Upside-down Mics??

[Call Me Cell]

I have a simple question. Why are most LCD's placed upside-down on mic stands? I'm asking because I recently purchased a LCD tube mic and was wondering if placing my mic in any certain position (right-side up or up-side down) would have an effect on my recordings. Maybe it has something to do with the tube in the TUBE mic, or the condennnnnn, (on purpose typo) hell i don't know. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance...

 

[Big Kenny]

To keep the mic out of the "line of sight" for the singer to see the lyrics
To reduce proximity and that straight on singing
To keep the tube cool

 

[Call Me Cell]

thanks, now keeping the tube cool was something that i had in mind but the other things you mentioned never really crossed my mind! Anyways thanks again.

 

[mshilarious]

thanks, now keeping the tube cool was something that i had in mind but the other things you mentioned never really crossed my mind! Anyways thanks again.

It's not the tube but the capsule that you don't want to overheat.

Also it gets the singer looking straight out, which aids in projection, and minimizes plosives (breath pops), which travel downwards.

 

[mrface2112]

.....b/c most singers project better when standing on their heads......


cheers,
wade

 

[Dracon]

It's not the tube but the capsule that you don't want to overheat.

Also it gets the singer looking straight out, which aids in projection, and minimizes plosives (breath pops), which travel downwards.

Does it make a difference with a LDC without tubes? I don't notice any significant heating on my LDC one way or the other, but I don't own a LDC with tubes. I also thought that you want the tube LDC to get warm (not hot) and stay warm, for a 'better' sound.

 

[mshilarious]

Does it make a difference with a LDC without tubes? I don't notice any significant heating on my LDC one way or the other, but I don't own a LDC with tubes. I also thought that you want the tube LDC to get warm (not hot) and stay warm, for a 'better' sound.

Tubes are designed to be hot, that's how they work--the heater boils electrons off the cathode which find their way through the grid to the plate. But heat isn't so good for other components.

With a non-tube LDC, no you don't have to worry about heat, but you get all those other nifty benefits.

 

[Dracon]

With a non-tube LDC, no you don't have to worry about heat, but you get all those other nifty benefits.

????? Since, I can't hear your tone I'm unsure if this is sarcasm or a true statement.

 

[mshilarious]

????? Since, I can't hear your tone I'm unsure if this is sarcasm or a true statement.

Reread the thread:

1) Better projection

2) Can read lyrics

3) Reduced plosives

4) Reduced proximity effect

5) Looks cool

 

[Big Kenny]

.....b/c most singers project better when standing on their heads......


cheers,
wade

And look better too!

 

[Dracon]

Reread the thread:

1) Better projection

2) Can read lyrics

3) Reduced plosives

4) Reduced proximity effect

5) Looks cool

I can read, and I did read your thread. Perhaps you need to read what I asked. I asked if you werre being sarcastic. Just because it wasn't very clear as to what you were referencing, doesn't make me an idiot.

 

[heroics321]

he was being serious, and by listing the nifty benefits, he was answering your question. when on a message board, its best to assume most comments like that aren't sarcastic, unless its chessrock... thats a whole other ballgame right there. just relaxxxxxxxxx, go do it.

 

[mrface2112]

as stated above, obviously, the #1 reason for tube mics is b/c in the past (meaning "historically"), over a couple hours the tube would get hot and could warp the diaphragm. that's not an issue with non-tube LDCs, and IMO, there are two "big reasons" with non-tube LDCs.

1. it's easier to aim the mic "down". this emphasizes the "chest voice" and minimizes the "head voice" (and the associated nasally tonalities). generally this is a good thing--unless, of course, you want to emphasize someone's nasal qualities.

2. it causes the singer to lift their head--thus straightening the throat and clearing a path for better singing posture and projection (and thus hopefully better tone).

even though i can "aim a mic downward" just fine when it's "right side up" on a stand, i've found that i get better results when i flip it over. plus, it's out of the way of the music stand. AND it "looks cool", and where clients are concerned, looking "cool" or "professional" often elicits a better performance out of them, and all else equal, a better performance is key and i'll do whatever i need to in order to get that.

personally, i haven't noticed any "reduced proximity effect", but i HAVE noticed i don't "smack my head on it' as much. :b


cheers,
wade

 

[Big Kenny]

I only meant the proximity that the singers get from "sneaking up" on the microphone if it is set up straight up. They seem to move in on it less if it is upside down and doesn't look like their stage setup.