Suggest me a vocal mic/ways to treat my bedroom

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VREEEEVROOOOOW
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Suggest me a vocal mic/ways to treat my bedroom

Post by VREEEEVROOOOOW »

What microphone would you suggest for recording intimate, quiet, whispery vocals at home, in an untreated bedroom "studio"?

The style would be something like this:


Mixed with Elliott Smith style quietness.

(Except… well, bad, because I can't sing. But never mind that.)

There is faint, low-end, noise from my computer in the room, but I think that can be EQ-ed out if it is at all audible when there's actual vocals, and it'd get lost in the full mix anyway. However, the room sound is, though not complete shite, unlikely to be flattering. Feel therefore free to also suggest some stuff I can do to mitigate it being after all an untreated space—e.g. cheap stuff I can buy, or techniques I should employ.

I already have a couple of SM58s (who doesn't), and might just end up using one of those unless the suggestions are particularly compelling, but I'd like to weigh my options. Good old trusty SM58 might be my best bet after all though, since using a dynamic mic is less of a pain in an untreated room. Then I could spend money on a reflection filter, or whatever, instead of a new mic.

My current idea is to get a reflection filter, maybe also a pop filter, and then prop up my "bed" (I only use a fairly thin mattress on the floor) against the opposing wall.
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Re: Suggest me a vocal mic/ways to treat my bedroom

Post by ognoy »

Do you have a closet/wardrobe/klesskap?
If you do put your mic in there somehow.

Mics: depends on your budget, but Shure Sm7b is often used when the room is not ideal.
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Re: Suggest me a vocal mic/ways to treat my bedroom

Post by Dandolin »

interesting news to me about the Sm7b
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Re: Suggest me a vocal mic/ways to treat my bedroom

Post by VREEEEVROOOOOW »

ognoy wrote:Do you have a closet/wardrobe/klesskap?
If you do put your mic in there somehow.

Mics: depends on your budget, but Shure Sm7b is often used when the room is not ideal.
I have a klesskap and know about that hack, but it's not exactly conveniently placed with regards to the computer. I've already looked at the SM7B and read precisely what you suggest, however it is about twice my budget for now.
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Re: Suggest me a vocal mic/ways to treat my bedroom

Post by goroth »

SM7B sounds great for more aggressive vox, so if you ever want to yell a lot, in addition to not yelling, I can't recommend it enough.
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Re: Suggest me a vocal mic/ways to treat my bedroom

Post by Dandolin »

added it to my watch list :snax:

slight derail - how is it as an acoustic instrument mic?
i mean, obviously, not every mic can be great at everything, but i've had a couple that were pretty decent all-rounders
i realize this depends on the instrument, but let's use standard tuned acoustic guitar as the baseline? thx
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Re: Suggest me a vocal mic/ways to treat my bedroom

Post by VREEEEVROOOOOW »

goroth wrote:SM7B sounds great for more aggressive vox, so if you ever want to yell a lot, in addition to not yelling, I can't recommend it enough.
I actually prefer condenser microphones placed half a metre away for yelling vox. Mighty chuffed with how it turned out for the last released track I did that on, which was a sort of in the style of emo anno '93.

The band I'm recording for here will be pretty quiet/whispery, likely from the throat/head. I don't foresee a lot of yelping.



BTW, Dandolin, from what I read about the sm7b is pretty much great at everything *except* acoustic guitar. People recommend it for kick, snare, cymbals, brass, whatever. I've used it for recording kicks (on the side opposite to the pedal), wrapped under a duvet and pillow, in a full-band recording setting, and those sounded great.
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Re: Suggest me a vocal mic/ways to treat my bedroom

Post by Dandolin »

thanks VREEEEVROOOOOW :hug:
sounds like it could be a nice utility player, but i'll hold onto a condenser too :snax:
"In a moment of unparalleled genius, Noel Parachute headed off this potential disaster by unplugging the microphone."
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