Hotel Room Recording

[maguilar]

I'm about to record some vocals in a hotel room and some of them I may not get a chance to recut in a 'studio'.. I need some help on specific mic placements in a room and anything else I may need to get the best sound...

This is rig
Laptop
Mbox
Rode NT2
ART OPL preamp
2 headphones
m-audio monitors

Now I can get a better pre amp if it'll help....

Any info from you guys would be greatly appreciated

[Remoteness]

Find he best sound area in the hotel room... Then set up the system just like you would in the studio. IMO, there's no real difference.

If you hear any hotel noise, position the mic away from the source of the noise.

If the bathroom is large enough and sounds good set up just out side the room and do the vocals in there. Try setting the mic just outside the bathroom or inside the bathroom depending on the sound you're going for. If you want a darker vocal tone find another part of the hotel room that's right for the particular sound you're going for.

[Don S]

Close the drapes, that will cut down on reflections. I like the idea of using the bathroom, but as your room if you're not getting enough isolation.
And most important - get a really good preamp! I had to work with an Mbox recently. It was not the new design, maybe they put a better one in the mbox2. But I put up a good mic and the sound was still terrible! Not until I changed the pre did I hear anything that resembled a professional sound. And of course an exteranal AD will help. Maybe rent an apogee mini-me?
GET LOTS OF TAKES!

[No4PCs]

Machine Head was done in a Hotel...

[maguilar]

Thanx for the replies... i mean I am recording mostly rap maybe some r&b but i'd like to get the best sound possible from the room.. guess I gotta wait to get there

[Plush]

I don't know---is it a good sounding hotel room?

[Remoteness]

Perhaps you don't need a good sounding hotel room...

Raw & real with a good sounding mic and mic pre combo may do the trick!

[toolskid]

can you get a 57 or sm7?

[krs]

Personally I'd be careful with the bathroom stuff. Committing to a "special" sound like that in tracking can be a nightmare if it doesn't come out exactly how you want (happened to me recently...)

I like the idea of a good dynamic. I'd have a selection of mics on hand to make sure you get what you need.

[Legacy]

I'd probably bring a couple of extra mic stand with booms. This way you can hang the blankets to create a little baffle for behind the singer. Just watch out for bedbugs...

Best,
Silas