#1925196 - 04/10/08 06:06 PM
Mic recommendation
|
DonaldM
Senior Member
Registered: 05/07/07
Posts: 243
Loc: Indiana
|
Offline
|
|
I have Shure KSM44 which is my primary mic for vocal and/or instrument recording in my home studio. But here's what I need now. Because of the space layout I have, I don't have a isolation booth. So I have my Motif on my left, my computer desk in front with my two monitors on either side facing me, and then to the right in easy reach my mixer and a keyboard rack of other midi gear.
One of the fun features on the Motif is the Vocoder and I like playing around with it. The problem is that the Shure is so sensitive I can only use the vocoder feature with the speakers off and headphones on. Is there a mic that would be less sensitive and not have all the feedback. I can aim the monitor somewhat away for the mic, but I need it to be in front of me while I sit at the Motif.
What sort of mic might work in this situation? Or is there some other trick that would allow me to use the vocoder with the monitors on?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1925292 - 04/11/08 04:12 AM
Re: Mic recommendation
[Re: DonaldM]
|
Griffinator
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 03/28/02
Posts: 9352
Loc: Lynchburg, VA, USA
|
Online
|
|
You'd have to go with a dynamic mic like a SM58 or similar, and keep those monitors way down. Otherwise, it's the headphones.
_________________________
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1925371 - 04/11/08 08:01 AM
Re: Mic recommendation
[Re: Griffinator]
|
DonaldM
Senior Member
Registered: 05/07/07
Posts: 243
Loc: Indiana
|
|
Offline
|
|
You'd have to go with a dynamic mic like a SM58 or similar, and keep those monitors way down. Otherwise, it's the headphones.
With the shure (its the KSM27, not the 44), even on low gets feed back. Thanks for suggestion, though. One of the problems of limited space!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1925398 - 04/11/08 08:54 AM
Re: Mic recommendation
[Re: DonaldM]
|
Griffinator
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 03/28/02
Posts: 9352
Loc: Lynchburg, VA, USA
|
|
Online
|
|
Of course, condensor mics are, by their very design, hyper-sensitive. The goal is to provide the most accurate possible reproduction of everything - feedback mitigation doesn't figure into this equation.
_________________________
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1925505 - 04/11/08 11:05 AM
Re: Mic recommendation
[Re: Griffinator]
|
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
10k Club
Registered: 05/23/00
Posts: 11860
Loc: NY Hudson Valley, USA
|
|
Offline
|
|
Since you have them...why are you avoiding the headphones...?
Are you using your monitors as part of the vocodor effect process...?
_________________________
miroslav - miroslavmusic.com"Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1925783 - 04/12/08 07:45 AM
Re: Mic recommendation
[Re: miroslav]
|
Bill@Welcome Home Studios
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 08/23/03
Posts: 7294
|
|
Offline
|
|
The truth here is that you are attempting to fight physics. Guess what? You lose. The inverse square law comes into play, and no matter what mic you pick, when the volume from the speakers reaches a certain level at the mic capsule, a feedback loop is established. Since your ears are pretty close to your mouth, which is, ostensibly, reasonably close to the mic capsule, by the time you hear any significant level from the speakers (say, loud enough to get a good groove going or to hear the effects of the vocoder at a reasonable level), the feedback loop is probably going to be established.
The sensitivity of the mics that you try isn't going to help very much. Because, though some might have larger pickup spheres, the signficant factor will be the level at the capsule itself....and as I said, being close to your ears, you just can't really get very loud no matter what mic you pick.
You can play some games, like put the monitors out of phase and create a null in the middle, put the mic in the null, and see how that works for you. It has been done before, on major albums, when the singer did not want to wear headphones.
Another option is to get some lightweight phone/mic combinations just for feeding the vocoder, and only send the vocoder return to the headsets, not the speakers. You'll still be able to hear the speakers with lightweight open-ear design phones, and something as cheap as a $3-$20 computer set will work, since you are warping the vocal anyway.
But the simple, cheap, easy, and practical answer is to slip on the headphones when you want to use the vocoder.
Bill
_________________________
"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1927121 - 04/14/08 04:37 PM
Re: Mic recommendation
[Re: Bill@Welcome Home Studios]
|
DonaldM
Senior Member
Registered: 05/07/07
Posts: 243
Loc: Indiana
|
|
Offline
|
|
Yeah, I think the headphones will be it. What I don't like about that is that it just sounds different that way and I can't tweak the sounds as well as I might through the monitors. Oh well, can't phight physics!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1927202 - 04/14/08 06:46 PM
Re: Mic recommendation
[Re: DonaldM]
|
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
10k Club
Registered: 05/23/00
Posts: 11860
Loc: NY Hudson Valley, USA
|
|
Offline
|
|
What headphones are you using?
I love my Fostex T50RP...VERY open/natural sounding. 
_________________________
miroslav - miroslavmusic.com"Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: FoxTick, Bunny Knutson
|
|
|
