proximity effect for thicker vocal?

[bannerj]

Xmas time off has me reading a bunch and I've come up with some questions.

I read somewhere that proximity effect with the right mic can thicken a vocal? Is it just a matter of getting close to the mic?

How close do you normally put your singers to a mic?

I'm trying to get a better sound out of my own voice (tenor/baritone, but I do a fair amount of falsetto) using a Red Type B. I am mostly within 12 inches of the mic. I'm getting a pretty good sound, but would like to see if I can get more thickness in the tone. Other than EQ and compression...just wondering if I should be thinking about proximity effect?

[RefD]

i sing about the same range.

spread your hand wide open, fingers fully extended, and place your thumb tip to your lips and lightly touch the address side of the mic with the tip of your pinky.

that's the distance i often use for my vocals.

mind, if you're using a condenser, i'd put a pop screen in there after measuring.

[drumsound]

You can get pretty close and get a nice proximity boost. It often works better when singing a bit softer...

[billiamwalker]

yeah get about 6 inches from the mic for the good proximity and then roll off the lows at about 175hz (or else your vox may be TOO boomy and it wont sit well with the music) and then add plenty of compression to tighten up the presence in your vox.

[syrupcore]

my voice is third plane of hell deep and I prefer getting up good and close when singing quietly and then using the mics low roll-off plus EQ sometimes - depending on what else is happening the track. that is to say, even though I'm rolling a bunch of the lows off it still sounds better to me to get the proximity effect and roll off than it does to stand further back and not use any roll off. they end up with the same basic eq curve but there's something about singing close. maybe I just feel hotter singing closer to the mic.

[drumsound]

my voice is third plane of hell deep and I prefer getting up good and close when singing quietly and then using the mics low roll-off plus EQ sometimes - depending on what else is happening the track. that is to say, even though I'm rolling a bunch of the lows off it still sounds better to me to get the proximity effect and roll off than it does to stand further back and not use any roll off. they end up with the same basic eq curve but there's something about singing close. maybe I just feel hotter singing closer to the mic.

Yea, the timbre is so much cooler when the singer is really close and not singing loudly!

[river]

For any lurkers out there, proximity effect is unique to cardioid pattern mics. When deciding to take advantage of it to thicken a vocal, be really careful to maintain a consistant distance from the mic from one take to another if comping is a consideration. Inside of 6 inches, tonality can vary a great deal with one inch of difference (size matters). It was common in the old days for engineers to place a piece of gaffer's tape on the floor so the vocalist could be sure of where they were. On mic technique is what seperates a pro session vocalist with everyone else.

[loveless]

I had to use tape and threats to keep a singer from moving closer to the mic during tracking. I don't think the threats worked at all, but the tape certainly helped.

[bluesman]

For any lurkers out there, proximity effect is unique to cardioid pattern mics.

Figure of eight ribbon microphones exhibit hugh amounts of proximity effect...think "the X Files will return in a moment"

[billiamwalker]

i always jsut place the pop filter in the correct area that he needs and so he can stand comfortable and put his mouth up to the pop filter and he knows that he's a good distance from the mic.

[nesta]

Figure of eight ribbon microphones exhibit hugh amounts of proximity effect...think "the X Files will return in a moment"

but aren't Fig. 8 mics essentially two cardioid capsules facing away from one another? for example, are they not 180 degrees out of phase with respect to one another?

I don't own a mic with a fig 8 pattern so...

[syrupcore]

i always jsut place the pop filter in the correct area that he needs and so he can stand comfortable and put his mouth up to the pop filter and he knows that he's a good distance from the mic.

+1

[thethingwiththestuff]

Figure of eight ribbon microphones exhibit hugh amounts of proximity effect...think "the X Files will return in a moment"

but aren't Fig. 8 mics essentially two cardioid capsules facing away from one another? for example, are they not 180 degrees out of phase with respect to one another?

I don't own a mic with a fig 8 pattern so...

fig 8's are like two tight cardioid patterns back to back, but not necesarily two capsules. a ribbon mic, for example is usually just one element. regardless, they generally have the most proximity effect of any pattern.

the opposite of omni, btw, which has the least. room concerns aside, the amount of proximity effect is one thing i always consider when i choose a mic/pattern. omni 3" away, or fig 8 7" away?

[slowblue]

Test it out as well, as said previously inside 6 inches a little move can have a big effect, but I've found some mics are still very sensitive to distance changes up to a foot out.

[JamesHE]

i always jsut place the pop filter in the correct area that he needs and so he can stand comfortable and put his mouth up to the pop filter and he knows that he's a good distance from the mic.

+1

+2

Bury your face right in there. It's even better if the pantyhose smells like women. Or ass, whatever you prefer.

I shaved my moustache cause it kept scratching against the pop filter, very annoying. Good thing I was doone shooting that "movie". I'd like to try one of those metal ones, but it probably won't taste as good.