VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

kgenus · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:15 pm Post subject:

That's pretty much why I stopped talking about mics on forums. In the end, there's pretty much three mics. Your first mic (usually dynamic, Shure SM7 / EV RE20 / Senn. MD 421 variant), then a good preamp, then the other two mics you buy later - the U87 and the MKH 416P48. I was told numerous times early on not to waste my money on any other mics. I never bought the U87, I opted for the Lawson L47 (that tube condensor is amazing!!).

hmm.... all to send it out as an MP3. -sigh-
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BBeen · Guest

I've been told lately that I have a bit of sibilance going on when I speak. I'd like to correct the problem within myself without having to use a de-esser. Does anybody else have any vocal exercises or tricks to use to help de-ess?? (BTW Frank, the water in the mouth trick is a good one)

Frank F · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 8:52 am Post subject:

Water in the mouth works, but it's a bit messy. Don't speak to your "Signifigant Other" while trying it out, you may have some recourse you didn't expect.

Frank F

kgenus · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 2:59 pm Post subject:

The secret is speaking slowly until you retrain your muscle (tongue) to use the new location. Find the placement where it does not occur then practice reading very slow for about a week .... not 15 minutes here, 5 there, but as much as you possibly can. That'll clean it up.

Make up sentences with lots of S's, tongue twisters work great for this type of exercise, just speak VERY slow and make sure your tongue placement is correct:

If Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore how many sea shells must Sally sell so she can save some serious cash ?
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Genus

BBeen · Guest

Thats with the water in the mouth..right?? Any other tipssssss to provide me with a whole ssstaple of exercisessssss

kgenus · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 9:52 am Post subject:

kitstern · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 12:10 pm Post subject:

Mary,

Have you tried playing w/the EQ? You can cut certain frequencies if you're getting too much sss. You have to play by sweeping the recommended frequency band to see what works with your voice and mic, but I've had luck with this. Different mic placement helps too, and keeping well hydrated.

About mic choices, before I bought the Gefell I tried several Rode, AKG and AT mics, ordered from Sweetwater.com with understanding if they didn't work with my voice I could return them (if you go this route, talk to a sales representative instead of ordering through the Internet). I still have the voice files I recorded with the various mics, and with my voice they all sounded too bright and sibilant. When I tried the Gefell the difference was so obvious even my kids noticed with "Wow, that's the one". It really varies, and the only way to find out is to play with different mics with your recording setup.

Good Luck!
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Mixwell · Guest

just thought I would chime in with some engineer tech talk...

These type of sibilant transients can be controlled with many signal processors. The most common would be just using an equalizer to sharply notch out frequencies around 8 kHz. This is the most common area where this is happening. However, things are not always that easy. It can also occur in the 6.8K - 18K range. They can really get harsh and nasty.

Another common device is a multi-band compressor, which will allow you to just compress a certain range of frequencies like 8K perhaps. Hence the "De'Esser".

peace
mixwell

Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

I think the NT1A is a sibilant mic with a rise in the high end frequency.
Use a big foam pop filter and talk "across" the mic rather than into it.

In my experience, many females sound much better through a dynanmic mic,
especially the RE-20 and SM7B. Both have an eq curve that is flattering to the human voice.

I use a the Shure SM7B, with no eq, on almost everyone, and sweeten the sound "in the box". No "pops" and no "ssss".

FYI: I own nine condenser mics, and my favorite, for VO, is a KEL HM-1,
designed to NOT have that sibilant high end. It's inexpensive, too.
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Hart · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:24 am Post subject:

Someone's been digging in the archives. This thread is 2 years old!
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:37 am Post subject:

Well, then, naturally I must ask Mary how the sibilance is these days?
I find a horrific whistle sometimes escaping my mouth instead of a plain ole 's' and know it really IS all about tongue placement and working the mic. De-essers just muddy the mix, imo.
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mcm · Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:56 am Post subject:

I've moved on to other VO obsessions.

Click & Clack the Tappit Brothers tell you that when your Check Engine light comes on, you can fix it by putting a piece of black tape over it. That's essentially what I've done to the sibilance problem. The more you think about these things the worse they seem.

Chrissy · Guest

I just said the sea shell line, and heard nothing but sssss's. I then smiled while I said the line, and it made a major difference. tongue and mouth placement works, and is the cheapest. One other thought-after I had a new crown put on one of my front teeth. I noticed the sss problem for the first time. I think there is a different spacing between new crown and tooth next to it. Did you have any dental work done lately?

Chrissy

CWToo · Guest

Deirdre · Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:03 am Post subject:

I have a sloppy "S" by nature, period.

I have retrained my tongue to make that sound in different parts of my mouth, like by using the side of my tongue on the place behind my canine teeth— stuff like that.

It's worse with my RE20 no matter what.
The SP C-1 is much crisper all 'round.
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