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The sound wave from the vocalist projects over a wide angle. In addition to
projecting out, the vocal both projects up and down (to the ceiling and floor) and to the
sides of the singer. Thus you can put the microphone up, down and to the sides of
the vocalist and still get a good sound. |
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When the singer sings "hard consonants" (like words beginning with B, C, T
or D) there is a blast of air out of the singer that projects out and down. Putting
the microphone in this blast of air can cause the microphone to "pop."
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Vocal S sounds make a high-frequency (7 kHz) blast of sound that can distort analog
tape and doesn't sound very good on a digital recording. Because of the alignment of
a singer's teeth, most vocalists "S" louder on one side of the mouth than on the
other. Have the singer say "Sally Sucks Soup" as you walk around the
singer and find the spot where there is the least projection of the S sounds. This
is a great ice-breaker with the singer and gives you valuable information as to where to
place the microphone. |
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Place the body of the microphone up above the blast of air from the consonants and off
to the side where the signer has the lowest volume "S" sounds. Point the
front of the mic at the lips of the singer. Use a distance of 6 to 8 inches. The
singer should sing "straight ahead" and not "into" the microphone.
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Some singers will still try to look into and sing into the microphone, undoing all of
your fine placement. In this case give the singer a microphone to sing into.
Have them get two inches away from the microphone and sing directly into the mic.
This is a "placebo" microphone that wouldn't even be brought up at the console,
but it will keep the singer at the right angle and distance from the actual mic you are
using. |
