vocal screens: any good?

[waddo]

In my old place the music room was very dead and I was reasonably happy with vocal recordings. Where I live now is much more reflective so I am considering a vocal screen like this:

http://www.primacoustic.com/voxguard-specs.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I am also considering just hanging up some thick blankets on the wall behind the mic. Or both! Any thoughts, personal experience with this issue?

Cheers

Waddo

[Dwetmaster]

I have an reflexion filter and although it helps a lot, I don't think it is sufficient to totally kill a fairly reflective room. I also use some DIY panels in the surrounding area. You mau find the most problematic reflexions to kill are the ones from the ceiling.

[mikehalloran]

>You mau find the most problematic reflexions to kill are the ones from the ceiling.<

I have used a large canvass patio umbrella to kill ceiling reflections in a poorly designed project studio. Looked unorthodox but it worked. Folded up out of the way when not needed.

I suppose this thread should be in General Recording.

[mhschmieder]

They all pretty much suck; this has come out in review after review as well as the blogs and forums. Some suck less than others, but all are more expensive than putting up a pair (or more) of simple DIY panels.

Sorry I don't have time to go into details right now; maybe later. I'm in catch-up mode on too many fronts at the moment.

[dix]

How are you suppose to read a script or a lyric sheet with your face up in one of these?

[mjc]

I moved from recording in a small bedroom which - due to its strange shape, thick carpet and soft furnishings - was actually a pretty decent place to record vocal, to a much larger space with high ceilings. The first time I tried recording a vocal with a decent mic, I was horrified at the amount of room ambience I captured. I have tried a mic filter (not a Reflexion, but similar idea) and found it OK but not a complete solution. However, the old trick of hanging thick duvets behind the singer has worked a treat. I created a three-sided enclosure from two duvets and can now vary the amount of ambience by moving the mic stand inwards and outwards. Works a treat for me and cost nothing as the duvets were destined for the re-cycle bin!

I did think about a more 'constructed' screen approach, but concluded that, aside from being costly, it would rob me of useful space. I can fold the duvets away when not in use. And did I mention their cheapness?

[waddo]

How do you hang them though?

[mjc]

How do you hang them though?

Very carefully! Duvets are heavy when held at arms length!

I'm lucky enough to have a very high ceiling and an internal pitched roof, so there are exposed rafters onto which I have attached a set of hooks. My wife kindly sewed four loops onto each duvet and these are hung over the hooks. I push the duvets up on top of the rafters when not needed.

In Sound On Sound articles, they often hang the duvet(s) over microphone stands, but anything tall that lets the duvet hang freely would probably do. You could even drill into the ceiling joists if you don't mind disfiguring your ceiling.

Mike

[mhschmieder]

I recently printed out some articles and reviews of some cheaper and better duvet options for those of us who are equipment-challenged (i.e. do not have a home workshop but do have some basic tools).

I just flipped through those the other day and intended to review them in detail once I'm out of my budget crunch, as duvets are my next studio priority and MUST be dealt with well before Thanksgiving due to some upcoming overdub sessions that will be done at my apartment vs. remote.

I was surprised to find how cheaply this can be done, if focusing primarily on the needs of vocalists, acoustic guitarists and other instrumentalists vs. the needs of an electric guitarist who must crank the amp to 11 to get the right sound.

[mjc]

I recently printed out some articles and reviews of some cheaper and better duvet options for those of us who are equipment-challenged (i.e. do not have a home workshop but do have some basic tools).

I was surprised to find how cheaply this can be done, if focusing primarily on the needs of vocalists, acoustic guitarists and other instrumentalists vs. the needs of an electric guitarist who must crank the amp to 11 to get the right sound.

Absolutely! And unlike 'proper' vocal screens, duvets don't hurt much when they fall on you!

Two further thoughts:

1. Feather duvets are a big NO. All the feathers migrate to the bottom very quickly. Not only looks silly, it is completely ineffective. Go hollow-fill and the largest tog-rating you can find. I was pleasantly surprised at the low price of a supermarket value-brand 13 tog. Duvet covers on the other hand.... not such a value proposition, and don't add much to the mix, aesthetics notwithstanding.

2. A reflexion filter (or similar) right behind the close mic on a guitar cab, with a hanging duvet behind that, is quite effective at cutting down room ambience and also cuts the sound levels in the rest of the room a bit. I discovered this by accident when I recorded the guitar amp which happened to be sited behind the duvet. I was too lazy to move the duvet since I planned to record vocals straight after the guitar take.

Mike