Recording vocals and sound effects. When recording vocalists one of the biggest problems are popping the microphone

Recording Techniques

Some Tips for recording on location

When recording vocalists one of the biggest problems are popping the microphone. The breath physically hitting the diaphragm and momentarily knocking it off axis causes this. You can resolve the problem with a wind muff or make you own with a nylon stocking over a metal coat hanger bent in a circle. This is preferable to a wind muff, as it does not affect the frequency response. Tip if the recording is the masterpiece and you have pops you can silence them out as the pop is immediately after a phrase. Look at the waverfom below saying "people" the highlighted bit is the pop

If you wish to keep the vocal clean be careful that the artist is not spilling too much backing track from his ill-fitting headphones.

If the vocals need to be tight the artist needs to be close as possible to the microphone

Where the vocals need to pick up the vocal booth atmosphere you will need to be at least a foot away.

If the vocalist is shy let him or her sing in darkness you will be surprised with the improved performance.

Most performers tap their feet so be careful of their feet on the mic stand or wooden floor a bit of carpet helps

The microphone should ideally be a Condenser or high quality Electret

Some Tips for recording on location

Avoid taking a mixer with you. More weight to carry and takes longer to set-up when you are in a hurry to catch that unique sound effect.

Instead use a small battery powered low noise pre-amp that should have a 20db pad for extremely loud effects. Another advantage is by using a preamp it boosts the signal on the microphone line thus drastically reducing RF interference.

If possible try and record a little atmos whilst recording. This can help in post production as you can get profile from atmos track and reduce it in your DAW for enhancing the effect.

Recording on a windy day? You have a state of the art windshield and it has virtually eliminated the wind noise, but it has greatly reduced the top response. Try placing the microphone in a clump of grass. Grass will act as a good windshield without loosing the highs

Use the best available screened microphone cable

Have not got a wireless microphone and want to film commentator from a long zoom. Tie your recorder on the back of presenter with lapel microphone get him to clap his hands at the beginning of the take for a slate and post sync

If asked to record onboard a GoKart or Formula 1 car Forget Disc or DAT use a solid state Or Flash recorder as the vibration is unbelievable.

Want to record a vocalist on stage without popping strap two microphones together (one slightly protruding) Get the vocalist to use the protruding microphone (not connected) all the wind and spit is focused on the dummy microphone and the microphone underneath (connected) gets a very clean rendition of the performance.

If you must convert your sound effects to MP3 format, try using the highest sampling frequency 320 kbps It is still a great deal smaller file than a WAV and very fair compromise