sE Reflexion Filter vs. RealTraps Vocal Booth

[Sonicvalley]

anybody try both of these? I am just trying to find out the differences, as I am sure they are both excellent. Anybody? Ethan is there a main difference?

[darkwater]

I have the Real Traps PVB. Have not tried the SE.

The PVB is bigger and can act as an amp baffle, too. The SE just seemed too small for me and this works just fine. When I'm standing behind it, I can hear a noticeable difference in ambient noise level, and that translates in my recordings.

A lot of folks like the SE, so YMMV. I think both are probably good products. In this application, though, my instinct said "bigger is better".

[James Lehmann]

I have the Real Traps Vocal Booth too, one of the first in Europe I believe!

It's very nice and dead easy to mount on a standard mic stand.

When time allows I definitely plan to post some clips and take some photos for y'all, but this may not be for a few weeks yet - sorry.

EDIT (17/12/07): WAV's posted here!

[orange]

can I suggest you use the SEARCH function.

this subject has already been fought over.

[woomanmoomin]

I think it still is being fought over. I would go with the sE RF if anything. Neither of them has been touched by the all-healing hand of Audio God, though.

[RadioMoo]

Originally Posted by orange

can I suggest you use the SEARCH function.

this subject has already been fought over.

If you use the search function, you'll find scant little info on the Real Traps product, but plenty of people hypothesizing on how well the sE RF does it's job, since they've never used one. Hardly a good fight, I'd say.

Now, continue the discussion...

[davebl@dircon.c]

I have an SE for voice over work It works very well. Im using Gefell UM92.1S or UM70S or Schoeps, MKH40 depending on voice. Mostly Cardiod.

I tend to use it with the mics further back in to the filter to loose the room.

One aspect about all of thes contrvances is how to mount them and the clamps provided. SE have done a grea job and the set up is very presentable and profesional looking. Thats important if you have paying clients working with you.

Im sure the real traps device is good also.

The main thing here is the principle of putting some sort of accoustic absorbant material behind the mic. Id been taught this techneques 30 years ago whilst at the BBC with older style accoustic screens so its not a new trick. However the newer devices are very helpfull in their practicality.

You can do a dummy run on your strudio by putting some sort of pillow, cussion, blanket or what ever in your room behind the mic to see if this make the sort of improvment you hope such a filter would do. Its not a prefect test but itll give you an idea of what the end result may be.

[RadioMoo]

Originally Posted by davebl@dircon.c

I tend to use it with the mics further back in to the filter to loose the room.

How bad is the room, and how much of the mic do you lose by putting it further back?

[davebl@dircon.c]

I have good and bad rooms ! but Id say you loose a good 6 to 10 db of room from the front to back position. Its also dependent on the polar pattern of the mic, if is a broad cardiod then you loose more room by pushing it back.

Originally Posted by RadioMoo

If you use the search function, you'll find scant little info on the Real Traps product, but plenty of people hypothesizing on how well the sE RF does it's job, since they've never used one. Hardly a good fight, I'd say.

Now, continue the discussion...

Actually there were plenty of people who actually used the sE RF.

Not really as much "hypothesizing" as you think. One of the main "fight" threads began as a sE user expressed how much he loved his RF and how it solved his problems. I wouldnt say that was hypothesizing. Would you?


LOL Now continue the discussion.

[SveNaj]

Hypothesizing or not- I use an SE RF on the everyday basis for recording VOs (in the not so good room I must admit- ) for the broadcasting on the national radio network and I must say that this gadget work like a charm. For me it was more then good investment.

But I would like to try other two contender as well.

Cheers,

Sven

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

"hypothesizing"

[Sonicvalley]

so anyone use the Real Traps?

[thinman]

Originally Posted by davebl@dircon.c

I have good and bad rooms ! but Id say you loose a good 6 to 10 db of room from the front to back position. Its also dependent on the polar pattern of the mic, if is a broad cardiod then you loose more room by pushing it back.

loose = To let loose; release; To make less strict; relax

lose = To be unsuccessful in retaining possession of; To cause or result in the loss of

Which do you mean?
.

[ianbryn11]

Ive heard many people talk about "Comb filtering" with the reflexion filter here on GS...

Now, i dont exactly know what that is, but im assuming its a bad thing...

I like the idea of the real traps one....

[dreamdevelopment]

Hey incase you guys didnt know Home Depot and your local fabric store now has a PRO AUDIO department.. I just created this account so i could show you guys my creation that with an A/B test sounds identical to have the 300 dollar SE Reflextion Filer. So I am very happy I made this under 40 dollar investment. Plus i had enough to make effective back traps for the wall behind it so when you turn the shield around in the corner its like mini vocal booth. very good for my untreated room. I just mounted the foam and fabric to a couple pieces of thin vinyl wood stuff kinda like a dry erase board but about 3 feet by 5 feet and put picture anchors on the back and blammo put em on tha wall! I will never spend 300 bucks on a reflextion shield.
Using these items i built this...

Mesh screen - 9.99
some bolts - few dollars
2 inch Foam from a matress pad - 10 bucks
Covered with red fabric - 2 bucks for a yard
1/2 inch foam - 99 cents
Zip ties to fasten the first layer of foam - 47 cents
adhesive spray - 6 dollars.
old mic mount so shield can attach to ANY mic stand - FREE

The reassurance that your vocals will be free from bouncing waves - PRICELESS hahaha. had to add that in there!

Check out the pictures:
Trust me it took about an hour or so but it was WELL worth this time invested.

[Dagon]

That looks interesting DreamDevelopment! But exactly what type of foam is it? And what kind of stuff was in the mattress pad? From reading some of the guides here, especially ones by Ethan, it seems that the type of materials used is quite important.

How does it sound? Maybe you can put together a DIY guide for making one.

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by Dagon

From reading some of the guides here, especially ones by Ethan, it seems that the type of materials used is quite important.

Yes, the material is very important, and should be as absorbent as possible. A fabric cover is okay, but only if it's made from very soft and porous material. It's easy to test this. Take a large piece of rigid fiberglass (or foam or whatever you plan to use) and "talk into" it. The sound should be totally dead, with nothing reflecting back to your ears. Now place a layer of fabric over the material and talk again. If the sound quality changes, then the material is too reflective.

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts

[shadyru]

I hear about a comb filtering effect with the reflexion filter. Can someone explain this and maybe share samples of this? How far back can I place a mic on the reflexion filter??

[Ethan Winer]

Comb filtering is a specific type of frequency response error, often caused by reflections from nearby surfaces:

Early Reflections Article
Comb Filtering Video

You can hear comb filtering from the reflective rear surface of the sE RF in this video:

PVB vs. RF

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts

[gregory]

Concerning the Real Traps PVB, I have often wondered if it would provide any advantage to taking two 2" rigid fiberglass traps off the wall and rigging them in a vee? Apart from convenience and portability of course?