VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

KaraEdwards · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject: Lawson L47FET vs Sennheiser 416

I finally had a moment to plug in my new Sennheiser mic. I took a couple of minutes to ramble on my Lawson, and then on the Sennheiser so I (you) could hear the differences between the 2 mics.

I'll still be playing with the Sennheiser to see how far I need to be from the mic, if I like the windscreen or not, how it should be positioned, etc...but so far I like it!!

It's fun having 2 cool mics Smile

The file is uploaded to Yousendit for anyone interested...it'll be there for 7 days.

http://www.yousendit.com/download/bFFQV28rK3hvQUt4dnc9PQ

I'll be anxious to hear what my sound junkie friends think Smile

_________________
Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

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

Kara,

I LUV it. Sounds good!

I think the 416 likes you. And why shouldn't it? cool

You will probably get all kinds of advice on positioning, etc, especially with this mic but the main thing IMO is TRUST YOUR EARS

KaraEdwards · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks Rob!!

After listening to the file, I plan to position it a little further back, it sounds like I'm swallowing the thing! It's so different from the Lawson, I wasn't expecting that!!

I do really like it, and can see uses for them both for sure!
_________________
Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

asnively · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:51 pm Post subject:

What kind of EQ or compression do you have going on, if any? Sounds terrific to me! I wonder why they say it's not a good mic for girls.
_________________
the Amy Snively family of brands for all your branded thing needs.
Amy Snively
Faff Camp
FaffCon
TalkerTees

KaraEdwards · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:34 pm Post subject:

I don't know- that's a good question though Amy (the mic not being good for girl's part)

I have a Focusrite mic-pre, and have EQ turned off. I only use a little make-up gain on the Compression, so very little of that as well.
_________________
Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

whalewtchr · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:34 pm Post subject:

Hi Kara. The 416 sounds like it really is picking up the SSSSSSSSS...so maybe a slight de-Esser setting would help...it is more pronounced on the 416 than the Lawson to my ear. I actually like the sound of that Lawson...wow.
_________________
jonahcummings

kgenus · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:46 pm Post subject:

I didn't hear any amount of sibilance that would require a DSing. Pack that Lawson up and put it on EBay, it's done.
_________________
Genus

KaraEdwards · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:50 pm Post subject:

HAH! I still love the Lawson...I actually have big plans for both mics Smile

Plus, it's nice to have a back up in case of emergency!
_________________
Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

Hart · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:51 pm Post subject:

Girl, you sound awesome on both! Nice noise floor too. Thanks for being thoughtful enough to include it for us geeks. Maybe Lance will do his voodoo that he do so well for you. He's MUCH geekier than I. I'm so jealous. Embarrassed

Skip the de-esser for now and play with placement first. Do a search: Philip and Bruce have made great suggestions on using the 416 fairly recently. It is an SSS'y mic and it takes some experimenting. I swear what works placement wise some days doesn't the next and I have to reposition.

I use it close sometimes but I do like using it Philip Banks style too ( you know where it's 25 feet over head and placed in the next house over). That's way cool. Try it. Just be warned it will pick up clothing noise this way too.

You mentioned mouth noises. I had a dental check up last Thursday and my dentist said my gums and teeth are the best he's ever seen them. No lie: I gave the credit to the 416. Thanks to using it I brush and floss WAY more than I used to.
_________________
Hart Voice Overs Blog
Brian Hart Productions

Mike Sommer · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:15 pm Post subject:

On the Lawson you sound almost off mic. With your voice you can pull it closer. You're missing that intimate "close up" presence which gives a voice-over recording its' "bigger than life" quality.
I think you could also give this mic a little 2 or 3db bump in the upper mids- somewhere in the 12 KHz to 18KHz range - this will give you more clarity in your voice.

I'm also getting the illusion that you're recording in a small room. Though there is no real issue with your rooms resonance, it might need a little more treatment to help lose that incapsulating effect that I'm sensing. There is some room noise - motor hum or what have you. The hum was instantly louder with the 416.

The 416 is doing what a 416 does; slices right through the fullness of your voice and putting the upper mids right up on top. In this case it also picks up sibilance too. It's also taking some of those "bothersome" harmonic frequencies which which make up those wonderful distinctive qualities of your voice and tossing them out with the bathwater.

When you were on the Lawson, I could hear those sort of guttural nuances of your voice (such as when you say "um") that sort of raspyness that you have that's so appealing; they're lost on the 416. It's those little things that you've worked so hard as an actor to help bring your characters to life, are now lost in the sharp "lazar like" focus of the 416.

Just my 2¢
_________________
The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

KaraEdwards · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:07 pm Post subject:

Cool thoughts guys- thank you!! I love getting the feedback.

I thought the same thing when listening back- I typically work the Lawson a lot closer. I think I was caught up in the casualness of it all. I also normalize to -1db for auditions (I send raw files to clients for actual jobs).

I'm hoping moving the mic back will solve the ssss issue. I've never been told I have that problem before...so I don't want to start having it now!

I'll play with it in the morning and post another sample.

Thanks again for the feedback!!

Edited to add- yes, it is a small room. About 3x5. That humm may have been my pool pump. I think I had just turned it back on. I always have it off when working...the sound actually travels through the floor! And it's right outside my window.
_________________
Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

The 416 is all slice n' dice and not much character as Mike said (why I sold mine). I like the Lawson, but it needs better mic placement in your smaller setup.

Also, you say your sound is mic to focusrite to mbox to mixer to computer? Maybe your sound is being served through too many cooks I'd be interested to hear that Lawson through a Great River, John Hardy, or Speck preamp instead of the focusrite...they all cost less than a new 416.

In my past life an audio engineer that has also done lots of boom op for broadcast and film, those longer shotgun mics are great in big spaces, and I can't stand 'em in smaller spaces (that's when I'll turn to a Schoeps set-up...now that's a dialogue/vo mic!, and rather pricey).

Anyway...I think you can get that Lawson to have more of the cut and presence that the 416 has without the drawbacks of the 416. I don't mean to be a downer on your nice new gear, I just think the focus should be on fixing the Lawson sound rather than moving on to an alternate that also needs some tweaking.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

KaraEdwards · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:51 pm Post subject:

I hear ya Lance! Thanks for the feedback!

Keep in mind, I bought the Sennheiser for travel, and because I'm going to be setting up a temporary studio soon that will be in a larger space (long story, not worth an explanation). I wasn't looking to replace my Lawson- I love that mic!

3 1/2 years with it and not a single complaint Smile

In a couple of months I'm going to be trying out some different pre's at a friend's studio. So, that may be a future purchase.

I'm hearing again and again that with the Senn it's all about mic placement. I can't wait to try a few things out!

A good friend recommended the Lawson for character/acting, and the Senn for commercial/promo...I can't argue!

The good news? Both mics rock...so I'm thrilled! Smile

OH- and my chain is mic to pre to mbox to computer. The mixer is for my ISDN mainly. So, I misspoke in the clip. Which isn't shocking really. Wink

_________________
Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Cool, sounds like you made a great purchase for those setups.

What about a dynamic mic for the road? Wink

The new generation of Sennheiser dynamics are excellent.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Mike Sommer · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:36 pm Post subject:

I have to agree with Lance 100% on improving the Lawson's sound. The Lawson and the Pearlman TM-1 are on the top of my list of really great mics for VO.

I'll kick in one more preamp to look into, a Golden Age Pre 73. The 73 is based on the preamp section of a Neve 1073. It's true yummy goodness. The KNBC announcer here in LA got one and dumped his Avalon 737.

I'll also suggest getting the Echo AudioFire 2 interface. That is unless you're using ProTools. Your sound will greatly improve.

For a travel mic the 416 is a good choice.

Lastly I'll point out that 90% of the time, the 4 main networks are not using 416's on their promos.
_________________
The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.