How important is a 'bass cut' on a mic? at DVinfo.net

Allan Black · April 20th, 2010, 06:26 PM

Hi all. How important to you is having a bass cut (or a high pass filter) on a mic?

I know it depends on a lot of factors .. what you record and how you record eg: a mixer with on board filters but do you like to generally reduce mic bass before it gets to the next stage in your recording chain? And what frequency cut offs do you prefer on a mic?

There are many mics with great sounds (and prices) available now but if you were considering 2 very similar and one didn't have that filter .. would you reject it for the other one?

Just interested .. thanks.
Cheers.

Jon Fairhurst · April 20th, 2010, 07:29 PM

It's important to have a bass cut in the mic in high wind, or if there will be handling noise or p-pops. If you leave it too late in the chain, then you might overload one of the links. By filtering up front, you ensure no clipping downstream due to LF noise.

Whether it's important or not depends on your application. If you have a good suspension, work indoors, and don't record near the mouth, you don't really risk LF peaks in your signal.

Gary Nattrass · April 21st, 2010, 04:16 AM

A lot of mics have their on board bass cut and attenuators inbetween the mic capsule and the op amp in the mic.

They can be more useful that way as they prevent the mic overloading and can level out the proximity effect better than adjusting on a mixer.

Colin McDonald · April 21st, 2010, 05:32 AM

I use the high pass on my NTG-2 which is used outdoors but don't really miss having it on my NT1-A mics which are not. Mind you if there had been an option for a NT1-A with pad and high pass I might well have taken it. I was given a good deal on my NT1-As and didn't feel I really needed the NT2-A which has switchable polar patterns as well as pad and hi-pass.

I was slightly surprised that the NTG-3 was not given a high pass as well but maybe there's less need for it as it only claims a low end of 40Hz.

Kirk Candlish · April 22nd, 2010, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Fairhurst

If you have a good suspension, work indoors, and don't record near the mouth, you don't really risk LF peaks in your signal.

Unless there's air conditioning in the room, a refrigerator on the other side of a wall, an airliner flying overhead, a large truck driving by outside, or....... well you get the point.

You want to cut those frequencies because there's nothing useful there and plenty of opportunities for problems.

The level doesn't have to peak to ruin your audio.

April 20th, 2010, 06:26 PM	#1
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	How important is a 'bass cut' on a mic? Hi all. How important to you is having a bass cut (or a high pass filter) on a mic? I know it depends on a lot of factors .. what you record and how you record eg: a mixer with on board filters but do you like to generally reduce mic bass before it gets to the next stage in your recording chain? And what frequency cut offs do you prefer on a mic? There are many mics with great sounds (and prices) available now but if you were considering 2 very similar and one didn't have that filter .. would you reject it for the other one? Just interested .. thanks. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

April 20th, 2010, 07:29 PM	#2
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	It's important to have a bass cut in the mic in high wind, or if there will be handling noise or p-pops. If you leave it too late in the chain, then you might overload one of the links. By filtering up front, you ensure no clipping downstream due to LF noise. Whether it's important or not depends on your application. If you have a good suspension, work indoors, and don't record near the mouth, you don't really risk LF peaks in your signal. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

April 21st, 2010, 04:16 AM	#3
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	A lot of mics have their on board bass cut and attenuators inbetween the mic capsule and the op amp in the mic. They can be more useful that way as they prevent the mic overloading and can level out the proximity effect better than adjusting on a mixer. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

April 21st, 2010, 05:32 AM	#4
Colin McDonald Trustee Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 1,546	I use the high pass on my NTG-2 which is used outdoors but don't really miss having it on my NT1-A mics which are not. Mind you if there had been an option for a NT1-A with pad and high pass I might well have taken it. I was given a good deal on my NT1-As and didn't feel I really needed the NT2-A which has switchable polar patterns as well as pad and hi-pass. I was slightly surprised that the NTG-3 was not given a high pass as well but maybe there's less need for it as it only claims a low end of 40Hz.