Reflexion Filter - DON'T LAUGH!!!

You'll never believe this! So I was tracking vocals today, and I noticed in my headphones the mic was picking up A LOT of the room. I don't know how the heck I've missed this before. I was using a RODE NT1A which I haven't tracked my own vocals with before, so maybe that was part of it. Anyway, I have been thinking of getting some kind of reflexion filter or building something, but really hadn't been motivated because most of the vocals I track here sound great. Maybe today I was just being picker than usual, dunno. So, I was thinking, I wonder what would happen if I could sort of isolate the mic from the room, I wonder if some sort of filter would work? So I grabbed a piece of cardboard and said "check check" into the mic, moving the cardboard back and forth behind the mic. WOW. Each time I put the cardboard behind the mic, it was like my voice became louder and more focused. Not perfect, but better! I then decided to get creative. This is what I came up with: Now, obviously, it's ugly as sin. However, I tracked vocals using this and WOW, it's like NIGHT AND DAY. Tomorrow, I'm going to Hobby Lobby, the thrift store, and the hardware store to see about building something similar but that looks totally pro. I have seen other ideas on here as well but we'll see what I can come up with. It's amazing, that something so rigged and obviously "ghetto" could produce such superior vocals! I will post samples of the before and after. You will be absolutely amazed at my basement box reflexion filter! LOL! I guess whenever I read professional recordists telling everyone to be creative and just try things is TRULY sage advice!! More on this later.....

Bristol_Jonesey


Your voice is probably sounding louder due to reflections bouncing off your cardboard and back into the mic capsule. 

I was thinking the same...   Reflexion filters have a carpet-like filler.
 
The easy test.  Forget the mic, stick yer head in it and talk.  If it sounds "dead" it's working,  if it sounds like you have your head in a cardboard box... well...  you have your head in a cardboard box...

What do you think of the NT1A? I've thought they are ok, but nothing super special.

Bristol_Jonesey


Your voice is probably sounding louder due to reflections bouncing off your cardboard and back into the mic capsule.

You might also notice some comb filtering if you listen really carefully

+1 - I'm pretty sure this is exactly what you're doing with that box.

No-one is missing the point that it's an experiment,   we all experiment.

No-one is saying it's not making your vox sound better.

You're missing the point we're making, that the reason your vox sound better isn't because your cordboard box is a good reflextion filter, it's because it is reflecting your voice back to the mic...

Sorry for the bolds and underlines. This site keeps "encountering errors" so I can't fix the HTML. 'sigh'

I thought this discussion on Comb Filtering was interesting: http://www.ecoustics.com/...s/articles/572305.html

Karyn


No-one is missing the point that it's an experiment,   we all experiment.

No-one is saying it's not making your vox sound better.

You're missing the point we're making, that the reason your vox sound better isn't because your cordboard box is a good reflextion filter, it's because it is reflecting your voice back to the mic...

exactly.  I don't think anyone responding was "judging" you for anything, Scott.  so there's nothing for us to feel foolish about, no one argued with you that your vocals didn't sound better - we simply stated that there are problems with that approach.
 
I think you're overreacting here.

sounds boxy.

+1 Spindlebox

Excellent thread!!!!!!!!!!!  I've tried it all: for vocs, guitars, drums, and other instruments.

... And if your mic is relatively cardiod, I don't see how comb-filtering reflections even becomes a factor.  You're experiment proves it.  You're apparently preventing other basement reflections from entering the mic's cardiod field with your shoe box.

I suppose the reflections from behind you can be dampened with a curtain there or something.

I'd prefer your room-set-up over Ethan Winer's clumsey reflexion filter ("portable-vocal-booth") in my 'acoustical' studio.

Hah hah. Thanks Philip.

Yes, the sound isn't perfect, but markedly improved for sure. Improvements can definitely be made, but I just can't see forking over $300 for a "professional" reflexion filter.

Good point about reflections from behind. I could also simply have the singer(s) stand with backs to my walls, which are lined with acoustic foam. That would help, or have them stand in a corner, with the point right at their back. That would prevent direct reflections.

I have nothing bad to say about Mr. Winer, he was actually very instrumental in helping me get my control room sounding good with TONS of free advice. But I do agree, I believe once I get this designed and permanently installed on my straight mic stand, it will not only be very portable, but not very bulky at all - and attractive to boot.

Still waiting for opinions on the "breathability" factor. Then I can get started. Thank you for the listen and for your thoughtful contribution.

Bat: yes, I am a strong proponent of the good old fashioned moving blankets. I actually know that Ronan Chris Murphy uses those on the walls of his studio too, covered with tapestries. A lot of multi-million dollar facilities do. If it works, it works. I just want something that looks a bit nicer, having clients in my little home away from home.....

First of all, if it sounds good to you then that's the most important thing.

Second, I listened to both examples and in terms of raw sound I preferred the wo reflection one. It was a fuller sound, and for me it would offer more options at mixdown. The minimal room sound wouldn't be an issue for me. But again, so what? Doesn't matter what I think.

regarding comb filtering and the link that spindlebox posted. It's talking about comb filtering in the context of speaker playback in a room. That's a very different context than comb filtering in your recording. The first isn't a problem much of the time--which is what the article is saying. The second is a problem a lot of the time--which the article somewhat ignores except in the context of talking about the measurement.

Finally, mattplaysguitar brings up the harshness. Yes, both recordings were painfully piercing. I realize these are the raw recordings so I only bring it up in response to matt's asking if anyone else heard it.

the box sounds brighter to me....  probably from the reflections from the box.
I would line it with some foam or carpet and see what that sounds like. 

I'm guessing the whole point of the reflexion filter is to prevent all reflections and sound from the room from  entering the mic from the sides and rear. 

Getto recording. Love it. Put some foam inside you box to see how that effects things.