Monday, 5 December 2016

Unit 49: Creative Arrangement

Creative Arrangement

happy-reggae-style

 

Posted by at No comments:

Friday, 4 November 2016

Unit: 48 brief 2

Recording in different locations using different microphones

Intro and Equipment list


The group and i was given a task to produce some recordings played by the guitar in different locations to see the difference  in the location and the use of different microphones, the microphones that were used were:

  • Shure SM58
  • AKG C1000s
  • Rode NT2-a
The recorder that we used is called a 'Olympus Multi-track Linear PCM Recorder LS-100'.

We plugged the XLR cable in the recorder, we plugged the male into the female of the recorder and plugged the female into the male of the microphone in the stand. Then we put the microphone near the sound hole nearer to the thread of the guitar to create a mono sound, then we strummed some chords on the guitar. To begin we clicked the record button on the recorder once making it flash red then we had to make sure we didn't have to change the gain, so by clicking the button it comes up with the gain levels and they should be just over half way, then we clicked the button again to begin recording. Overall we used a cardioid polar pattern but on the Rode microphone we used an omnidirectional polar pattern.


Location-Classroom

recording 1: 
We used a dynamic SM58 microphone which was 6 inches away from the sound hole near to the thread, we also kept the gain at 7 as there was no background noise, we used the one microphone to create a mono sound overall.
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0176

recording 2:
We used 2 dynamic SM58 microphones which both were 6 inches away like the first one, however one of the microphones was near the bottom of the sound hole to get the low frequency sounds. By using both microphones we created a stereo sound.
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0177

recording 3:
To begin with we used the Rode NT2- a, with this we had to turn the gain down as it was too loud, the microphone is 6 inches away from the guitar, also there is no background noise within the recording.
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0178

recording 4:
We used a condenser called C1000s and turned the gain down from 7 to 6 when positioning the microphone near to the guitar, within this recording there was no background noise as we turned the gain down.
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0179


Overall I think that recording 2 was the best as there recording had a stereo sound meaning it fills more of the room, also the recording was the better one out of the others this is because the microphones were positioned so it could get the high and low frequencies so overall the sound was balanced, the other recordings were okay however there was a technical problem so the group and i had to turn the gain down on a few of the recordings whereas in recording 2 the gain was at 7.


Location-Theatre

recording 5:
We used a dynamic microphone which was Shure SM58, the microphone was placed 6 inches. We turned microphone gain down to 6 from 7, meaning there was no background noises.


https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0180

recording 6:

We used 2 dynamic Shure Sm58, both of the microphones were 6 inches away from the guitar and the gain was kept at 7 with little background noise.
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0181

recording 7:

In this recording we used a C1000s condenser microphone, which again was 6 inches away from the guitar, there was some background noise on this recording even with the gain turned down to 6.
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0182

recording 8:

Within this recording we used a rode NT2-a which again was 6 inches away and this one we didn’t need to change the gain as there was very little interference/background noise.
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0183

Overall I thought that the recordings needed to be maybe re-recorded as there was a bit of background noise throughout the whole of the different recordings which didn't give it a very good overall sound as the echo from the instrument was bouncing of the microphones, etc and the walls. so overall the location wasn't the best for the recordings as the sounds were clashing with each other.


Location-Outside


recording 9:

We used a dynamic Shure Sm58, again 6 inches away and the gain kept at 7, there was a little bit of background noise within this recording.
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0184

recording 10: 

We used 2 dynamic Shure Sm58 and kept the same distance as before in previous recordings and the recording picked up background noise.
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0185

recording 11:

In this recording we used a Rode NT2-a and kept the gain at 7 there was some background noise but very little.
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0186

recording 12:
In this recording we used a C1000s condenser microphone, gain turned down to 6, there was a bit of background noises but that’s all. 
https://soundcloud.com/user-97485072/voc-120428-0187

Within these recordings there was some background noise which wasn't ideal as the recordings wasn't crisp and clear, However I thought that the recordings needed to be re-recorded as the recordings didn't give it a very good overall sound as the echo from the instrument was bouncing of the microphones, etc and the walls.


in my opinion the 2nd recording in the classroom was the better one as it gave out the better quality of the song and it was a strong recording, the location was the better one out of the others because it was a smaller location meaning the sound didn't have much to travel it was all consist so therefore the recording overall was better as there was no background noise and no interruptions. The microphone which i thought was the best was the Rode NT2-A because it captured all the sounds from all around the location and had the better quality of sound, maybe to improve in other locations we could of thought about making sure the gain was set to the right level and that no-one was around during the recording which in someway could be difficult but then it would improve the recording quality.




Polar Patterns

The polar patterns of the microphones are very sensitive to the sound relative to the angle or direction from where the sound is traveling, or even how the microphone hears the sound from different directions, the most common poloar patterns used are, Omnidirectional, Cardiod and Hypercardiod.


Cardiod
To begin with we have a cardiod polar pattern which is where the microphone has the most sensitivity at the front and the least at the back, it therefore isolates from unwanted amblent sound and is much more resistant to feedback than the omnidirectional microphones. Overall the Cardiod microphone is more suitable for loud stages.

Omnidirectional
This microphone has an equal output as sensitivity at all angles, meaning that the sound is picked up from all angles and that it can be in any direction which is helpful in some ways, however the Omnidirectional Microphone cannot be aimed away from undesired sources as it can interfere with other sounds or speakers.

Hypercardiod
The sensitivity is in the front of the microphone similar to the cardiod the difference is that the Hypercardiod are considered as more directional because they have less sensitivity at their sides and only slightly more behind. these sort of microphones are mainly used in situations where there is a lot isolation needed between sounds and sources.



I have then also moved on to look at different poloar patterns, i began to look at the 'figure of eight'. 



Figure of Eight
a microphone with the figure of eight polar pattern enables the sound to be picked up from in front of the microphone and from the rear however not from the side, they can mainly be used in a confined space or for stereo recordings.







Task 2, Brief 2

Recording different instruments in a recording studio.


on the 30th November 2016 myself Tilly, Beth and Rebecca all went into the studio to record some instruments we began by recording the piano then moved onto the alto saxophone the same day.

    • We used 2 C1000s which are are condenser microphones.
    • Both 6 inches away
    • One left and one right of the instruments
      • To start with Beth and i was in the studio, and we set up the tracks on cubase for Tilly and Rebecca to record onto.
      • Tilly was the pianist
      • Beth  was in the studio
      • Rebecca was sorting the microphones out
      • Myself was also in the studio
This recording was recorded on the C1000s microphone, the microphone was placed 6 inches away from both the right side and left side of the piano to create a stereo sound, however it isnt the best of recordings as there was a slight delay on the transition from a section into the next, however the recording is very clean and the quality is high.


SAXOPHONE-
    • We used 1 C1000s condenser for the saxophone
    • The microphone was 6 inches away
    • It was placed in front of the instrument
      • To start with myself and Beth was in the studio, i was the saxophonist and beth was setting up the microphones
      • Tilly was setting up the tracks to record on
      • Rebecca was helping Tilly with the set up of the tracks
          • We had to do a second take on the on the 2nd December of the saxophone as the first wasn't on the right pitch.
In this recording the group and I used again a C1000s, the microphone was placed directly infront of the bell of the saxophone and 6 inches away, the recording is very clean and crisp as if picks up on a few of the vibrations within the recording, hoever that could of been fixed if i was to maybe of stood further away from the microphone so the quality would of been of a greater standard than the recording.


GUITAR-
    • We used a Shure SM58 microphone
    • This was placed 6 inches away from the guitar
    • We used the Cardiod polar pattern within this recording
      • Again myself and Beth was in the studio setting up the tracks
      • Tilly played the guitar 
      • Rebecca set up the Microphones 
To begin with we recorded a variety of different recordings as we wanted to show the different sounds different microphones could make, so to begin with the first recording was where the microphone was positioned left of the guitar nearer to the sound hole which gave it the lower frequency and then the second recording the microphone was placed left near the sound hole to give a high frequency  then the final recording we choose the stereo sound to give it a balanced quality of sound. The microphone used for these recordings was a Shure Sm58 to give it an overall dynamic sound.


VOCALS-
    • We used a Shure D112 
    • Placed a hand width apart
    • Microphone with no enclosure
      • Rebecca was the singer
      • Beth set up the microphones
      • Tilly and i was in the studio helping set up the sounds and tracks
We have 2 recordings for the vocals the first one was with the enclosure on and the 2nd was without the enclosure, there is a slight different as the first recording Rebecca slightly laughed and the enclosure picked up on it and then the second was with the enclosure and the recording was of a higher quality we think this as the enclosure traps the sound that is begin produced so therefore it creates a overall high quality of sound.



TAMBOURINE-
    • We used a Shure SM58 dynamic microphone
    • Stood a pace away from the microphone
      • Beth played the Tambourine
      • Tilly and i was in the studio setting up the equipment
      • Rebecca set up the microphones with the right leads and aux cords needed, she needed a bit of help to begin with
The recording was crisp and clear and the sound was to a high quality i think it was more because of the microphone as it is a Shure SM58 which is a dynamic microphone which it picks up the sound from infront which is good as the tambourine is a hand held instrument and it is very easy to hold and perform with standing up infront of the microphone.





















Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)