VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

Ed Fisher · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 7:59 am Post subject: ROOM MIC PLACEMENT

(This message originally was at the end of another thread re: booths. Then I realized that I was probably guilty of "threadjacking." Thankfully, since mine was the last post, the next day I was still able to delete this embarrassing faux pas and start my own thread. Oops.) Embarrassed

I had a booth for a very long time. (think quiet... but - in my case- also HOT)

The last few years I've been in a room.

I'm interested in those who also record in a "room" rather than a "booth"

HOW do you like to position your microphone?

Do you find you get better results if you are near the center of the room? Or do you pick a corner or closer to one wall?

Or....do you find that it doesn't seem to matter?
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FinMac · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 8:56 am Post subject: Where is the mic positioned ?

My room is unusual. The width is 2.7 meters, the length is about 4.4 meters and the height is 2.42 meters, but it is actually L shaped, and the measurements are for the long part of the L.

One wall is entirely covered with GIK panels, and other walls have ones that I made, as well as 4 panels over my head for a cloud.

Here is a photo of the mic position...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dn4hoyynzw8tfi9/Mic%20placement%202.JPG?dl=0

The mic is about 2 and 1/2 feet from the wall covered in GIK panels, and about the same from another wall with my panels, and the far wall is about 4 feet away from the mic.

The mic is positioned underneath the cloud, so it is far from the center of the room, where there is actually a hanging lamp.

This works well for me Smile

Room is not "dead" but when I record early in the morning the peak amplitude can be -70 dB.

Hope this helps you or someone else who might be considering using a room.
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Bruce · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:16 am Post subject:

If you have the right sound deadening material in your space you can put your mic almost anywhere IMHO. Here's a video I made a while back giving a tour of my "man cave". You'll see I'm set up in the middle of one side of the room at a desk, but I'm surrounded by sound panels, curtains, and shag carpet. I have to really yell and get off the mic to get any sound bounce off the ceiling and remaining exposed solid wall.

http://vid559.photobucket.com/albums/ss37/brucemiles/ManCave2_zpslftsjjeh.mp4

B
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I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Dayo · Cinquecento Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK

Like you, I'm more interested in recording the room that the voice is in than the voice. But I'm really in two minds over this question. On the one hand, theory suggest that the centre of the room is least troublesome (indeed that's where our mic stations are here) and the problems associated with phase reflections are well known. However, it's my feeling that a huge part of the network sound or London sound if you're in the UK, is the enormous window that most booths have and we are often sat talking very close to that. That big reflective surface adds a certain something.....
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sdaeley17 · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 5:09 am Post subject:

That's a beautiful space, Bruce! Thanks for the tour!

Just out of curiosity, what is that third mic you're using for visiting VO's?

Warmest Regards,

Sean
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"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Bruce · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 6:52 am Post subject:

The third mic is a GrooveTube AM-11, my main mic for many years.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

sdaeley17 · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 8:14 pm Post subject:

Very nice! I'm actually not familiar with that mic, but I'm glad it served you well. Thank you.
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"There's Magic all around us; you just have to see it. And the most wonderful Magic of all, is just bein' alive." -Uncle Montork, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Al Moulliet · Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 8:55 pm Post subject:

Great tour Bruce, Since making the move to a house with a designated room I may consider not using the booth. I was wondering the best panel position, Yours seems very clean, do you have a cloud over top?

Do you have issues with the AC vent noise?

Thanks for the post.
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Bruce · Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 8:11 am Post subject:

The salesperson at ATS said with 5 of the room's 6 surfaces treated I wouldn't need a cloud. That's true for all but the loudest things I do. The HVAC vent is on the floor near my desk and a carpet square with a trash can on top tames the noise.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .