General Recording Discussion > Discussion about Instruments

AKG Perception 200 Condenser Mic (Giving Hollow feedback)

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CastleRecordz:


I've had this mic for maybe two years.  It's crystal clear... gives very good High level and low ends... sometimes too good with the highs, though.  This is why I always experience so much clipping with it... my natural voice has a natural high frequency level (If said correctly).

Anyway... I used to record in a hollow basement with this mic at one time and had no real problems.  I moved and built a little studio where I currently live (Thinking this should be better because now I'm in an acoustic environment and things will sound more compressed) and now it seems to give me a hollow feedback to my vocals. 

I put the mic level down so I won't have to stand back too far to limit hollowness... then I experience clipping from being too damn close ( >:D).  It's like I'm s*** out of luck either way with this setup.

What do you all suggest I do?  At what level should I be recording my vocals to get a nice volume sound without clipping or standing too far back which creates the hollowness?

Ask any questions you like--thanks!   

stainless:
describe your acoustic environment- small booth? window? solid door? and where are these in relation to you and the mic? (how far away?  How do you have the pad and are you using the LF roll off (spec say's it's 12 dB @ 300 Hz)

CastleRecordz:

--- Quote from: stainless on September 29, 2011, 10:55:48 AM ---describe your acoustic environment- small booth? window? solid door? and where are these in relation to you and the mic? (how far away?  How do you have the pad and are you using the LF roll off (spec say's it's 12 dB @ 300 Hz)

--- End quote ---

Well I'm recording out of a closet booth.  As far as size, I'm not good at measurement, so guessing... maybe 42 x 29" (Very small).  I have cheap foam from Family Dollar only because if it gets any thicker I won't be able to fit in the closet (LOL)!  I know, it's unfortunate. 

Since the booth is so small, I have to leave the doors open.  So I place the mic kiddy-cornered and stand maybe a foot or half a foot back from it.  I have the closet covered in padding from the ceiling, except the ground, which is carpeted anyway.  I stand 5'9" so the roof is like maybe 4" from my head.

As far as LF roll off, not familiar with that term.  Please specify. [/size][/color][/font]

stainless:
to test my theory, set the mike up kitty corner in the room outside the closet and record something you've already done in the closet.  How much difference can you hear?  it's very possible the foam from the dollar store may be doing very little aside from giving a somewhat muffled sound (which is not the purpose of acoustic treatment)

On your mic there are 2 switched, on is labeled  0    -10 dB and , the other has a line on each side, the one on the left is a slope up with a line extending to the right off the top of the sloping line.

If switched to the left side (with the sloped line) it acts as a LF cut... what used to be called a 'rumble filter'- If you have it switched toward that, switch it the other way.

If you have the other switch at 0, try switching it to -10dB, this pads the signal and may help with your clipping issues

RawDepth:

--- Quote from: CastleRecordz on September 29, 2011, 04:14:27 AM ---... At what level should I be recording my vocals to get a nice volume sound without clipping or standing too far back which creates the hollowness?
--- End quote ---

You should record so that the meter in your recording software (on the recorded track) spends most of its time bouncing around -10 to -18 dB or there about. If a volume adjustment is needed it should be made at your mic preamp, where the mic cable plugs in. All other volume levels should be left at full up or 0 dB.

Since many mics can have a very weak signal strength to begin with, think of your preamp as a tool to boost the volume to a usable level for the rest of the system. Only turn up the volume as much as is needed and no more.

I generally keep the mic about 4 or 5 inches away from the singer's mouth. If your breath hits the mic and causes pops and boom noises then place a pop shield/filter in front of the mic. These are fairly cheap to buy. An alternative is to move the mic slightly higher than your mouth so that your breath does not hit it directly. Hang the mic up-side-down if you want. It's all about trial and error.

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