VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Bob Stevens]

This is directed to all you 416 gurus out there.

Is there a proper orientation of the mic with respect to the interference slots? Please don't tell me the flat end points to the sound. <grin>

For those that may address the mic speaking across or a little off axis, is there a sonic difference if the interference slots are facing towards you or away from you?

Logic tells me that the slots phase cancel off axis sounds. So if the slot is facing you it may be cancelling some of your voice. If perpendicular to your voice, not so much voice cancellation?

Inquiring minds want to know....

Bob
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"Dialog is the painting on a canvas of silence"

[Rob Ellis]

I can say that I find the mic to be more flattering with my voice if I either:
A. Address it directly with some distance (say 8"-"12 or so)
B. Address it closer but more off axis

In general, with me if addressed directly and too close it produces too much sibilance, prox effect and all sorts of other stuff that is generally counterproductive to my efforts.

[heyguido]

Bruce said it best.... Here....

http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16220

The 416 was designed to be used as a highly directional mic. The interference tube was designed to cancel extraneous sounds not directly within the mic's field of focus. It's particularly good at rejecting reflected sound, and environmental sounds.

For VO, it's best worked from approximately 8 to 18 inches, dependent on the force of the source.... Also slightly off-axis, so that the voice crosses the field of focus at a diagonal, rather than directly impacting the diaphragm.... Too far off-axis, however, and you begin to experience phase issues from the cancellation effect.

At its best, the 416 is should be whispered to, growled at, but never shouted or barked at. Mishandled, it can be brutally unforgiving. It's easily overdriven, and the proximity effect is to be avoided, as it can best be described as mud. Additionally, it's highly sensitive to plosives at close range, and will benefit significantly from a quality pop filter, preferably wire mesh, as opposed to nylon.

Some purists sneer at the 416, as not being a true voiceover mic.... But handled with finesse, it can convey subtleties and presence not easily recreated by other mics.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

[dbeers]

[dbeers]

duplicate post (why I don't know)

[heyguido]

With regard to the interference ports, specifically...

Let's return again to the mic's original goal in design....

To focus on a distant source, and minimize extraneous inputs from other sources.

In most applications, "other sources" are most likely in the horizontal plane, therefore the interference ports are located on the sides of the mic. In the rare instance in which your floor or ceiling are noisier than the rest of your room, you could rotate the mic 90 degrees.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

[Bill Campbell]

Yes, it is a geeky post.

Put on some headphones and experiment.
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www.asapaudio.com

[Bob Stevens]

Thank you dbeers. You confirmed my thinking.

Don. You brought up my next point. Being able to orient the mic to take advantage of the rejection similar to a figure of 8, or placement of any mic for better noise rejection. I understand the actual use and purpose of the mic. Seeing as how many in the VO biz use it in a unconventional manner, like very close and off axis, was the reason for my inquiry.

Bill. I will be playing with mine. I just received it in the mail and am waiting for the T power adapter to arrive later today.

FYI.. The actual capsule is located about half way down the mic in the middle of those interference slots. Not on the end or down in the base. Inside, from the tip to just before the capsule there is an interference tube, drilled with calibrated holes at 180 degrees to each other. The service manual states that this tube must be properly positioned to match the slots for proper tuning and rejection. With that in mind, it seems only reasonable that the mic orientation can have an effect as well.

Sorry folks. I didn't intend to open a can of worms. It seemed reasonable that the 416 can/should be subjected to the same microphone placement testing and orientation that one would do in a room with a conventional mic. Something that some may not take into account with a shotgun mic.


Bob
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"Dialog is the painting on a canvas of silence"

[heyguido]

No worries, Bob. Happy to share.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

[Ed Fisher]

The one thing I feel I am learning (being a 416 Noob) is to get "that" sound you need to work the mic at a distance. Which, I have found, also means you need to give some boost to your mic input. WHICH also means boosting the background. This means that having a quite and good sounding environment is much more important with this mic... than one that you can use while it's "touching your lips."

The cool thing is that this Mic doesn't get that "thin" sound that a mic would normally get at such a distance.

I know that this is not exactly on the original topic. But, Congrats Bob...on your new 416 acquisition.

[heyguido]

The one place where the 416 really shines is when you sneak up on it, slightly off-axis, and talk dirty to it..... No force, no shouting, no barking. From a whisper to a growl, but no further.

Used in this fashion, the mic doesn't require a lot of gain, and doesn't pick up much else but your voice.

Try it.... And see what you can do with it.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

[Jason Huggins]

[Dan-O]

...

[vkuehn]

[Ed Fisher]