Isolating the mic for vocals?

geoffreycollier · 5th September 2011

I live in the country, so that with the exception of an occasional train, I am concerned about reflexions more than isolating the vocals from external sounds.

I have been isolating my vocal mike using an auralex maxwall behind the mics. I then read here somewhere that this was backwards...it should be behind the singer, to isolate reflections.

So, I read the threads herein on the SE reflection and the portable vocal book, as well as the site that has the GIK screen panel. The video on the realtraps PVB website is pretty convincing.
I note on EBAY, though, you can buy these cheap contraptions that are basically foamed boxes, the argument apparently being that I want to isolate the mic from all sides except the vocal side, assuming I want a dry sound. Makes sense to me, but I'm not an acoustician. Anyone tried these? Anything wrong with these in theory? Further comments on the aforementioned alternatives welcomed as well.
I also justed noticed some products on ebay called the QM-200 and QM-101.
Thanks.

Chris_Nicks · 5th September 2011

If you want a very dry sound, put the absorptive materials in all sides + bass traps :D

skengin · 8th September 2011

You know I've been thinking about this particular subject myself and have done a bit of research.
I've found that for singers, you should NEVER sing in a dry/damped room. It is terrible for the voice. In the debate of dead vs live rooms to sing in, the most accurate answer I've found is: Neither! You want a "tuned" room. That means the appropriate frequencies dampened and the rest left 'live'.
Ideally, download software and use the hardware necessary to conduct a sound colorization test of your room and determine if you need more sound deadening or less and what frequencies.
So, don't sing in a dead room, VERY BAD. Be sure to deaden the frequencies that you have too much, usually bass, and build tonal flexibility into your 'live room' to adjust the tone per your preference.
Hope that helps. BTW, I am NOT a super duper design professional, but I do have experience with signal analysis and I do my best to do a lot of research!

Chris_Nicks · 8th September 2011

Quote:

you should NEVER sing in a dry/damped room.

well you can.. thats why there are vocal rooms. You can adjust the reverb after.

5th September 2011	#1
geoffreycollier Gear interested Joined: May 2011 Posts: 1 Thread Starter	Isolating the mic for vocals? I live in the country, so that with the exception of an occasional train, I am concerned about reflexions more than isolating the vocals from external sounds. I have been isolating my vocal mike using an auralex maxwall behind the mics. I then read here somewhere that this was backwards...it should be behind the singer, to isolate reflections. So, I read the threads herein on the SE reflection and the portable vocal book, as well as the site that has the GIK screen panel. The video on the realtraps PVB website is pretty convincing. I note on EBAY, though, you can buy these cheap contraptions that are basically foamed boxes, the argument apparently being that I want to isolate the mic from all sides except the vocal side, assuming I want a dry sound. Makes sense to me, but I'm not an acoustician. Anyone tried these? Anything wrong with these in theory? Further comments on the aforementioned alternatives welcomed as well. I also justed noticed some products on ebay called the QM-200 and QM-101. Thanks. Last edited by geoffreycollier; 5th September 2011 at 05:22 PM.. Reason: Addition

5th September 2011	#2
Chris_Nicks Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	If you want a very dry sound, put the absorptive materials in all sides + bass traps :D __________________ "Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan"

8th September 2011	#3
skengin Gear interested Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 7	Reflections and vocals You know I've been thinking about this particular subject myself and have done a bit of research. I've found that for singers, you should NEVER sing in a dry/damped room. It is terrible for the voice. In the debate of dead vs live rooms to sing in, the most accurate answer I've found is: Neither! You want a "tuned" room. That means the appropriate frequencies dampened and the rest left 'live'. Ideally, download software and use the hardware necessary to conduct a sound colorization test of your room and determine if you need more sound deadening or less and what frequencies. So, don't sing in a dead room, VERY BAD. Be sure to deaden the frequencies that you have too much, usually bass, and build tonal flexibility into your 'live room' to adjust the tone per your preference. Hope that helps. BTW, I am NOT a super duper design professional, but I do have experience with signal analysis and I do my best to do a lot of research! Last edited by skengin; 8th September 2011 at 03:47 AM.. Reason: addnl info

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