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.....

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

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...

Dude.

You so got to make an egg carton one.

That would be hilarious.

Bring back the egg carton! Show that it CAN actually be useful in the studio!!!

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

Rode NTIA is a very fine microphone. I recently mastered an album that was mixed by an award winning Melbourne engineer. (Shane Omara) Mix was excellent. Turns out the performer in question used a Rode NT1A to track every instrument and all the vocals. It sounded absolutely amazing. Sounded like he had 10 of the worlds finest microphones on tap. Shane was shocked and said it totally kills the myth you need expensive microphones (and Mic Pres) to do a job well. And he was using a Fostex hard disc based recorder as the recording device with just it's on board mic pres.

He is talented. Great singer and player. Just goes to show that real talent overshadows the mic by so much it does not really matter what mic you put up.

Your box reflection filter could be OK but I would be a bit worried about the quality of sound bouncing around in there effecting your tone. In your case it might have really favoured your vocal sound possibly.

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.

I think the point most are missing, is that this was a total experiment, and in no way was EVER intended to be a permanent solution.

Again, this was a total experiment!

It amazes me how quick people are to judge, and start throwing around technical jargon, without even hearing results. After all, what it sounds like is the entire point.

I will be completely rebuilding something completely different around the same principle, and yes, using something to pad the inside, probably Auralex pads.

You may feel foolish in judging after I post the samples. Stay tuned.

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...

NUMBER 1: http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_12799300


NUMBER 2: http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_12799305


Again, the purpose of this exercise was to show that there really IS a difference. Is it perfect? NO. Is it better? In my opinion YES. I would rather deal with #2 in a mix than #1 any day.

So, I'm off to the drawing board. I will post results when I'm done.