What do you guys think of this recording space?

Branshen

https://soundcloud.com/brandon-shen-shi-han/main-vox-test-1/s-skohP

I'm quite pleased, I know it's not the cleanest sounding recording, you can still hear some room, but I would like to hear what more experienced people think..

Stuckfast

Seems very workable to me. Not totally convinced that mic is right for her voice though.

Branshen

Stuckfast said:

Seems very workable to me. Not totally convinced that mic is right for her voice though.

Thanks for the feedback, Sam! I only have one good mic. What would fit her voice better?

That's a Rode NT-1A btw..

Stuckfast

Good question! Might be worth trying one of your less good mics, you never know. Female vocals are one of those things where mics just work or don't.

Branshen

Stuckfast said:

Good question! Might be worth trying one of your less good mics, you never know. Female vocals are one of those things where mics just work or don't.

Unfortunately, my other mic is an unbranded cheap noisy condenser, so definitely not better! I guess the issue is that her voice is quite harsh with the mic (which I'm aware is quite bright), I do EQ the vocal judiciously to tame the high end. 

Stuckfast

Well, not to worry, I think it is definitely workable -- a bit of de-essing and perhaps a lift in the mid-range might help.

Branshen

Stuckfast said:

Well, not to worry, I think it is definitely workable -- a bit of de-essing and perhaps a lift in the mid-range might help.

Great to hear and thanks for the tips. This is what it looks like!

digitalscream

It sounds good with respect to the usual problems you get recording vocals at home - very little in the way of the "bathroom effect", so job well done there. I'd look for something a bit brighter in terms of the mic, though, because she's got a relatively dark voice which might cause problems in the mixing stage.

From what I recall, in terms of relatively cheap mics, the Audio Technica AT4050 is pretty good for that.

Stuckfast

Can't see your photo I'm afraid.

For me the issue with the mic / sound is that it is both sibilant and a bit on the dark side. I'd want to try a bit of an EQ boost in the upper mids (somewhere in the 1-3 kHz region perhaps) and some de-essing further up the spectrum.

Branshen

Stuckfast said:

Can't see your photo I'm afraid.

For me the issue with the mic / sound is that it is both sibilant and a bit on the dark side. I'd want to try a bit of an EQ boost in the upper mids (somewhere in the 1-3 kHz region perhaps) and some de-essing further up the spectrum.

The photo should work now..

Thanks for the specific advice guys. will check those tips and mics out..

Stuckfast

Have you tried it with the mic facing into the mattresses and the singer facing out, rather than the other way around? Might be nicer for the singer and also then the sensitive side of the mic will be aimed at the absorbent material.

Branshen

Stuckfast said:

Have you tried it with the mic facing into the mattresses and the singer facing out, rather than the other way around? Might be nicer for the singer and also then the sensitive side of the mic will be aimed at the absorbent material.

I will try that out next time.. I understand that concept (mattresses absorb reflections before they reflect into the mic, as opposed to absorbing the sound coming from the source) and have done something similar to a degree of success.

The benefit of the current setup is that by wedging the microphone in that corner, ambient noises are minimised a fair amount, e.g. computer fan noise, outdoor noises from windows. Simple to test because I just stick my head at the desired mic position and listen. The corner is noticeably quieter!

Stuckfast

Worth a try I should think -- it looks as though you'd still be able to position the mic such that there were mattresses between it and the computer / window / whatever...

Branshen

Stuckfast said:

Worth a try I should think -- it looks as though you'd still be able to position the mic such that there were mattresses between it and the computer / window / whatever...

Good shout.. Thanks!

Wonky

Stuckfast said:

Have you tried it with the mic facing into the mattresses and the singer facing out, rather than the other way around? Might be nicer for the singer and also then the sensitive side of the mic will be aimed at the absorbent material.

I was just gonna say he's got the mic facing the wrong way (there isn't really a wrong way).  It'll work better the other way round though.

spark240

If thats a tlled floor...a couple of rugs might help

Branshen

Cheers fellas. Will try those approaches next. Laying out a rug is a good shout.