buying semi-pro to pro equipment if you just want a slight boost in volume/sound quality.
 
I wonder if we can invent some sort of adapter to boost gaming mic signals.

Target price should be $49.95 or $39.95... the idea being with this you can use your existing headset mics for recording without resorting to buying semi-pro to pro equipment if you just want a slight boost in volume/sound quality.

You're making this way more complicated than it needs to be.

Buy a cheap interface with built-in preamps and produce your videos already.

You've already tied up a couple hundred bucks in the AT2020.

Is your audience so dumb they can't figure out that somehow the audio has to get recorded so it can be loaded onto the internets?

Are you trying to fool them into thinking it happens with PFM*?

*Pure Fucking Magic.
 
You're making this way more complicated than it needs to be.

Buy a cheap interface with built-in preamps and produce your videos already.

You've already tied up a couple hundred bucks in the AT2020.

Is your audience so dumb they can't figure out that somehow the audio has to get recorded so it can be loaded onto the internets?

Are you trying to fool them into thinking it happens with PFM*?

*Pure Fucking Magic.

lol.

I'm already producing the vids. I'm looking for ways to improve voice quality, that's all.

I'm just thinking out loud about ways to make it easier for people people who are venturing into getting better equipment for their own recordings without wanting a big mic nearby.

I actually like rough and ready replies like these because the people usually goes straight to the point. However, a reply also shows whether that person actually took the effort to find out what are the real concerns.

Speaking of which, if an audience thinks whatever it was happened by PJM, isn't that the mark of good backend logistics?
 
You haven't bothered to post a link to any of your vids so nobody knows for sure what the problem really is and if it is worth all these gyrations.

You might want to try to put a gate in your chain and see if that helps any.

Another technique is to record your voice as you normally would, then position yourself in front of the mic and do another full take without talking.

Reverse the phase of the second take and the noise will be cancelled when playing back both takes at the same time.

An eaiser way to do that technique would be to use dual-omnis and reverse the phase of one of the mics. You speak into one of the mics and the other records the off-axis audio.

The Grateful Dead used this during the time they were touring with the Wall Of Sound and had no monitors on stage, just a huge pile of SR speakers behind them.

This clip shows the proximity of the the mics to each other.

This technique would allow you to dazzle your audience with your technical prowess in addressing the noise issue. :D

 
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If it's gentle background noise, would not a gate also help? Set the threshold to remove that - it might be at say -50db - so that at least during moments of not singing or talking, that background noise would not be there? And adjust attack etc to smooth out the gate coming in and out?

Peter
 
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