Microphone for recording at homestudio

[Iggor]

Hi, i have a homestudio without acoustic insulation. i will buy a microphone to record vocals and acoustic guitar too. i have tried to record with condenser microphone, and the record takes pick up the noise ambience too much , so i thinking to buy a dynamic microphone. what is your opinion ? some model to recommend ? thanks.

[Ben Asaro]

You should keep your microphone and do something about the room! There's a simple trick you can do with a couple of boom stands and a couple of blankets or quilts: form the microphone stand into a "T" and hang the blanket over it, and adjust the height so it's covering a good portion of the bare walls ... or you can place a couple of these around the performer and your mic; this will keep at least SOME of the room noise from getting into your mic and will clean up your recordings considerably.

[molecular]

You should keep your microphone and do something about the room!

+10

[ConcertinaChap]

+10

Likewise. A dynamic mic won't solve your problem, but you would really be surprised how much change you make in a room just by hanging quilts around the place. Doesn't look very professional but who cares if the sound is better.

CC

[GlynB]

Or... along the same lines, create a temporary and dismantleable 'vocal booth' to keep the background noise out. Improvise! A large cupboard or wardrobe put the mic in it (with the doors open!), drape some blankets round... etc. use a mic with a bass reduction switch to keep out the low frequencies from passing lorries and cars etc.

[paradigm203]

Having the same problem with my room setup. I probably need some foam to cure it

[TheReson8or]

The duvet is king...or queen depending on the size!!

[Guest]

Regarding room design, there's still something to be said for well-tiled bath. If you have a limited budget and a small equipment footprint - and don't expect anyone to start banging on the door with a nature emergency - you might try plugging faucet leak and setting up in the tub.

[Mixedup]

It's a myth that dynamic mics are inherently better at rejecting room sound. The only real difference is that a lot of people tend to perform closer to the mic, meaning the wanted to unwanted sound ratio is higher.

In other words, your mic is not the main problem. Put a polyester duvet behind the singer/performer. Also, put foam around the mic (eg. portable vocal booth, Kaotica Eyeball, SE Reflexion Filter etc). That should get you half way there if you're really not going to go all out for treatment (which, to be fair, can be a pain in the **** in rented accommodation). But it will still sound rubbish over your speakers if the room is untreated - so you need at least to get the mirror points sorted, or to listen on decent headphones.