16
votes
Accepted
What are the 1 2 3 settings on the back of The Blue Snowball?
Referencing both manuals for the Snowball Blue Microphone (and this manual) which provide similar information with different descriptions of the settings, this switch controls the pickup pattern,
...
- 993
9
votes
TRS 3.5mm microphone not working in mixer
I have recently run across this exact issue and have found the answer so thought I'd share.
PC microphones are a type of "electret" microphone which is essentially a specific type of unbalanced ...
- 91
8
votes
Accepted
Why is a pop filter necessary?
You need a pop filter if the mic is in a direct line in front of your mouth - whether you buy one, or stretch a piece of material over a frame in front, put a sock over it, whatever.
You don't need ...
- 7,059
8
votes
Why do microphones underperform at distances?
It's not the ear can can differentiate a voice from background, it's the brain.
It can use the minute differences in timing that a sound arrives at each ear (known as the Haas or Precedence Effect) ...
- 7,059
7
votes
Accepted
How to record classical piano with one microphone?
Deep and resonant with less sharpness sounds like you want to put the mic underneath the piano pointing up at the sound board. You'll probably want to move it around down there and experiment with how ...
- 2,030
7
votes
Accepted
My new sennheiser doesn't have an XLR port, what is this plug called? (picture included)
It's a modular system.
You need the microphone module, which you have, and the power module, which you apparently don't have.
According to Sennheiser documentation you need the K6 or K6P power ...
- 411
7
votes
Accepted
How do I read this frequency response chart?
The response curves are for each of the three selectable roll-off switch positions...
Flat
–6 dB/octave below 100 Hz
–18 dB/octave below 80 Hz
From the spec sheet -
Low Frequency Response ...
- 7,059
6
votes
How do sound engineers maintain levels in live performances?
This is probably a better question for Sound.SE, but anyway:
A good vocalist will be aware of their mic placement (it becomes habit pretty quick). In "loud" genres, rock for example, as an engineer, ...
- 331
6
votes
Phantom Power: Would it run through TSR plugs and if so would it cause electrocution?
It would be very unusual for equipment to put phantom power out to TRS inputs. One reason is that connecting an unbalanced TS connector would shorten one line with phantom power but not the other, ...
- 61
6
votes
What type of microphone is best suited for recording ambient sounds?
Since you need natural sounding stereophonic sound, you would need two cardioid mics set up as a near coincident pair.
There are actually two ways of doing this, the French (ORTF) and the Dutch (NOS)...
- 1,553
6
votes
Accepted
What are these microphone connectors?
Those are DIN connectors. DIN line-level signals expect a different impedance than is usual for RCA or XLR connections. IIRC you can put a resistor in series to convert to RCA.
I'm not sure what ...
- 1,548
5
votes
Mic recommendations for high frequency capture that will be slowed
Your friend is probably talking about one of the Sennheiser MKH mics. Possibly the 416 or the MKH40. These are great mics, but are perhaps overkill for what you are proposing to use them for. Often ...
- 4,465
5
votes
Why is a pop filter necessary?
It's worth noting that many mics actually have a pop filter built-in, in particular live vocal mics such as the SM58. Such filters generally don't work as good as a proper external lollipop-screen, ...
- 6,001
5
votes
Microphone to pick voice of several people in a big room
If you are on a budget you might want to give the Blue Microphones Yeti a try. It has switchable pick up patterns on it one of with it polar which will pick up 360 degrees around the mic. It's USB so ...
5
votes
Accepted
Choosing a studio mic for accordion
I would go with 2-4 goosenecked clip microphones positioned in top and bottom of each sound source, something like this:
The important thing here is that the mics stay at a fixed position, so you ...
- 3,702
5
votes
Accepted
Studio mic --> Headphone jack not working
The suspect area is the ¼" jack & ¼" - ⅛" adaptor.
It needs to be correctly wired as a mic input to that specific jack socket, which on a Mac is a 4-pole connector, TRRS, for headset/mic combos.
...
- 7,059
5
votes
Rode SmartLav+ does not work with Scarlett 2i2
Rode has now a device which allows to plug in microphones which need to be powered by power usually provided by smartphones (2.7v) through TRRS such as Rode's Lavalier Go or Shure's MVL/A to a USB ...
- 51
5
votes
Why do microphones underperform at distances?
Let me start by addressing the lack of microphones that can do this. There isn't one. We have specialized highly directional microphones that can pick up very specific points at fairly long ...
- 8,091
5
votes
Accepted
Microphones for instruments ranging from double bass to fife
If you're specifically after something that's versatile, the Shure SM57 is the best microphone you'll find for that budget.
It can be used for pretty much anything, it sounds good live and in the ...
- 131
5
votes
Mic closest as human ear (not just few inches away)
I think you are working to a false premise.
It is not actually the sensitivity of the microphone that is they key to this - you can take any half decent mic & keep turning it up. Sure, there will ...
- 7,059
5
votes
Why aren't amplifiers aimed AWAY from the audience on live shows?
First off… pros don't just decide they want to turn their amp up halfway through a gig. That's what sound crews are for; there's one guy whose job it is to make sure everyone on stage can hear ...
- 7,059
4
votes
DIY contact microphone
Here is a nifty preamp circuit that provides a FET buffer and balances the signal, which deals with all the issues you are discussing. The circuit is based on the work of Alex Rice.) You attach the ...
4
votes
DIY Portable Anechoic Chamber
Consider using an anechoic chamber from others. Every microphone and speaker manufacturer will have one, most Universities have huge EMI measurement chambers (working perfectly). They might let you ...
- 211
4
votes
New sound designer/field recordist heading out on US tour. Any suggestions?
Well, it depends on how much you can actually get away from the show and the bus. Getting to acoustically unspoiled locations means getting far away (usually) from the highway. OTOH, during a month ...
4
votes
I want to know how to shout into my mic without distortion
As others have rightly said, the problem you are experiencing is called clipping. Clipping occurs when the signal input to a step of sound processing (such as the mic capturing the sound, the ...
- 8,091
4
votes
I want to know how to shout into my mic without distortion
I would definitely use a dynamic microphone like everyone else is mentioning, but I would also use a pad. I've done a few vocal recording for hardcore bands and a lot of times they are clipping even ...
- 156
4
votes
Accepted
Why does public speaking setup often include multiple microphones?
There are a few possible reasons. If you see just two identical mics it's for coverage and diversity -- to get a good signal no matter where the speaker faces, to shape the pickup pattern.
If you see ...
- 1,721
4
votes
Accepted
A condenser mic gain tuning on a mixer
If I understand correctly, you are currently using your mixer's gain knob very close to it's minimum gain position, and you'd prefer to be in a middle position.
This means that the output level of ...
- 2,613
4
votes
A condenser mic gain tuning on a mixer
Most Condensor Microphones have a "pad" switch (usually -15 or -20 db). That will decrease your input volume, allowing for you to turn your gain up and have greater ability to fine-tune. Also, most ...
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