aa - week two - voice recording

.mic vs mic.
With the vocal recording exercise my main goal was to test out a few different microphones. The three mic's I decided to try out were a Shure SM58, Rhode NTV and the Neumann U-87. Follow each link below to hear a recording using each microphone. These recordings demonstrate the naked sound of the microphone. Speaking is Ben Probert, who willingly agreed to help me with the recording by assuming the voice of a pirate (cheers!). Ben had each mic placed around him 10cm from his mouth. Also he was surrounded by sound boards in a pseudo-dead room setup. Each of these recordings were made with the same take, but from the perspective of each different mic:

SM58
U-87
NTV
(naked microphones)



.narrowing mic selection & adding dynamic compression.
From this recording, I gathered a bit of information about how each of the microphones were performing on the day. The SM58 had a slightly rougher sound, with more low end, as compared with the sound of the U-87m which was my favourite vocal sound. The NTV was perhaps a bit too gentle for this role, so later I decided to try it out 4 metres away when I recorded a more 'room' sound (less direct). With the SM58 and U-87 left as my preferred sounds, I decided make another recording with them, this time using the popper stopper, dynamic multi-band digital compression as well as getting Ben to speak more directly into each mic.

SM58 vs. U-87
(compressed)

.spoken word.
Once again I personally prefer the sound of the Neumann microphone, even with all the parameters (compression, mic placement and so on) changed, so I decide to use the U-87 to record a spoken word recording. In this take, instead of prattling on with as much enthusiasm as the idiot in the Mr. Bankrupt commercials, Ben just reads the text in his usual voice. Again this is with compression.

U-87
(spoken word)

.room sound.
For something a little different, and to try to get the expensive Rhode NTV to do something useful, I removed the sound boards and recorded Ben about 4 to 5 meters from the NTV mic. This recording is might sound a little bit dull, but if combined with another close-miced recording (with the U-87 for example) and with appropriate mixing, one might achieve an interesting and physical reverb sound.

NTV
(room recording)

.whisper.
Finally, I decided to use the NTV microphone, which I have already dubbed "gentle," to make a recording of Ben whispering the script. We used the popper-stopper for this take, and got Ben standing pretty close to the mic. Once again this is with digital compression.

NTV
(close mic, whisper)

and remember weimerhead readers:



.sources.
Grice, David. 06.03.07. "Voice Recording," Tutorial presented in EMU space, 5th floor Schulz Building, University of Adelaide.