Mics & Real Estate...Location, Location, Location!

Jason Bishop · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 May 2005 Posts: 59

As I work to improve my skills, I'm having a dickens of a time finding the sweet spot with my mic (Rode NT1a).

I've attached a file where I've read the same copy (one of the auditions from today) with 3 different placements.

Could I impose on any of you to listen and give me feedback on which you think sounds best?

I think I know, but as has been discussed in other threads, sometimes our own ears fool us.

Thanks guys

Jason

Karen Lehman · **Voice Talent** Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 190

The tech people here can give all kinds of technical terms for what they hear, but for my ears, #3 is the best.
#1 has a metallic reverb-ish sound, and #2 is a little too muffled.

Karen's 2cents

Emmett Andrews · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 132

I'm not in my normal studio, but on these monitors, I agree that #3 is the best. I like the tonal balance of #1, but it does sound a bit closet-like.

Emmett

Jason Bishop · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 May 2005 Posts: 59

Thanks Emmett and Karen, my ears also think #3 is best.

And Emmett, those were recorded with the changes you recommended on my VMP and the 5.5 boost.

Jason

Lance Blair · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007, 16:09 (GMT) Post subject:

#3

And it only goes to show how important mic placement and room acoustics are. Processing isn't all that necessary if you put a nice mic through a nice preamp in a nice room in front of a nice voice.

There was a article in Mix from about five or six years ago that interviewed NYC vo engineers. They all would only run about -1 to -3db gain reduction in compression and then use very slight EQing.