Jump to content

Avoiding that "boxy" sound

Rate this topic


soul&folk

Recommended Posts

Hi, I recorded a concert last week. While it wasn't with a MD, I'm certain that this question is for this forum.

I used 2 superlux s241 mics, each one was sent to a Studio Projects vtb-1 preamp, and then the line-outs went via a Y cable into the line-in of a zoom H2.

The room was carpeted, about 80 feet square, and the ceiling was about 10 feet, paneled walls.

I had the mics about 30 feet from the performers who were coming through a PA system, but some were also using their own amps and the feeding them to the PA, and the percussionist wasn't mic'd at all.

I had my eyes on the levels of the H2 th entire time, Whenever the level approached 0db, I lowered the preamps one small notch. All in all the sound is very nice. BUT I thing I could have done better. The volume is a bit lower than I would have liked, and there is a "Somewhat distant" sound to it.

I'm thinking that I should have been closer to the performers, and then if need be, turned the preamps down a bit more. Is that correct?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It could be:

1) Mic placement, anything from where you were in the room to where the mics were pointing. How did the sound you recorded compare to what you heard in the room? Were the mics in a position to hear like your ears? For instance, if they were on a table and you were sitting at that table, what you hear and what the mics pick up will be very different.

2) Something to do with the mic response. It has various attenuation and low-cut switch positions. What were you using?

3) Something to do with the H2's analog-to-digital conversion. You'd have to ask H2 users.

About getting closer and turning down the preamps more: Sounds good, but you need to find the sweetest spot in the room. That could be up close, though not so close the PA is pointing over your head, or it could be by the sound booth, where the person who's mixing is judging the balances. But if you've found out the general sound level is too low with what you're doing, and you didn't get distortion at any point, then turn it up next time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It could be:

1) Mic placement, anything from where you were in the room to where the mics were pointing. How did the sound you recorded compare to what you heard in the room? Were the mics in a position to hear like your ears? For instance, if they were on a table and you were sitting at that table, what you hear and what the mics pick up will be very different.

2) Something to do with the mic response. It has various attenuation and low-cut switch positions. What were you using?

3) Something to do with the H2's analog-to-digital conversion. You'd have to ask H2 users.

About getting closer and turning down the preamps more: Sounds good, but you need to find the sweetest spot in the room. That could be up close, though not so close the PA is pointing over your head, or it could be by the sound booth, where the person who's mixing is judging the balances. But if you've found out the general sound level is too low with what you're doing, and you didn't get distortion at any point, then turn it up next time.

thanks for responding

1) the mics were on a T bar mic stand in an XY pattern, above the heads of those seated, right next to where I was seated. It's hard for me to know if I was hearing that "room" sound from memory.

2) I wasn't using the attenuation or the low cut filter. I'd like to learn more about when I should consider using them. Any advice will be helpful

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To balance out the relation between dry (direct) and wet sound (room acoustics, ambient noise), move the mics closer to or farther from the sound source - in this case it sounds as if you want them closer. You may also want to experiment with the stereo technique. DIN, NOS or ORTF stereo (see here) can give the recording a more lively, spacious sound. Moreover, don't expect wonders when recording from loudspeakers. They can also make the sound "boxy".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To balance out the relation between dry (direct) and wet sound (room acoustics, ambient noise), move the mics closer to or farther from the sound source - in this case it sounds as if you want them closer. You may also want to experiment with the stereo technique. DIN, NOS or ORTF stereo (see here) can give the recording a more lively, spacious sound. Moreover, don't expect wonders when recording from loudspeakers. They can also make the sound "boxy".

good stuff! great link!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you attenuate the volume at the mic end you will have a relatively weak signal from the mic, which needs to be compensated by using a higher preamp gain. Using a higher gain will usually introduce more noise.

If you have a relatively strong signal from the mic to begin with, you don't need much gain at the preamp, which should give a cleaner recording (less noise).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you attenuate the volume at the mic end you will have a relatively weak signal from the mic, which needs to be compensated by using a higher preamp gain. Using a higher gain will usually introduce more noise.

If you have a relatively strong signal from the mic to begin with, you don't need much gain at the preamp, which should give a cleaner recording (less noise).

So attenuation is ONLY used when your in the face of extreme volumes? Otherwise it is best to not attenuate? Even if that means the gain on the preamp will be quite low in order to avoid clipping?

As I think about the concert I recorded, my thought was to move the mics much closer to the stage, even if that would require attenuation and then boosting at the preamp. Al that was in order to avoid getting that slightly echo-y sound.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

External (mic) attenuation should only be used when the preamp doesn't allow for a low enough gain setting so that the input would overload and produce distortion. Unless the preamp behaves abnormal and doesn't work well at a low gain setting for some reason.

Edited by greenmachine
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...