Ok to use a Softie all the time? at DVinfo.net

Curt Fargo · January 24th, 2009, 12:02 AM

I'm in the process of starting to shoot in my new home studio and have some audio questions. I have a Canon XH A1s and a Audio Technica BP4029 stereo shotgun mike. I will be recording a person sitting behind a desk doing some demonstrations. Is there any downside to recording with the Rycote Softie on the mike all the time?

Chris Swanberg · January 24th, 2009, 12:05 AM

Some minor high frequency loss.

Christopher Glavan · January 24th, 2009, 05:48 AM

Thanks for asking I just got a softie too, was wondering about continuous use.

NorCal for teh win.

Curt Fargo · January 24th, 2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Swanberg

Some minor high frequency loss.

So can I take this to mean that if I'm not recording high fidelity music, I won't notice the difference?

Daniel Epstein · January 24th, 2009, 08:58 AM

The best thing to do is test it out and decide for yourself. I don't mind leaving the softie on if I am switching from indoor to outdoor without warning. If i know I am just indoors I would go with just the foam windscreen instead of the softie but not because I can hear the difference all the time but for the weight and profile of the mic.

Marco Leavitt · January 24th, 2009, 01:19 PM

There's no reason to use a softie indoors. The harm you will do to your audio is significant.

Rick Reineke · January 24th, 2009, 01:57 PM

I normally change to foam indoors, (except for interviews where I leave the mic naked) However going inside for a quick shot or two, I leave it on... then again, if shooting primarily indoors, sometimes I'll leave the foamy on if its a calm day for a short outdoor shot.

Curt Fargo · January 24th, 2009, 05:27 PM

Thanks for the replies as I was just wanting to be lazy and now I know better.

Jon Fairhurst · January 24th, 2009, 06:39 PM

It depends on the mic, and your desired sound. Some mics have boosted high frequencies. (The Audio Technica shotguns come to mind.) If you have wind protection that compliments the mic and flattens the highs, then leave it on - and use it outdoors too, when it's not too windy. Use more aggressive wind protection only when needed. Don't give up the highs, unless you really need to.

Anyway, you might want to run some tests with your mic and wind protection combinations. Listen closely to the high frequencies, vocal clarity, sibilance and general "air." Use the combinations that sound the best to you, and make sense for the conditions.

Allan Black · January 24th, 2009, 08:56 PM

Hi Curt.

For this indoor studio situation you intend, you'll have to get your AT off the camera and close to the talent to get a good voice sound.

Either boom it from overhead or on a stand from underneath out of frame. Also need a shockmount and extension cables to the A1. Just one XLR cable might do if you switch the A1 to record to both audio tracks.
The AT is a shotgun not the best indoors, the mic capsule needs to be about 1' from the talents mouth and use headphones to judge the best sound.

You could leave your softie on but I'd just use your foam windscreen to avoid any likely breath pops from the talent.

Also select AT BP4029 'narrow' mode to get more side rejection, and put the low cut in.

Cheers.

Curt Fargo · January 25th, 2009, 03:49 PM

Alan;

I know about and have all intentions to use the narrow mode. But what does the "Low Cut" do?

Allan Black · January 25th, 2009, 05:58 PM

Hi Curt.... male or female voice?? a working pro..? how old..? What is he/she demonstrating? For the web or DVD?

Usually, the low cut used on voice removes low frequencies you don't want muddying up your audio, especially in a busy mix with music and effects.

I *always* put the low cut IN for voice, I don't want frequencies I don't want in the mix getting through the pre/line amps, mucking up a limiter, then into the editing machine and onto the DVD or wherever. Get rid of them at the start.

Now there are exceptions to this, eg: a male voice over booked for his big sound (no music or FX) where I'd spend time configuring things like low cuts to get the best result.

In the very early days, I'd listen and say..that (low cut out) sounds great!!! But later on TV or the cinema...arrrgh! awful, mud. Experience.

Your AT mic has 12db per octave at 80Hz low cut....mmmm line ball...experiment, record some tests first if you can, sometimes just moving the mic back 3 or 4 inches you can leave the low cut out .. but 'cut in' for me.

You might find moving the studio desk around will improve the voice sound greatly. Experiment and record tests in your new studio days before... are the answers.

Cheers.

Curt Fargo · January 25th, 2009, 08:00 PM

Allan;

Unfortunately it is myself a 49 year old fat, balding ugly male demonstrating how to clean D-SLR Sensors. I'm teaching the wife to work the camera. I thought about getting some young attractive talent to do these but though since I'm the expert on the subject it would be more excepted by the viewers coming from myself. I would much prefer being behind the camera instead of in front of it.

I did many tests today and found that I like the AT4029 on the boom much better than on the camera or a wireless lavaliere. I had the low cut on all the time so I didn't compare off and on. I also only had it with the foam on the mike, leaving the softie for my playing outdoors.

January 24th, 2009, 12:02 AM	#1
Curt Fargo Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Vacaville, CA USA Posts: 83	Ok to use a Softie all the time? I'm in the process of starting to shoot in my new home studio and have some audio questions. I have a Canon XH A1s and a Audio Technica BP4029 stereo shotgun mike. I will be recording a person sitting behind a desk doing some demonstrations. Is there any downside to recording with the Rycote Softie on the mike all the time? __________________ Curt Fargo

January 24th, 2009, 05:48 AM	#3
Christopher Glavan Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 260	Thanks for asking I just got a softie too, was wondering about continuous use. NorCal for teh win. __________________ Reel Impressions Media - Make it more than a memory GY-HD100- 7D- PSC Promix 3- Lectro/Sennheiser- Zoom H4- MPB- CS6/CC

January 24th, 2009, 05:27 PM	#8
Curt Fargo Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Vacaville, CA USA Posts: 83	Thanks for the replies as I was just wanting to be lazy and now I know better. __________________ Curt Fargo

January 24th, 2009, 06:39 PM	#9
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	It depends on the mic, and your desired sound. Some mics have boosted high frequencies. (The Audio Technica shotguns come to mind.) If you have wind protection that compliments the mic and flattens the highs, then leave it on - and use it outdoors too, when it's not too windy. Use more aggressive wind protection only when needed. Don't give up the highs, unless you really need to. Anyway, you might want to run some tests with your mic and wind protection combinations. Listen closely to the high frequencies, vocal clarity, sibilance and general "air." Use the combinations that sound the best to you, and make sense for the conditions. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

January 25th, 2009, 03:49 PM	#11
Curt Fargo Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Vacaville, CA USA Posts: 83	Alan; I know about and have all intentions to use the narrow mode. But what does the "Low Cut" do? __________________ Curt Fargo

January 24th, 2009, 12:05 AM	#2
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	Some minor high frequency loss.

January 24th, 2009, 08:58 AM	#5
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	The best thing to do is test it out and decide for yourself. I don't mind leaving the softie on if I am switching from indoor to outdoor without warning. If i know I am just indoors I would go with just the foam windscreen instead of the softie but not because I can hear the difference all the time but for the weight and profile of the mic.

January 24th, 2009, 01:19 PM	#6
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	There's no reason to use a softie indoors. The harm you will do to your audio is significant.

January 24th, 2009, 01:57 PM	#7
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,038	I normally change to foam indoors, (except for interviews where I leave the mic naked) However going inside for a quick shot or two, I leave it on... then again, if shooting primarily indoors, sometimes I'll leave the foamy on if its a calm day for a short outdoor shot.

January 24th, 2009, 08:56 PM	#10
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Hi Curt. For this indoor studio situation you intend, you'll have to get your AT off the camera and close to the talent to get a good voice sound. Either boom it from overhead or on a stand from underneath out of frame. Also need a shockmount and extension cables to the A1. Just one XLR cable might do if you switch the A1 to record to both audio tracks. The AT is a shotgun not the best indoors, the mic capsule needs to be about 1' from the talents mouth and use headphones to judge the best sound. You could leave your softie on but I'd just use your foam windscreen to avoid any likely breath pops from the talent. Also select AT BP4029 'narrow' mode to get more side rejection, and put the low cut in. Cheers.

January 25th, 2009, 05:58 PM	#12
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Hi Curt.... male or female voice?? a working pro..? how old..? What is he/she demonstrating? For the web or DVD? Usually, the low cut used on voice removes low frequencies you don't want muddying up your audio, especially in a busy mix with music and effects. I always put the low cut IN for voice, I don't want frequencies I don't want in the mix getting through the pre/line amps, mucking up a limiter, then into the editing machine and onto the DVD or wherever. Get rid of them at the start. Now there are exceptions to this, eg: a male voice over booked for his big sound (no music or FX) where I'd spend time configuring things like low cuts to get the best result. In the very early days, I'd listen and say..that (low cut out) sounds great!!! But later on TV or the cinema...arrrgh! awful, mud. Experience. Your AT mic has 12db per octave at 80Hz low cut....mmmm line ball...experiment, record some tests first if you can, sometimes just moving the mic back 3 or 4 inches you can leave the low cut out .. but 'cut in' for me. You might find moving the studio desk around will improve the voice sound greatly. Experiment and record tests in your new studio days before... are the answers. Cheers.

January 25th, 2009, 08:00 PM	#13
Curt Fargo Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Vacaville, CA USA Posts: 83	Allan; Unfortunately it is myself a 49 year old fat, balding ugly male demonstrating how to clean D-SLR Sensors. I'm teaching the wife to work the camera. I thought about getting some young attractive talent to do these but though since I'm the expert on the subject it would be more excepted by the viewers coming from myself. I would much prefer being behind the camera instead of in front of it. I did many tests today and found that I like the AT4029 on the boom much better than on the camera or a wireless lavaliere. I had the low cut on all the time so I didn't compare off and on. I also only had it with the foam on the mike, leaving the softie for my playing outdoors. __________________ Curt Fargo