Recording Vocals on an open room...... tips please?

[rcb4t2]

The reflexion filter and / or portable vocal booth both come to mind...

[DeuceMix]

I've tried this before - the absorption didn't help that much (mind you, we pretty much plastered the whole corner with Auralex). You might be better off setting your mic up in the middle of the room and standing opposite a bookshelf

[Joeytpg]

Originally Posted by DeuceMix

I've tried this before - the absorption didn't help that much (mind you, we pretty much plastered the whole corner with Auralex). You might be better off setting your mic up in the middle of the room and standing opposite a bookshelf

really? didn't help much? so should I avoid investing a ton of cash in auralexing the corner?

[synthoid]

Originally Posted by Joeytpg

what I've though about is putting the mic into a corner and adding some absortion material to the corner and singing with my back facing the wall so I get "open" sounding vocals but avoid any reflexion that might hit the wall.

do you mean with your back toward the corner? you might try singing across the long diagonal of the room, i.e., the reflections as far away and late as possible. The mic makes a big difference too; very good off-axis rejection will help a lot. You might look for a mic that has a hypercardiod setting, this is the kind of situation that calls for a very tight pickup pattern. Something like the C414B (not recommending that one especially, just saying, that kind of flexibility). Also dynamic mics can be nice in that kind of space because they're less sensitive and take in a lot less of the room.

treating the room for good vocal sound is a little different than treating it for mixing because you don't have to fight as much with the bass. deader is better in that kind of space, it will help the vocals but also help keep the computer noise under control...

-synthoid

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by Joeytpg

There's no way I can make a "booth" for my mic, I know it's the ideal thing, but I can't.

Actually, a booth is a last resort solution when isolation is needed to keep drums etc from getting into the vocal mic. If you're overdubbing vocals, a larger room, where the walls and ceiling are farther away, is the "ideal thing." And if the room is too live sounding, you can use something like my company's PVB suggested above.

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts

[doncaparker]

Can I recommend something? And maybe Ethan can comment, 'cause he's the room treatment guru.

This whole idea of a separate vocal booth is going to put you going the wrong direction, so don't even try. Small, square rooms sound bad. The only way you make them not sound bad is to "trick" the room into sounding larger than it is. You do this by treating the room with materials that absorb sound rather than reflect it.

You are doing a "one room" studio, right? Well, your biggest priority should be to treat this 13 foot X 13 foot room as a monitoring environment. Bass traps in the corners, absorbers at the first reflection points, something to treat the ceiling, silence the computer, the whole bit. If you put the room into the best shape it can be in (given the limitations of how the room is constructed and budgetary restrictions), I think this puts the room into pretty good shape for being a singer-songwriter tracking room, too. Some spots in the room might sound better than others, but still, you are slaying a lot of the big dragons by treating the room for monitoring.

In any event, that's what this basement hack has to think, because I don't have any choice. I have to track in the same few square feet I have treated to serve as an OK monitoring environment.

I would be interested in the thoughts of others in this regard.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by Joeytpg

really? didn't help much? so should I avoid investing a ton of cash in auralexing the corner?

Thing is fiber materials (glass or rockwool for example) are a heck of a lot cheaper per cubic foot. Depth for the most part equals low extension. 2-4" gets you down enough to tackle down into the low mids.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ges?sku=421718
6 pices $180 (equal to a standard 2" 2x4' fiber).. But here's question. Since it's 'wedged cut, are the thin areas even equal to '2 inches of bandwidth? (Don't know. ..I have a guess but, holding off, I'm out.

[hibakusha]

Alternatively, if they're only demos, just don't bother. Get on with making some music and save some cash at the same time. Unless you're recording in the bathroom it'll probably be fine for your purposes.

[Unclenny]

My room is about that size.

I string comforters across it at a few different angles to break things up a bit. Definitely need to do something with the corners, too......guitar cases, stacked pillows from the couch, kids........(sorry Ethan).

One of these days I'll get into a long term situation.....and a treated room, but for now.........experiment and listen to the room.

[DeuceMix]

Originally Posted by Joeytpg

really? didn't help much? so should I avoid investing a ton of cash in auralexing the corner?

Well when I say the corner I mean the wall. There was a small concavity in the corner of the room (where the radiator used to hide) and we treated the area really well and stuck a mattress in front of it

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Actually, a booth is a last resort solution when isolation is needed to keep drums etc from getting into the vocal mic. If you're overdubbing vocals, a larger room, where the walls and ceiling are farther away, is the "ideal thing."

Bingo. And just to put things into a little bit of perspective and put your mind at ease, you can see how we did the vocals on an album I just finished producing.
Recording vocals without headphones in the studio | Ronan's Recording Show

[Joeytpg]

Originally Posted by RCM - Ronan

Bingo. And just to put things into a little bit of perspective and put your mind at ease, you can see how we did the vocals on an album I just finished producing.
Recording vocals without headphones in the studio | Ronan's Recording Show

wow Ronan, that was really good! what's the trick here? the mic?

I'm interested in this.

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by Joeytpg

wow Ronan, that was really good! what's the trick here? the mic?

I'm interested in this.

I should have been more explicit in the video. Its no trick at all. I just set up a nice directional dynamic mic, cranked up the speakers and started tracking.

[Joeytpg]

Originally Posted by RCM - Ronan

I should have been more explicit in the video. Its no trick at all. I just set up a nice directional dynamic mic, cranked up the speakers and started tracking.

oh no, I didn't mean it as a "bag trick" ehe.

I really like your site, bookmarked it

loved the Widening the stereo image tip. VERY helpful and VERY noticeable.

[Joeytpg]

Ronan, I heard in one of your videos that you were doing something in the caribbean. Where? I live in the Dominican Republic

[souldeep]

Originally Posted by RCM - Ronan

Bingo. And just to put things into a little bit of perspective and put your mind at ease, you can see how we did the vocals on an album I just finished producing.
Recording vocals without headphones in the studio | Ronan's Recording Show

Thank you, Ronan...that's awesome !!!

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by Joeytpg

Ronan, I heard in one of your videos that you were doing something in the caribbean. Where? I live in the Dominican Republic

I was supposed to. It was me and I was bringing a couple other really great engineers with me for a two day event, but things fell through with the local promoter. Still hoping it will happen one day.

[Joeytpg]

that's too bad man. Anyways I loved the website, I've been watching the videos since last night.

If I have anyquestions where can I write to you? here, facebook, e-mail?

[rogerbrain]

Originally Posted by Joeytpg

I'm building a home studio. It'll be use to record my demos (I'm singer songwriter).

My room has 4x4 meters and inside of it I'll have my isntruments (guitar/bass/amps/ midi keyboard) as well as my computer and my vocal space.

There's no way I can make a "booth" for my mic, I know it's the ideal thing, but I can't.

what I've though about is putting the mic into a corner and adding some absortion material to the corner and singing with my back facing the wall so I get "open" sounding vocals but avoid any reflexion that might hit the wall.

do you think this is a good idea? what do you recommend?

with your back to the wall the mic is pointed at the corner...think about it

[Joeytpg]

Originally Posted by rogerbrain

with your back to the wall the mic is pointed at the corner...think about it

No I mean with my back to the corner.

[bigfurry]

Joeytpg,
I think you're spot on about dampenng the reflections from behind you. I have found that to be often sufficient in situations like yours. Have you tried that and it's not working enough for you, or are you just gathering information?
Best,
Sean

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by Joeytpg

No I mean with my back to the corner.

..back to corner = mic pointing to the wall/corner' I think is what he meant.
..Also, the closer the reflect points (walls, ceiling..) the louder the relative interference, 50-50 mix’ of direct + delay = max combing depth. Not to mention corner may be more of a double whammy ‘ far as that goes.

[Joeytpg]

Originally Posted by bigfurry

Joeytpg,
I think you're spot on about dampenng the reflections from behind you. I have found that to be often sufficient in situations like yours. Have you tried that and it's not working enough for you, or are you just gathering information?
Best,
Sean

I'm gathering info

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by Joeytpg

that's too bad man. Anyways I loved the website, I've been watching the videos since last night.

If I have anyquestions where can I write to you? here, facebook, e-mail?

Both the sites in my sig file have contact pages.