Vocal Recording

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Robert27191

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Hi All,

I record mainly vocals, in a small, totally untreated room. My equipment is an NT1-A and a Scarlett 2i2 Interface.
Because of the untreated and awkward nature of the room, I'm looking to invest in some reflector filters etc.
Without a massive budget, what do people suggest? I have seen examples of mic reflection filters, and they all relatively similar in construction and price.

Thoughts? And any other tips would be greatly appreciated!

Robert
 
At the top of this forum is a stickie called Small Room Acoustics. Read through that, it will give a starting point.
 
As Chili hints at, your best bet will be to actually treat the room--if you do the building yourself, it needn't be badly expensive.

If there's a reason you can't do this, then the only "reflection filter" I know that's worth using is the original, the sE "Reflexion" filter. The best (but most expensive) is the original and I've used one of these for professional recordings (an author who wanted to do audio books but couldn't leave her own home for health reasons) and the results were totally acceptable. There's now a cheaper home studio variant which is about half the price of the original and this is probably about 80% as good for half the price. Be very careful to follow the sE set up instructions exactly--basically have the mic diaphragm directly in line with the front edges of the filter.

As far as I'm concerned, none of the cheap imitations are worth the money. You get what you pay for.

A third option for you to consider is to build yourself a couple of "L" shaped frame out of cheap PVC pipe--the sort you can get at any DIY or plumbing centre. Leave the corner connectors unglued to you can take them apart and store them flat under a bed or something. Use spring clamps to cover the frames in movers blankets or duvets and stand with the soft stuff behind you, facing outwards. Some soft stuff on the wall opposite helps too. Not ideal, but not bad.

However, proper treatment is always the best idea.
 
Thanks Chili and Bobbsy.
Bobbsy, I have seen the cheaper of the SE filters, I think it's the SE Reflection Filter X, but I have also come across the Primacoustic VoxGuard.
Do you have any comments to make about a comparison of the two, and what do you think of the SE Filter X?
Thanks again.
 
I've not had personal experience of the Primacoustic VoxGuard so may be maligning it unfairly. However, of all the cheaper imitations I've heard/tried, none have come close in performance to the sE version (which was the original and uses some patented techniques so other manufacturers can't do the same thing).

There's a somewhat luke warm review of the Primacoustic filter HERE in Sound on Sound.

Obviously it's your choice but, if it was my money, I'd go with the sE--the expensive Pro version if possible but the Project Studio version as a close second choice. Indeed, in this case, I DID spend my money...I have one of each (as described above).
 
Thanks for a very clear answer. For my current stage of recording - and budget - I think the Project Studio RF makes the most sense. Most reviews I have found say it is the only thing that comes close to the RF Pro, and although the Pro is clearly better, the Project Studio does do a considerable job. From your post, I would imagine you agree with this. I'm leaning more toward the Project Studio than the Primacoustic.
 
Good luck! FYI, I have a friend in London who makes his living recording classical music and spoken word stuff. He also uses both sorts of Reflexion Filter and analysed it well (in my opinion) that the Project Studio version is 80% as good as the Pro version for 50% of the price. That sort of mirrors my experience too.
 
Bobbsy - a problem that other uses have come across is that the RF Pro, the original, is very top heavy, and attaching it to a stand can often result in it tipping over. With a mic attached this isn't ideal. Have you ever come across this problem?
And just to throw a spanner in the works, a sound engineer I spoke to this morning with long time experience in acoustic treatment gave me his opinion that the Project Home RF is much less impressive and useful than the RF X....
 
Yes, the Pro version needs a heavy duty stand and you have to be careful how you balance it.

I'll just have to say that, in my experience, the Project Studio version IS less impressive but not THAT much considering the price difference. I've certainly used it on professional projects, most recently an audio book read by the author who (for health reasons) had to record in her home. The job required a flight so I had to go for the lighter version of the RF. It certainly makes a huge difference in a typical untreated room. It's also lighter and can work on a more standard mic stand, though I probably wouldn't recommend some of the super cheap tat on the market.

Where are you? sE in most places have a one week free trial deal on mics and, years ago, they extended it for me to try the RF Pro before I bought it (but I lived just down the road from their UK operation). If you can get that where you are, you could judge for yourself--they have an email HERE where you can ask if they offer the trial where you are. If you're lucky, you could judge for yourself.
 
Thanks - that's a great idea.
Incidentally, I was talking about the Project Home RF vs Relfexion Filter X, not the RF Pro. That was why I'm now unsure as to which way to go.
 
Ah, should have read more carefully. It's the Pro version and the Project Studio "Baby" that I have. I haven't tried the RF X so I can't compare it to any of the others I'm afraid (it's come out since I became a poverty stricken pensioner in Australia instead of a not-quite-so-poverty-stricken TV sound engineer living near sE in the UK!).

If you go with the RF-X tell me what you think...I'm very curious!

Anyhow, hope you can get the free trial.
 
Try this contraption. Under $100 and made a HUGE difference in cleaning up my vocals. Portable poor mans gobo made of PVC pipe and moving blankets.

There are actually 3 stands, I opened up the one behind the mic so that you can see into the enclosed space. When I record vocals I pull the blankets/stands in tight around me. They form a triangle.

This really helps control the vocal environment, a HUGE difference. I will try this approach tomorrow with acoustic guitar and see. Typically with guitars I move into a large, high ceilinged live room in the house. I'll try this and see. Sure is great with vocals.
 

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If the OP wants something bigger, I use the PVC pipe and moving blankets trick as well with good results. The reflexion filters are handy for sessions where you don't want to disrupt the whole room but the moving blanket cocoon works well for things like instruments as well as vocals.

One suggestion: Maybe it's only the photo but the position of the music stand suggests you may stand facing into the rear blanket. If this is the case, it mean you have the null of the mic facing the deadening blanket while the active side is facing untreated walls (as well as you!). I get best result standing inside the "cave" looking out...which means the null of a cardioid mic is facing towards the potential source of room reflections while the "live" side just has you and the dead movers blankets in front of it. If you can arrange your room so there's something soft (thick curtains maybe) or at least non reflective (full bookshelves work well) so much the better.

Finally, I made mine as two self-supporting "L" shaped supports, except I didn't glue the 90 degree corner fittings so I can take it all apart and store the whole thing under a bed. This is a consideration if you share your house and studio with a significant other!

In terms of performance, the pipes and moving blanket aren't quite as good as the reflexion filter but the extra space gives you much more flexibility for instruments etc. as well as pure vocals.
 
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