When do you use the roll off on a mic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robertt8
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Robertt8

Robertt8

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when recording, i have yet to use this roll off switch on my mic. what exactly does it do, and when do i use it or not use it?

thanks!
Tait
 
A roll-off is usually a high-pass filter that you use when you want to put the mic really close to a source but don't want the added low end due to proximity effect.
 
Or if you just don't need the bass response. There's a lot of low frequency energy bangin' around in most places and that takes up headroom.
 
um...okay...what frequencies does it cut? is it something you typically use when tracking everything? or just certain things? I don't want to use it, and find out my stuff has no bottom end.
 
What kind of mic do you have? Differenct mics have different roll-off frequencies. Like my CAD E-300 is 100 Hz (I think). The low end it's gonna cut off is not going to drastically alter what you're recording. It usually is used to get rid of low booming stuff that you don't want anyway.
 
Robertt8 said:
um...okay...what frequencies does it cut? is it something you typically use when tracking everything? or just certain things? I don't want to use it, and find out my stuff has no bottom end.
Click to expand...
To find out what frequencies it cuts at and how steep, you will need to look at the specifications for the mic. It's not like there's a "standard" that the roll-offs on all mics stick to. Generally, even if you don't still have the paperwork from your mic, the manufacturer will put the frequency response graphs up on their website.

For instance, my Shure SM81's have 3 settings. Flat, low roll-off, and low cut. So Shure put up a graph on their website showing the 3 different resulting curves. Look at this image:

fSM81_large.gif


The line that stays flat on the left, is obviously the flat setting. The one that gradually slopes downward is the low roll-off, and the one with the sharp dropoff is the low cut.

What mic in specific are you talking about here?
 
Just to add to what has already been stated, the high pass filter can also be helpful for getting rid of low rumble in a mic from trucks driving pass or a bass amp making the floor rumble. eveny mic is different but generally its any where from 150Hz on down
 
Ahhh Sile I see you love charts and graphs too! ;)


I have a B2 mic with a bass rolloff switch. I use it in my 190 sq. foot studio when recording a band live. That way I end up with a lot less bass on that track but it doesn't seem to alter the rest of the sound spectrum. When I mix I have this track that is free of most bass frequencies that I can blend in as I like.

Bottom line for me.. it creates a virtual bass baffle in my tiny studio space.
Something to think about anyway...
 
I used to find when mixing that rolling off the bass on guitars made the bass and vocals sound better. so I use the rolloff there at the mic, to avoid using eq. It can also be used on vocals to avoid them getting mushy with the guitars. I basically use it in place of eq where I would be rolling off low end anyway to make the mix sit better.
 
It really depends on the mics, the environment, and the goal. Take my SM81's for instance. Without any rolloff or low-cut, they are almost ruler-flat. In a studio environment, I would track them flat, with no cut, and then handle the EQ in postprocessing. However, in a live environment (i.e. when I use them as overheads), I always have the low cut turned on because there is no opportunity for postprocessing. Just different schools of thought I guess.
 
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