Techinical Podcasting Question

QuadShot · April 20, 2011, 10:05:31 AM

Ok everyone, need some help on this. I've tried a lot of "fixes" but can't seem to find one that's viable. I'm not a sound expert by any means...so help!
Here's the set-up: My wife and I host a couple of podcasts. We record in our home office, which is your basic 4 wall square, semi-gloss paint room. We each have a Blue Microphones Yeti USB microphone (awesome by the way), and record in the same room. We really need to be in the same room to "feed" off each other and see reactions, etc.
Here's the issue: My voice is, well, much more powerful and booming than hers, so when we record, my voice picks up on her mic, not full on, but enough to hear, so when I play the audio (two voice tracks - mine and hers) in GarageBand, it sounds like I'm recording in the bathroom - echo-y and not "flat" or "clean" enough for my liking. There's no issue with her voice picking up on my track.

I've tried turning around and facing the other way, no help. I've tried putting up a small cork-board in front of my mic, no help. I've even tried putting carpet on the wall behind Joyce (about three feet behind her) to help absorb my voice (radio studio trick) but again, no help.

Joyce says she hardly hears it, and most people think I'm nuts, but believe me, the echo is there and it does bug me. Short of having two rooms set up with a live video chat for us to interact on, any ideas? Is there something I can adjust on her mic (if I turn the gain down, won't that lower her voice track volume?), or perhaps in the recording program? Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks!! Al

KingIsaacLinksr · April 20, 2011, 10:20:04 AM

Has this always been a problem for all your podcasts? Because if it is, I do not even notice the difference between you and Joyce, at least on Tales and Just Because.

my 2 cents though :)

King

QuadShot · April 20, 2011, 10:26:43 AM

Hey Tim, yeah, it's been there since we got the Yeti's. I know, most people don't notice it. I'm wondering about gain and all that. I'm not too versed in that stuff, but I just wonder if I drop the gain on her mic, it'll not pick up everything, then boost the volume in GarageBand on her track?

RickPeete · April 20, 2011, 10:36:34 AM

I would try reducing the gain on her mic and if you can, reduce the sensitivity in the lower frequencies where your voice is stronger. It might help. You will have to be careful not to drop the lower freqs too far down or Joyce may sound too tinny.

The only other option I can think of is to get her a directional mic instead of the Blue because I believe it is an omni-directional mic. A directional mic won't pick up the ambient sound and just focus on the sound coming from its narrower angle of sensitivity.

I will be curious to know what your final solution is as this is not an unusual problem to have. I wonder if Rick Moyer has some good insights he can offer you, given his background.

billybob476 · April 20, 2011, 10:40:36 AM

I was also thinking of finding a way to make the mic more directional. I imagine a new mic isn't the preferred solution :) Mr. Moyer would definitely be a help, especially since he and Amy also do THWY together in the same room.

QuadShot · April 20, 2011, 11:01:37 AM

The Yeti's actually have 4 settings to them: Stereo; Cardioid; Omnidirectional and Bidirectional. I set both ours to Cardioid...

moyer777 · April 20, 2011, 11:58:00 AM

Quote from: QuadShot on April 20, 2011, 11:01:37 AM
The Yeti's actually have 4 settings to them: Stereo; Cardioid; Omnidirectional and Bidirectional. I set both ours to Cardioid...

which is very heart healthy. ;)

Al and I have talked about this. I think soundproofing the room might help a bit. You may do an experiement and hang blankets on the walls to test it out. That will help deaden the room. Then if it does help, buy some of that foam accoustic tile stuff..

moyer777 · April 20, 2011, 12:00:21 PM

here is another idea

like the cone of silence! I would actually like one of these

http://backstage.musiciansfriend.com/Accessories/Studio-Classroom-Furniture/Acoustic-Wall-Treatments/VoxGuard-Microphone-Isolation-Panel.site1sku430579000000000.sku

KingIsaacLinksr · April 20, 2011, 12:06:46 PM

Quote from: moyer777 on April 20, 2011, 12:00:21 PM
here is another idea

like the cone of silence! I would actually like one of these

http://backstage.musiciansfriend.com/Accessories/Studio-Classroom-Furniture/Acoustic-Wall-Treatments/VoxGuard-Microphone-Isolation-Panel.site1sku430579000000000.sku

I can't believe I didn't think of this before, I've seen other people use it.

King

QuadShot · April 20, 2011, 12:11:51 PM

I've actually tried something like those isolation boards, built my own out of one of those wavy egg crate matress pads. But didn't work. I think the problem is coming from all around Joyce actually. I think my (dang) voice is bouncing off all the walls and just happens to get picked up by her mic. Rick, do you think a combination of like, the blankets (for now to test) and dropping the gain on her mic might work?

I know that I'm being very picky and possibly a bit to "perfectionist" but I want to produce the best possible product. :) Thanks guys

Feathers · April 20, 2011, 12:16:40 PM

Yes, surely that sort of contraption stops back reflections of your own voice from bouncing off the walls and re-entering your own mic. It may not do a lot to protect others from you (or your mic from them).

billybob476 · April 20, 2011, 12:21:22 PM

Quote from: Feathers on April 20, 2011, 12:16:40 PM
Yes, surely that sort of contraption stops back reflections of your own voice from bouncing off the walls and re-entering your own mic. It may not do a lot to protect others from you (or your mic from them).

Well it would if the other person was sitting behind it.

Feathers · April 20, 2011, 12:32:09 PM

Only the direct sound. As Al says, in a small room it's possibly the echoes and indirect sound that's more of a problem. (I guess the guard gives some protection from that too in the sense that it deadens the sound across a whole arc but it does more to kill the sound from your own mouth than from the Walls around you)

RickPeete · April 20, 2011, 02:05:38 PM

I think we need to put Al in the Cone of Silence. LOL

Yeah, I know.... Not helpful.... :wallbash:

Meds · April 20, 2011, 02:16:00 PM

Al do you have the room to sit facing each other? if so try using forward facing mikes with mike covers on them (like you see on radio stations when they interview people). It means shelling out. In the meantime try facing each other, put a foam barrier around each mike. The most likely thing is your room, id its too small its the rebound problem and the only way to stop that is to foam coat or egg carton coat the walls.
To be fair I have not heard any echo at all on your podcasts and i listen to them using headphones with ear defenders over them and trust me i can hear all background noise.