Thin sound

Nat wrote on 11/7/2002, 11:59 PM

Hello. I recorded my firend who plays acoustic guitar and sings with a large diaphragme condenser mic (At3035). The sound quality is good but it sounds a little "thin". Could this be because the Highpass (80hz) on my mic was enabled ? Would it be powerful enough to make the sound thin ?

My friend wanted a "live" feeling so I placed the microphone about 5 inches at the height of his chest to get both the guitar and the voice equally.

Thanks, Nat

Comments

Rednroll wrote on 11/8/2002, 12:11 AM

The sound is thin because you placed the mic too close pointed at his chest which produces no sound but his heart beat. The 80Hz roll-off switch is there if you place the mic within 6 inches of the sound source to reduce bass added by the proximity effect. You didn't do this because you had 2 sound sources, the person singing and the guiter they where playing, and both of them where out of range of the 6 inches because you placed it in between them pointed at their chest which is producing no sound except their heartbeat as I mentioned. Pull the mic back about 3 feet so that you get direct sound from both the voice and the guitar and shut off the 80Hz roll-off switch because you're not within 6 inches and you will probably get a lot better results.

Next time put your ear where you place the mic, and you will get an idea of what will be recorded. In this cause if you put your ear 5 inches from his chest you probably would hear a thin sound, because the direct sound from his voice and the guitar are projecting outwards away from where the mic was placed.

Nat wrote on 11/8/2002, 12:15 AM

great thanks
I usualy use centimeters so I'm a bit confused it was more 5 feet than 5 inches :)
I'll try shutting off the rolloff. The sound is not that bad at all just lacks a bit of bass.

Rednroll wrote on 11/8/2002, 12:25 AM

1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters....hope that helps. Basically you have to move the mic out away from his chest so that you get more of the direct sound from the guitar and the mic. Right now your placing it behind the direct sound and getting alot of the reflections therefore making it sound thin. As I mentioned you only put the 80Hz bass roll off on, if you're within 6inches (19 cms) of the "direct" sound...meaning the diaphram of the mic is pointed at the sound source....you're pointing it at his chest, which is the "direct" sound producing nothing but his heartbeat. Therefore, you're picking up the guitar and vocals from the off-axis of the diaphram of the mic, which will make it sound thin. This is probably not due to the 80Hz bass roll-off you've added, but more like the placement of the microphone. Place the mic 3ft...which equals about 1 meter away from him and you will get a good mix of the guitar and vocal and capturing most of the direct sound from each.

Nat wrote on 11/8/2002, 12:29 AM

thanks a lot !

Geoff_Wood wrote on 11/8/2002, 2:26 AM

I would try miking from between 1 to 2 metres (4ish to 6ish feet). It will sound thinner that close miking (actually more realistic), but you will pick up a more even blend of voice and guitar. You'll also need to experiment with position in the room.

What you really need is 2 mics.

geoff