Microphones microphones again

[Jeanette]

Would my recorded sound improve significantly with a ribbon mic instead of a zoom?

Jx

 

[aldevis]

Would my recorded sound improve significantly with a ribbon mic instead of a zoom?

Jx

Only if you put some extra stuff between the microphone and audacity.
It can be distracting.

 

[Nick Wyver]

some extra stuff

You mean like John Coltrane?

 

[peterpick]

Would my recorded sound improve significantly with a ribbon mic instead of a zoom?

there is always a law of diminishing returns with recording equipment. people will spend many thousands of pounds to get a sound 1 or 2% better at the top end of the business. i would have thought, however, that any reasonable quality dedicated microphone is going to be noticeably better than using the free microphones that come with a recorder. at the worst, you could plug a better condenser into the zoom and the chances are you would improve the sound. this is the front end of the process. you cannot get a good sound without a good source. the best reproduction imaginable of a bad source will only be a bad source.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Would my recorded sound improve significantly with a ribbon mic instead of a zoom?

Jx

Ribbon mics tend to not be so good unless you have a really good sounding room. Plus some ribbon mics need a lot of gain at the preamp. I use a dedicated ribbon mic pre for my ribbons, an AEA TRP

However I'm using ribbons less and less now.

 

[aldevis]

However I'm using ribbons less and less now.

There must be a solid reason:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjqBhZj_37U

 

[jbtsax]

Where's that "Boo" emoticon when we need it. 😛

 

[Jeanette]

Ribbon mics tend to not be so good unless you have a really good sounding room.

.

What factors contribute to a good sounding room?

Jx

 

[aldevis]

What factors contribute to a good sounding room?

Jx

Lack of predominant frequencies, partners, domestic animals.

 

[Jeanette]

Lack of predominant frequencies, partners, domestic animals.

The last two are easy to solve, they scarper as soon as I start blowing, please expand on the first 🙂

Jx

 

[Pete Thomas]

This may help:

Recording - Home studio soundproofing and DIY acoustic room treatment

How to turn a bedroom or living room into a viable recording space (without costing too much)

cafesaxophone.com

basically if you record in a room it may have some predominant sequences, in my studio when I first set it up there was speak at 110 hz so the low B on my tenor boomed out. Studios generally have acoustic design consultants who iron out these issues.

See this:

Recording - Record saxophones - by a pro saxophone player and producer

Pete Thomas lets you into some of his saxophone studio secrets. A guide for both amateurs and professionals

cafesaxophone.com

Then if a pro is just too reverberant, that will get picked up by some microphones depending on the polar pattern (e.g. is it omnidirectional or directional)

Also see: Recording - Microphones
That's fine if you find a room with lovely acoustics, e.g. a nice church or chapel. You will be doing the recording with natural ambience and reverb include.

But you can never lose this from the captured recording, so if it sounds bad, e.g. a bit boxy or weird, then you are stuck with it.

A room that is very dry (e.g. not very ambient or reverberant) has few such problems and you can add reverb or ambience in your software,whether it be Audacity or Logic or Protools.

Ribbon mics, by their nature have a figure of 8 play pattern, which picks up a lot of sound of the room, so in other words they can be good if the room sound is what you like. Otherwise use directional (cardioid) mic

 

[aldevis]

Ribbon mics, by their nature have a figure of 8 play pattern, which picks up a lot of sound of the room, so in other words they can be good if the room sound is what you like. Otherwise use directional (cardioid) mic

Since I got my two ribbons, I realized that ribbons more a bi-directional than a figure 8 like some condensers have.
It implies that off axis sound is minimal. Playing with positions I had decent results.
But I often add a very directional pencil condenser, just in case I need more definition.

 

[imtzombie]

hey guys,. after a lot of research, have finalised Cascade Fat Head II, MXL R77 or AKG C3000b for my saxophone choice. The room I play with is decent mid size (no close walls) but has furniture like table,chair, bed etc. Any suggestions or preferences or what i shud look for between the three to shortlist it to ONE. Kindly help!!! Looking for a smooth, warm sound.

 

[Pete Thomas]

The only way is to try them out. Do you have any local music tech supply shops that will let you do that?

 

[Pete Thomas]

hey guys,. after a lot of research, have finalised Cascade Fat Head II, MXL R77 or AKG C3000b

I'm interested to know why you chose those. if you are relying on reviews, I hope you know that many reviews are totally subjective at best, and totally bogus at worst.

 

[Jeanette]

This may help:

Recording - Home studio soundproofing and DIY acoustic room treatment

How to turn a bedroom or living room into a viable recording space (without costing too much)

cafesaxophone.com

basically if you record in a room it may have some predominant sequences, in my studio when I first set it up there was speak at 110 hz so the low B on my tenor boomed out. Studios generally have acoustic design consultants who iron out these issues.

See this:

I've got this far and found that very interesting, I record in the study which is really the smallest bedroom about 8ft by 12ft and it has a desk with computer, cupboard, small filing cabinet and two bookshelves full of books and cds. Along one wall is quite a big window. So reading your article made me think it might not be too bad as I was worried it had too much stuff in it?

The room has solid walls and is carpeted, I have experimented with playing with the curtain open, would that make a difference?

Jx

 

[ProfJames]

Yes.................

 

[aldevis]

The room has solid walls and is carpeted, I have experimented with playing with the curtain open, would that make a difference?

It probably would. I'd guess better with curtain closed.

 

[Jeanette]

It probably would. I'd guess better with curtain closed.

Wasn't sure whether to rate that

Jx

 

[Veggie Dave]

The room has solid walls and is carpeted, I have experimented with playing with the curtain open, would that make a difference?

Jx

Indeed it will. A window is a lovely, very flat, reflective surface that will reflect sound just like it reflects light. A painted wall will normally reflect more than a papered one, as well, for example.

Isn't music fun? 😉