Isolating mic from other room sources

[rab]

I have a small practice studio where I currently play trumpet with a vocalist and
a drummer.

The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
causes us various problems.

What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic? We have tried placing
the vocal mic at different locations and orientations within the room but still
can't get enough isolation. I know full isolation is impossible, but what are the
most effective ways to address this?

- Different mic? (something more directional?)
- Sound absorption materials up on the walls & ceilings? (what kind?)

Thanks for any advice given!

[Scott Dorsey]

rab > wrote:
>
>The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
>causes us various problems.
>
>What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic? We have tried placing
>the vocal mic at different locations and orientations within the room but still
>can't get enough isolation. I know full isolation is impossible, but what are the
>most effective ways to address this?

Use a better mike with a tighter pattern.

Use gobos around the drums.

Learn to live with some leakage.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

rab > wrote:
>
>The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
>causes us various problems.
>
>What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic? We have tried placing
>the vocal mic at different locations and orientations within the room but still
>can't get enough isolation. I know full isolation is impossible, but what are the
>most effective ways to address this?

Use a better mike with a tighter pattern.

Use gobos around the drums.

Learn to live with some leakage.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Kurt Albershardt]

rab wrote:
> I have a small practice studio where I currently play trumpet with a vocalist and
> a drummer.

Define "small"


> The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
> causes us various problems.
>
> What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic?
> ...
> - Different mic? (something more directional?)

Yes--try a hypercardioid mic like an Audix (many) or one of the more recent EV or Sennheiser vocal mics.



> - Sound absorption materials up on the walls & ceilings? (what kind?)

What frequencies are bleeding? All of them, or just a praticular range? That plus the approximate room size will help us make recommendations. http://realtraps.com/ is a good place to start, BTW.

[Kurt Albershardt]

rab wrote:
> I have a small practice studio where I currently play trumpet with a vocalist and
> a drummer.

Define "small"


> The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
> causes us various problems.
>
> What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic?
> ...
> - Different mic? (something more directional?)

Yes--try a hypercardioid mic like an Audix (many) or one of the more recent EV or Sennheiser vocal mics.



> - Sound absorption materials up on the walls & ceilings? (what kind?)

What frequencies are bleeding? All of them, or just a praticular range? That plus the approximate room size will help us make recommendations. http://realtraps.com/ is a good place to start, BTW.

[Ty Ford]

On Wed, 2 Jun 2004 20:30:44 -0400, rab wrote
(in message >):

> I have a small practice studio where I currently play trumpet with a
> vocalist and
> a drummer.
>
> The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
> causes us various problems.
>
> What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic? We have tried
> placing
> the vocal mic at different locations and orientations within the room but
> still
> can't get enough isolation. I know full isolation is impossible, but what
> are the
> most effective ways to address this?
>
> - Different mic? (something more directional?)
> - Sound absorption materials up on the walls & ceilings? (what kind?)
>
> Thanks for any advice given!

1. drum pads instead of real drums.
2. Gobo in the drummer, but leave some look through windows so he/she can see
the other players.

Regards,

Ty Ford

[Ty Ford]

On Wed, 2 Jun 2004 20:30:44 -0400, rab wrote
(in message >):

> I have a small practice studio where I currently play trumpet with a
> vocalist and
> a drummer.
>
> The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
> causes us various problems.
>
> What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic? We have tried
> placing
> the vocal mic at different locations and orientations within the room but
> still
> can't get enough isolation. I know full isolation is impossible, but what
> are the
> most effective ways to address this?
>
> - Different mic? (something more directional?)
> - Sound absorption materials up on the walls & ceilings? (what kind?)
>
> Thanks for any advice given!

1. drum pads instead of real drums.
2. Gobo in the drummer, but leave some look through windows so he/she can see
the other players.

Regards,

Ty Ford

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> I have a small practice studio

> The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
> causes us various problems.
>
> What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic?

"Small practice studio" is the problem. The way to get isolation is to
move further away, or to get into a separate room (vocal booth). If
your space is too small for that, you're going to have to live with
what you get.

A more directional mic isn't likely to help, but better mic technique
might. If the singer is loud and can still work close to his
microphone, you can (more than that, you'll have to) reduce the gain
on the vocal mic and that will reduce the pickup of the drums.

But, hey, it's a recording in a practice studio. Why do you need good
isolation?


--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> I have a small practice studio

> The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
> causes us various problems.
>
> What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic?

"Small practice studio" is the problem. The way to get isolation is to
move further away, or to get into a separate room (vocal booth). If
your space is too small for that, you're going to have to live with
what you get.

A more directional mic isn't likely to help, but better mic technique
might. If the singer is loud and can still work close to his
microphone, you can (more than that, you'll have to) reduce the gain
on the vocal mic and that will reduce the pickup of the drums.

But, hey, it's a recording in a practice studio. Why do you need good
isolation?


--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Arny Krueger]

rab wrote:
> I have a small practice studio where I currently play trumpet with a
> vocalist and a drummer.
>
> The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the
> drums which causes us various problems.
>
> What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic?

Don't use drums that produce any sound, unless amplified. Make the drummer
wear earphones or IEMs.

[Arny Krueger]

rab wrote:
> I have a small practice studio where I currently play trumpet with a
> vocalist and a drummer.
>
> The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the
> drums which causes us various problems.
>
> What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic?

Don't use drums that produce any sound, unless amplified. Make the drummer
wear earphones or IEMs.

[Sidhu]

Kurt Albershardt > wrote in message >...
> rab wrote:
> > I have a small practice studio where I currently play trumpet with a vocalist and
> > a drummer.
>
> Define "small"
>
>
> > The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
> > causes us various problems.
> >
> > What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic?
> > ...
> > - Different mic? (something more directional?)
>
> Yes--try a hypercardioid mic like an Audix (many) or one of the more recent EV or Sennheiser vocal mics.



Would not a hypercardiod tend to pik up more from the rear than a
cardiod ? thogh it wud give better side isolation i suppose...


Sidhu

[Sidhu]

Kurt Albershardt > wrote in message >...
> rab wrote:
> > I have a small practice studio where I currently play trumpet with a vocalist and
> > a drummer.
>
> Define "small"
>
>
> > The vocalist's microphone (SM58) picks up lots of sound from the drums which
> > causes us various problems.
> >
> > What is the best way to get max isolation of the vocal mic?
> > ...
> > - Different mic? (something more directional?)
>
> Yes--try a hypercardioid mic like an Audix (many) or one of the more recent EV or Sennheiser vocal mics.



Would not a hypercardiod tend to pik up more from the rear than a
cardiod ? thogh it wud give better side isolation i suppose...


Sidhu

[hank alrich]

Sidhu wrote:

> Would not a hypercardiod tend to pik up more from the rear than a
> cardiod ?

That's why you consider where you're aiming the rear lobe, too.

> thogh it wud give better side isolation i suppose...

By definition, yes.

--
ha

[hank alrich]

Sidhu wrote:

> Would not a hypercardiod tend to pik up more from the rear than a
> cardiod ?

That's why you consider where you're aiming the rear lobe, too.

> thogh it wud give better side isolation i suppose...

By definition, yes.

--
ha