Recording With Child In The Room?

[Elise]

Is this possible?

I record several 90 second radio segments every day. As odd as it sounds, I'd like to let my 18 month old wander around the room while I'm recording. The alternative is having someone come over and watch her in several, short spurts all day long. (Unfortunately, she's not into cartoons yet and her naps are unpredictable)

Is there a noise-canceling mic, or some sort of odd device that I can use to eliminate any background noises she might make?
Thanks!

 

[darrin_h2000]

I used to do them at the station.

 

[miroslav]

Is there a noise-canceling mic, or some sort of odd device that I can use to eliminate any background noises she might make?
Thanks!

I would give her a mic...make her part of the radio segment!



It's only a problem if she IS a problem...and you can't work around her.
Otherwise...there's nothing wrong with it. I've seen all kinds of characters in the studio...and they weren't even part of the band!!!

 

[solaris1982]

Depends on where she is in relation to you. Most Cardioid mics are good at rejecting any sound that they aren't pointing directly at. It also depends on how loud you are when speaking. If you're louder, the input volume can be lower, which would make background noise quieter.

 

[mshilarious]

Teletubbies. Also, get as close to the mic as you possibly can for the sound you want.

 

[moresound]

possibly 3 or 4 office dividers at about three and a half feet high set up to shelled our recording area. I find them used all the time about 5 to 10 dollars a piece.

 

[bozmillar]

Ha, this is funny because I have the same problem. I have a couple solutions, and no, I'm not kidding:

1) Nerf gun - I have my kids stand on the other side of the room, and i shoot them with a nerf gun while I mix music. They are entertained, and I get to work on the mix while they are picking up darts and bringing them to me. Plus, it's a lot of fun.

2) Just let them be - I try to have people over to record only when my kids are napping. The problem is, as soon as someone walks into the house, they come out and want to watch. Now I just let them come out and watch. I recorded a guy playing flamenco guitar a couple nights ago with my 2 year old about 3 feet from him watching. I was better off leaving him there than having him in his room crying.

My kids are almost always in the room when I record because they can't help but want to be there. The only time I've ever been able to hear anything from them on a recording was when I tried to put one of them in bed and she wailed the entire time, and even then, I could only hear it creep into the song at one point, and it was barely noticable if you knew where to look for it.

Unless your kid is in the room yelling or knocking over mic stands, I don't think it's going to make any difference in the sound of the recording.

 

[moresound]

Ha, this is funny because I have the same problem. I have a couple solutions, and no, I'm not kidding:

1) Nerf gun - I have my kids stand on the other side of the room, and i shoot them with a nerf gun while I mix music. They are entertained, and I get to work on the mix while they are picking up darts and bringing them to me. Plus, it's a lot of fun.

2) Just let them be - I try to have people over to record only when my kids are napping. The problem is, as soon as someone walks into the house, they come out and want to watch. Now I just let them come out and watch. I recorded a guy playing flamenco guitar a couple nights ago with my 2 year old about 3 feet from him watching. I was better off leaving him there than having him in his room crying.

My kids are almost always in the room when I record because they can't help but want to be there. The only time I've ever been able to hear anything from them on a recording was when I tried to put one of them in bed and she wailed the entire time, and even then, I could only hear it creep into the song at one point, and it was barely noticable if you knew where to look for it.

Unless your kid is in the room yelling or knocking over mic stands, I don't think it's going to make any difference in the sound of the recording.

And besides your children will grow up in a recording environment learning as they go. I have seven children and all of them from age 30 to 10 know all about music live and studio in fact my 13 year old son just told me how amazed his music teacher was when they spoke about how a live sound stage was set up and he corrected her on which side of the snake was called ...Stage box and fan tail. Just goes to show.

 

[dastrick]

3 words...

Ben A Dryl

 

[gecko zzed]

"Just let them be" mentioned above would be my approach as well.

I recognise that there could be noise difficulties at times . . . but technology is not really the answer there. Make the best of it that you can.

 

[legionserial]

Is this possible?

No. If there is a child in the room your equipment will not work.

 

[gecko zzed]

No. If there is a child in the room your equipment will not work.

Only if they puke all over it.

 

[Kingofpain678]

Duct.
Tape.

 

[Dogbreath]

No. If there is a child in the room your equipment will not work.

Duct.
Tape.

 

[grimtraveller]

It's only a problem if she IS a problem...and you can't work around her.

Ever since my kids were born, they've spent time in the 'studio' watching me record. After all, it doubles as their bedroom ! Sometimes they know they can't be there but on other occasions they love it. Very rarely have they talked or made a noise that finished up on the recording and then I incorporated it as a sound effect. Interestingly, one is learning guitar {he's put together an interesting cross of a piece from "Phineas and Pherb" and the Who's riff from "I'm free"} and the other is mad about drums.
There is a device that blocks out all sound, but unfortunately, it's useless for recording.....

 

[darrin_h2000]

If you are producing spots for a radio station you work for...dont they have a DAW there?
I do have bad dreams about toddlers and orange juice arround my stuff.

I remember when I was young a woman I dated had a 2 yo boy and one morning I woke up and he had got into some sticks of butter and he smeared it on all my stuff.

 

[moresound]

If you are producing spots for a radio station you work for...dont they have a DAW there?
I do have bad dreams about toddlers and orange juice arround my stuff.

I remember when I was young a woman I dated had a 2 yo boy and one morning I woke up and he had got into some sticks of butter and he smeared it on all my stuff.

It wasn't me it was the studio gremlins!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TeyshaBlue]

If you are producing spots for a radio station you work for...dont they have a DAW there?
I do have bad dreams about toddlers and orange juice arround my stuff.

I remember when I was young a woman I dated had a 2 yo boy and one morning I woke up and he had got into some sticks of butter and he smeared it on all my stuff.

Bet them faders moved smooth tho.

 

[michaelSHK]

I vote for the benadryl... but get some rum as well.

 

[Todzilla]

My kids could envision no greater hell than being trapped in Dad's studio. They'd quickly ensure they were kicked out by making sufficient noise/distractions to warrant expulsion. I can't fault them really. It IS pretty tedious work.

None of them went seriously into music, beyond avid listening. They went into biochemistry and medicine, instead of the stable and respectable field of studio rat. Oh well.