VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Adric83 · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 11:47 pm Post subject: Ever so swift Mic Shootout

Hi there folks,

Hired a (couple of) mic(s) from a local gear rental place and am putting it up against my existing one, to see which suits my voice better, since I've lived with my voice all my life, I'd appreciate some feedback from those less biased Wink

Cheers!

- Bill

*EDIT* here's a Dropbox link for a non-compressed version, cheers to Scott for the heads up on that.

***EDIT AGAIN*** I picked up another mic to test today and added it to the file, so the link is now for a file containing a third microphone. *** Now it has the flub edited out. How embarrassing.... Embarrassed

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5w63g0z6qqd3py7/Mic%20Test%20A%2BB%2BC.wav?dl=0

Feb 11th - At the risk of trying to get more blood from this stone, I recorded a quick commercial spot with the 3 mics in my 'usual' accent... I thought maybe the context and character of the voice in the first test might have skewed the results... I also adjusted the order of the mics... Here it is:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0epyp45wzke6axe/Aus%20Mic%20Test.wav?dl=0

Voxman · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 2:17 am Post subject:

Hi there Bill ... Mic 1 is nice n full but Mic 2, a little edgy in the top. Maybe 2 would cut better over a music bed, but if I had to listen to you on long narration, mic 1 for sure with maybe some bottom end eased off (maybe but not necessarily so)
Cheers
Peter

FinMac · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 6:10 am Post subject: Prefer mic 1

Like mic 1 better as it has a better low end. Not saying that mic 1 is better, but to my ears it would be my preference.

Yes, SC does compress the files, unless they are for download. Better to use Plopbox, or something like it, to get a more accurate playback.

Nice read, by the way Smile

_________________
www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Another vote here for Mic 1

vkuehn · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 11:07 am Post subject:

On a first listen, my observations would mirror some of what has been said. If you like a "big bottom end" #1 seems to have the edge. Then I turned Audition loose to do it magic. Recording #1 is about 2.5 dB louder than number two. I also dis a frequency analysis and it seems the bottom end was a bit better.

Then I amplified #2 by 2.52 dB and listened again. Everything between zero and about 700 hz. is identical on the two mics. Mic #1 has some dips in a couple of frequencies between 700 and 3000. But even number two has a couple of minor dips that I would consider boosting.

When you adjust the gain so the two tracks are of identical gain, there is less noticeable difference, but in MY BOOK number 2 is the better mic.

Adric83 · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 10:23 pm Post subject:

Interesting, very, very interesting!

For disclosure I left the gain on my pre-amp the same for both mics, and only normalised to -3db, I didn't want anything to colour or boost one over the other.
Didn't even noise reduce as I feel that's part of the test.

Of course if I had two mic stands and two channels and room in my little booth I'd have set both mics up at once so that the reads were literally identical, since who knows, I might have given one read more 'oomph' than the other.

Here's a Dropbox link for a possible higher quality file:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y3y5bwe2rqc02ok/Mic%20Test%20A%2BB.wav?dl=0

I'll be interested to hear what some more people say then I'll let you folks know which were the cheeky little mics in question!

Thanks very much to those who've given feedback so far, it's much appreciated!
And Scott, thank you for the kind words on the read!

FinMac · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 7:37 am Post subject: Changed my vote!

After listening to the file, now not on SC, I think I prefer mic no. 2

Mic 1 needs some bass roll off - though it still sounds good. For longer narration no 2 would be easier on the ears ! Smile

PS You're welcome about the heads-up regarding SC and the compression. Learned the hard way - but someone on the forum pointed that problem out to me.
_________________
www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 8:41 am Post subject:

What Scott said!
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John Weeks Voice Overs
www.johnweeksvoiceovers.com

Adric83 · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 11:56 am Post subject:

Just to note! I'll be adding another mic to this mix later today.
Would you folks suggest that I create another thread or just edit this one?

As always, I appreciate the fresh ears and wealth of experience!

- Bill

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I would keep it on this thread, and maybe edit in a note to your first post to bring inquiring minds up to date.

Adric83 · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 12:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks Rob!
I'm off to the gear rental place and shall return with shiny goodies!

Gentlemen... Ladies... I think I have full blown G.A.S....

kgenus · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 1:20 pm Post subject:

Mic 2.
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Genus

Adric83 · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:01 pm Post subject: Third Mic Added!

Hi folks,

Added the 3rd mic that I got today, I'd appreciate it I could trouble those of you who responded already to give the new file a quick listen?

Thanks all in advance, the feedback and help is MUCH appreciated.

- Bill

FinMac · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:43 am Post subject: Still no 2 for me

No. 2 is still the clear winner for me. Did not like no. 3 at all.

It sounded very muffled.
_________________
www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I'm with the Mic 2 crowd now...I'm curious about Mic 3 and how you positioned it....it almost sounded more off-axis