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Virtual Decadence
Published on 09/06/10 at 02:33
Used with a condenser microphone Rode NT 2000, in a vaulted stone cellar. Test done with all the polarities of the NT2000: omni, cardio, 8 and with a lot of intermediate positions (the big advantage of NT2000).
OVERALL OPINION
Well I use it for a month. I borrowed the studio of my multimedia work (it's me who told them to try it
).
The goal for me was not to believe in magic or remove the external noise but only to cut as reflections and standing waves which contaminate other records of my voice (speaking voice or singing rock) in my basement vaulted Stone / home studio. OK this is a situation far from ideal.
But then, I tested the RF in all parts of my house. Its effect is not zero, far from it. But even with the microphone at the bottom of the filter, I still have too much room ambience. Even in the less reverberant room (most furnished). It is obvious in "speaking voice". Exactly a little natural reverb on the vocals, it bothers me a little less, but for dubbing his voice-over, the atmosphere is less unacceptable.
So it is not super effective in a context that would have anything but a "small problem of natural reverb. I do not know where you live but I have 5 pieces of different shapes and sizes + Bathroom and kitchen so I have a good panel.
on the other hand, so it colors the microphone. I did lots of testing, including keeping asymmetrically relative to the microphone. It can help to some voices, it is rather funny to see the effect that may be exploitable in some circumstances.
Then I did as much. I made myself a panel (PVC: less than ten euros at Casto) and I reached an Ikea duvet (bought 9.90 euros, well I made a mad also taking a duvet cover to 9.9 euros more ... wow investment). I also found the idea here: http://www.palmcitystudios.com/timobrien/music/soundbooth/simplesoundbooth.html
I put it behind the RF in the room the more problematic (the vaulted cellar so). And there I saw a big improvement.
I made a second following the advice of the trick posted here (mic stands, PVC crossbar in my duvet and held taut with forceps to paste). For a version with adjustable height. I put the microphone (behind the person speaking / singing). And there, the result is stunning. I still have the reverb but it is highly attenuated. This result without having dedicated cabin in my cellar was unexpected anyway. Do not dream.
If I spend my Rode NT2000 polarity in 8 (I tried a hypercardio), the result becomes a voice-operated. In Cardioid (because the NT2000 is good especially well in this position), the song is quite effective especially on a female voice not too serious.
Otherwise I accepted a position between cardio and 8.
I kept all my spoken voice recordings on the same text with the same voice noting all settings (polarity of the microphone placement relative to the voice, the RF position, position of the panels with duvets) and no need be a sound engineer confirmed to show the difference by switching between tracks.
The question is: Does the RF really useful to me? So I removed and I feel a difference but a difference of more color. The biggest mitigation reverb is therefore my quilts.
In short, I do not have a definite opinion on the subject. But for 200 euros, I can live without (besides I must yield). Well try to clone Thotho much cheaper. And frankly I'd like to see the difference with the PVB RealTraps.
Oh and for owners of Rode NT 200 (or another model with the same design) attention to the position. Because we have a real choice between the same place the microphone in rearmost position on the support of the FR is almost outside the area covered and in reverse, it is squarely at the bottom the Filter. This is because of the shape of the huge microphone boom. That's why the PVB, bigger with more space to place the microphone might be better.
I said that's my personal opinion in a not very favorable to the sound level. The guy who lent me the job is super happy with the result and validates the whole concept (he uses it for dubbing videos only). And it does not come from the microphone, he also uses a Rode NT2000 (to borrow the strength of mine, he bought one).
After, I must also try a speaking voice that is not as bad as mine. Because of course it has to play too. (I will complete my review if things change radically never something).
OVERALL OPINION
Well I use it for a month. I borrowed the studio of my multimedia work (it's me who told them to try it
). The goal for me was not to believe in magic or remove the external noise but only to cut as reflections and standing waves which contaminate other records of my voice (speaking voice or singing rock) in my basement vaulted Stone / home studio. OK this is a situation far from ideal.
But then, I tested the RF in all parts of my house. Its effect is not zero, far from it. But even with the microphone at the bottom of the filter, I still have too much room ambience. Even in the less reverberant room (most furnished). It is obvious in "speaking voice". Exactly a little natural reverb on the vocals, it bothers me a little less, but for dubbing his voice-over, the atmosphere is less unacceptable.
So it is not super effective in a context that would have anything but a "small problem of natural reverb. I do not know where you live but I have 5 pieces of different shapes and sizes + Bathroom and kitchen so I have a good panel.
on the other hand, so it colors the microphone. I did lots of testing, including keeping asymmetrically relative to the microphone. It can help to some voices, it is rather funny to see the effect that may be exploitable in some circumstances.
Then I did as much. I made myself a panel (PVC: less than ten euros at Casto) and I reached an Ikea duvet (bought 9.90 euros, well I made a mad also taking a duvet cover to 9.9 euros more ... wow investment). I also found the idea here: http://www.palmcitystudios.com/timobrien/music/soundbooth/simplesoundbooth.html
I put it behind the RF in the room the more problematic (the vaulted cellar so). And there I saw a big improvement.
I made a second following the advice of the trick posted here (mic stands, PVC crossbar in my duvet and held taut with forceps to paste). For a version with adjustable height. I put the microphone (behind the person speaking / singing). And there, the result is stunning. I still have the reverb but it is highly attenuated. This result without having dedicated cabin in my cellar was unexpected anyway. Do not dream.
If I spend my Rode NT2000 polarity in 8 (I tried a hypercardio), the result becomes a voice-operated. In Cardioid (because the NT2000 is good especially well in this position), the song is quite effective especially on a female voice not too serious.
Otherwise I accepted a position between cardio and 8.
I kept all my spoken voice recordings on the same text with the same voice noting all settings (polarity of the microphone placement relative to the voice, the RF position, position of the panels with duvets) and no need be a sound engineer confirmed to show the difference by switching between tracks.
The question is: Does the RF really useful to me? So I removed and I feel a difference but a difference of more color. The biggest mitigation reverb is therefore my quilts.
In short, I do not have a definite opinion on the subject. But for 200 euros, I can live without (besides I must yield). Well try to clone Thotho much cheaper. And frankly I'd like to see the difference with the PVB RealTraps.
Oh and for owners of Rode NT 200 (or another model with the same design) attention to the position. Because we have a real choice between the same place the microphone in rearmost position on the support of the FR is almost outside the area covered and in reverse, it is squarely at the bottom the Filter. This is because of the shape of the huge microphone boom. That's why the PVB, bigger with more space to place the microphone might be better.
I said that's my personal opinion in a not very favorable to the sound level. The guy who lent me the job is super happy with the result and validates the whole concept (he uses it for dubbing videos only). And it does not come from the microphone, he also uses a Rode NT2000 (to borrow the strength of mine, he bought one).
After, I must also try a speaking voice that is not as bad as mine. Because of course it has to play too. (I will complete my review if things change radically never something).