VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Actually the 737 doesn't have a bypass switch (which my Focusrite does have).

There are in and out switches for EQ and compression, and if they're not pushed in, there is no EQ or compression processing.

Yoda117 · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject:

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Here's the TLM 103 with High Pass Filter at 80db

http://www.mediafire.com/?vxmy5ztx3j2

Frank F · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:33 am Post subject:

The settings - 50, 80 etc. are cut off switches and are LOW Pass filters, adding or subtracting (or doing nothing) the LOW frequencies from the mix of all frequencies being reproduced. Depending upon your particular system, IN may be with the filter ON, OUT may be with the filter off, or vice versa.

Proper mic technique is something "we" as VO artists need to be aware of; first and foremost. As I have a few microphones to play with, I have, and still continue to find techniques for capturing the "sweet spot" on a microphone. Whenever you are about to use a new microphone, be it in a different studio or one you are considering buying; pay attention to the how the microphone sounds as you make that initial approach. Move around, in and out, left and right, high and low until you find what sounds right for you and your voice.

I often have studio engineers get irritated with me after they set the microphone position and I am moving around - talking, listening to the sound I get, and adjusting myself to the microphone. However, after I settle-in, many comment how the microphone never sounded so good.

Each microphone is different, some are designed for the singing voice, others are built for different instruments, and still others are created with the human spoken word in mind (and there are not that many of these designs available).

When comparing the samples given here, I hear a bit of hard driven (high gain, too much tube) sound, more processing than I desire, and improper placement of the microphone. Each microphone has unique and completely separate parameters from another. Find what works best by knowing the microphones patterns, amplification, frequency specs, tube, and other needs.

Treat your microphone well and it will take care of you, abuse or misuse your microphone and you will always be searching for the right one.

Toodles

F2
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Frank! I was hoping you would chime in on this.

Thanks for everyone's input. I am committed to my TLM 103 and will continue to work with it to get the best I can out of it.

It all comes back to mic technique I believe, especially since I don't really like much processing (except for a little compression)

And I'm still betting that a newer U 87 or 87ai will sound better than the old one that I rented for the shootout at the beginning of this thread.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Okay here's the TLm 103 with the gain at 30 db (about 10 db reduction), no processsing or high pass filter/roll-off,
closer in on the mic and at about a 45 degree angle to the right of the mic
(as opposed to the left as I usually do)

http://www.mediafire.com/?ytjjwixcmmb

BenWils · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you are at 44 degrees to me.....it is totally ruining your sound. If you can't maintain 45, you're sunk.

Ha! Bro, just run with what sounds good to you and your clients. Everyone will have a different opinion here and that is totally fine. Just trust your ears ( as long as you have some decent monitors) and keep trying things till you have the sound you like. Offer that sound or maybe a few to your clients via sound samples on your site and let them pick if they so desire.
_________________
Ben

"To be really good at voiceover, you need to improve your footwork and hip snap."

SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject:

I was thinking 46 degrees.

Good advice!
_________________
John Weeks Voice Overs
www.johnweeksvoiceovers.com

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I'm thinking about trying a 44.7 degree angle at 77.3124 degrees Farenheit room temperature with a relative humidity of X% since that could subtley affect the transmission of sound waves through the air, etc.....

Yeah, yeah, I know. I've got a chronic case of mic-itis. It flares up every now and then, as you can see.

But it has been interesting to compare the older U 87 and newer TLM 103.

Thanks again for everybody's input!

The conclusion I've come to is that the 103 sounds best at around +35db, 4-6 inches away, a little to the side. The earlier clips in this thread of the 103 that sound distorted/overly boomy are with the gain at about +40