I love the message "if you cannot hear the reverb/echo, try a set of quality headphones." if you cannot hear, step up your shit. I just couldn't help but laugh.
LOL! Yes, I did a tutorial once on how to reduce reverb in post and a few people said, "Duh! there's absolutely no echo in this recording at all so there's nothing to remove!" Evidently they were listening on their great-grandfather's lo-fi system or something.
I didn’t think they would make such a difference. I bought 2 blankets a load of foam tiles and wanted to build some acoustic panels. I guess I can use the blankets for now until I finish the set then use them in conjunction with the panels and tiles. Great video and as always you are a trusted source for audio. Thanks for your advice. Rooting for you to hit 1 million subs.
@@MrCJT93 The smell you are referring to is the natural cotton filling inside, it tends to have an earthy, musty type smell being trapped in a compressed bundle coming from China. Once the blanket is allowed to fluff and air out the smell dissipates quickly. Our Producer's Choice blankets are made from a poly-cotton exterior fabric and 100% cotton inside. The cotton is what make the blankets so sound absorbing. When you hang them, they will produce some dust because of the cotton filling, but once they are up and you vacuum and dust, you won't see anymore as they hang. Hope this helps folks with this issue. There was a container back in 2016 that had a chemical spill in the container from overseas, but that was a one time occurrence.
THANK YOU! "Century stands" give me hope--I just received 6 of these blankets and am at a loss how to hang them. They're heavy, and I'm reluctant to put holes in the walls and ceiling where I rent. I'd love to be able to position them in a hexagonal shape around my drum kit. Century stands look pretty expensive, but it looks like creativity will be the ticket. Pipe and clamps or S hooks will be needed one way or another. Thanks again!
Thanks Andrew, yes, Century Stands are awesome! They're pricey but they'll last forever. And creativity is a lot of fun so I say go for it and best wishes on finding a creative solution!
Thanks for the great video! I recently bought a pack of three Producer's Choice blankets and they are the real deal. I hung one on each side of my recording space and then one behind the camera. The reduction in reverb was dramatic. In addition to some foam tiles on the ceiling above the shotgun mic, I was able to eliminate almost all reverb. It was a very cost effective way to make my space usable. Because my studio is a permanent installation I hung the blankets from the ceiling using the grommets with medium-duty hooks. Three hooks per blanket (one on each end, one in the middle) were enough to secure the heavy blankets (they're 8.5 lbs each!). One tip from the manufacturer is to hang them a few inches off the wall for better sound absorption. I didn't have the smell issue that Curtis had but because these blankets are so heavy the shipping costs are considerable (I paid extra to have them arrive faster in time for a video course shoot). That was the biggest downside for me.
Hi Curtis, thanks for a really informative video. I ended up purchasing some 'sound blankets' and I'm super happy with them. I got them to treat my rented house for home recording - I'm a saxophone player by trade and couldn't do anything to the house by fixing things to the walls so I needed a flexible solution. I ended up suspending them from speaker stands with lighting T-bars using cable ties and they're brilliant, I'd be confident to take them to other locations to record, they're really portable too. If or when I move they'll remain part of my 'set up'
Enjoyed this as always. Others have done it but I would love to see you do a comparison of a variety of moving blanket types in a video. Something like you did in the kitchen, but then replace the blankets with a different kind, and repeat a sound check. I appreciate your method of testing things. I am using Harbor Freight's better moving blankets, which go on sale for a nice price. I've only used one of them once so far, to make a room sound smaller. I hung mine on a Linco brand background stand with clamps. It did improve my recording. I am sure yours do a much better job though.
Great video (as always). I put these blankets on my windows to absorb external noise and then use another one between my little office and the kitchen, it does help a lot. I use regular tripods to suspend them with a long curtain rod.
my friend just made her own buying salvation army/good will towels sewing them together to make a giant curtain (about 6 layers total, 10 ft height, 16 feet length) on a double curtain rod (3 layers each) with a solid fabric to hide her Frankenstein drapes of towels. Seems to work really well.
Great demo! For work, I record educational content at whatever university I’m sent to, typically traveling by air. Any tip for lightweight sound treatments? I’m guessing the ‘any blanket will help’ section covers this? Much appreciated! Fun fact, small offices with wall-to-wall shelves filled with books are a noticeable sound treatment themselves!
Curtis, just found you, cool stuff! I don't know if production audio people know about or use these, but as a recording studio guy, I'd have to vouch for broadband absorbers over anything like a blanket or that foam they sell for sound control. Blankets would only absorb highs, maybe high upper mids. A good broadband absorber will tackle the entire frequency range and make for a better recording. These are usually made from semi-rigid fiberglass and covered in an acoustically transparent material. You can build them but if anyone is looking for a deal for basically the same price as building without all the trouble, let me know- I have a bunch that I don't need anymore. They're 2x4' and can be framed or unframed.
So in the studio setup there's no reason, for a couple extra hundred bucks DIY, not to go with the much better performing semi rigid panels. And for location, a 2x4' panel will go anywhere a blanket can go. They can be hung, propped against inanimate objects (like PA's, stands or chairs) or held by unfortunate PA's. And the big win is that the panels will soak up a hell of a lot more than just the upper freq spectrum, like a measly blanket would. Why would you only want to tame the highs? That's like a doughnut that only soaks up the coffee and not the cream too. Check out Realtraps for an idea and the cold hard data. Compare to blanket absorption coefficients- no comparison. Then just DIY or buy. YOU'RE WELCOME.
Great Video Curtis! Looks like a great product, but I was immediately turned off by a.) mention of the smell, and what you had to do to get rid of it, but, more so b.) you contacted them and they didn't get back to you. I always wonder if the owner of these companies eventually see these videos and do a mega goant face palm. :)
We did get back to Curtis and straightened out the problem. Turns out it was a bad batch from the manufacturer and has since been resolved. Our blankets are filled with 100% recycled cotton and have no smell, but are also machine washable in any normal commercial laundry place. Your home machine will be too small to accommodate the size and weight of the blankets.
Curtis, thanks for the great insight, the kitchen demonstration segment was very useful. I have ordered a few of these blankets, hopefully the smell issue has been resolved. :-)
Hi Terry, thanks. The smell issue does appear to be resolved. VocalBoothToGo's CEO contacted me and sent me new blankets and they did not have the same chemical odor. Best wishes!
Hanging sound blankets vertically on stands, a minimum of a foot away from walls, is the most effective. I use cheap speaker stands with lighting 'T-bars' that have been suitably modified to accommodate professional sound blankets with eyelets for hanging. Sound blankets on hard floors are always helpful, but the hanging blankets are best. I would also recommend getting professional sound blankets with one side white and one side black. This can be very useful for lighting if either bounce or flagging is required, and a big selling point if a DP is objecting to their use. In fact, the hanging blanket can be more effective for lighting purposes than some of the smaller flags or reflectors that are typically used. There is a significant problem associated with hanging sound blankets, as opposed to just throwing them down on the floor, and that is getting directors and DPs to allow them. When a room is excessively reverberant and a sound mixer recommends deploying hanging sound blankets, they may be confronted with resistance on behalf of the director or DP.... So one should be diplomatic and assertive if sound blankets are really needed!
Fwiw, I use moving blankets a couple of feet off the wall. Have not tested, but has produced okay results. With another hundred dollar investment, I believe sound quality could be greatly improved.
Yep, can definitely help. Moving blankets aren't generally as heave as these particular sound blankets but every little bit helps. Also, moving them off the wall like that and I have heard that it can also help to hang them with vertical folds (like curtains).
As I understand it, waves have the least power at 1/4 their wavelength, so absorption at this distance off your reflective surface has maximal impact. Now I can't absorb bass frequencies whose wavelengths can be 32 feet (35 hz)... that would be absorbers at 8 feet off of the wall, but I'm about at a foot or slightly more, so I'm a about three octaves above that, which puts the absorption into the mud range. But all of those measurements are at sea level, and I'm 5k feet up, and it is chilly down there, so who knows? Good enough for me, the recordings I've gotten in that space have been entirely usable. They're relatively dead, but it is easier to get dead recordings and add synthetic room tone then to get actual real good room tone (have to build a structure with good harmonic proportions between floor and ceiling and walls).
I search all around for information on lighting and sound and your videos are ALWAYS the most helpful! Question: How important is floor to ceiling coverage with the blankets? Do you prioritize making sure there isn't a gap between the hung up blanket and the ground, or anything else?
Thanks! It isn't critical to cover every inch so I don't usually worry about that. Ideally, leaving some space between the blanket and wall, if you hang them from a stand, can help the most. But covering desks, tables, counters, floors by just laying the blankets on them helps quite a lot too. Good luck!
You are usually very careful and precise about everything you state. That's why I'm even nitpicking here. Over all, this was a very good and helpful video. :-) But about what you are saying at the end: Are you sure that water is a good absorber for sound? I would imagine the exact opposite: It is fairly heavy and essentially incompressible, and it has a fairly flat surface. Sound carries for miles over water, like on a lake, without being absorbed. And the sound in an inside swimming pool is horrible! :-) Now, I know from experience that having more people in a room greatly helps the echo and reverb, but I would guess it is from the cloth they wear with tons of wrinkles and folds, and from their non-flat shapes. I don't think the sound actually ever reaches the water within them before being absorbed. :-) I could be wrong though...
I do also think that the fact we're almost completely made out of water isn't the whole reason why people in the room improve acoustics. This video is only about absorption - which is just one thing to consider when thinking about room acoustics. If you imagine a sound wave leaving the source, travelling through the room, hitting a bare wall and travelling back to the microphone - that's the kind of coherent echo or reverberation which is very annoying, especially in small to medium-sized rooms. When you start to place irregular-shaped objects - or people - in the room, some of the sound wave's travel paths will be blocked, so the wave will be reflected and thrown back in different angles. This effect is called diffusion and describes the scattering of a sound wave which effectively makes the reflected part of the recorded signal less coherent and also less strong because of the increased number of boundary reflections/transmissions the wave has to go through. Everybody knows that an empty room usually sounds pretty bad. There is a lot of science behind proper room acoustics. But for on-location recording sound absorbing blankets and some properly placed diffusing objects or people can make a recording already a lot better.
Thanks for the tip Curtis. It is very practical. Do we need to cover the ceiling with blanket too? Or does reverb does not bounce vertically? Thanks for your help.
Hi Joshua, it will help with as many flat surfaces as you can cover. Sound definitely moves vertically and bounces off of ceilings and floors as well. Ceilings can be a little more challenging to cover with a blanket if you're only doing it temporarily but if it is a more permanent installation, I would also place one in front of the ceiling.
Another very helpful video Curtis, thanks. If I am using a shotgun indoors like the ntg3, would I be right in thinking that because of their directionality it's more important to put these down on the hard floor around where the talent is standing, that is, where the mic is aiming?
The smell you are referring to is the natural cotton filling inside, it tends to have an earthy, musty type smell being trapped in a compressed bundle coming from China. Once the blanket is allowed to fluff and air out the smell dissipates quickly. Our Producer's Choice blankets are made from a poly-cotton exterior fabric and 100% cotton inside. The cotton is what make the blankets so sound absorbing. When you hang them, they will produce some dust because of the cotton filling, but once they are up and you vacuum and dust, you won't see anymore as they hang. Hope this helps folks with this issue. There was a container back in 2016 that had a chemical spill in the container from overseas, but that was a one time occurrence. Thanks for doing this video Chris!
I know this is an older video but here are some observations. 1 if the ceiling is still open like in a partially finished basement you can probably spring clamp the blankets to the supports. 2. If you are using light-stands, you could rip cord a conduit or a couple of broom handles to the stands. 3. A backdrop stand kit is much cheaper than even a single C'stand and comes with a x-bar. ... you can get a fairly decent background stand kit for about 40$-70$ Can on amazon and TYPICALLY the stands are heftier than the cheap 15$ light-stands you would use for some flash units. *Random Example kit:* www.amazon.ca/Neewer-Adjustable-Mini-Light-Stand/dp/B00VE72RMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1476900706&sr=8-2&keywords=background+stand+kit As usual, love the videos.
Hi Curtis, your videos are very well done, thank you for sharing your vast knowledge. Agreed the sound blankets remove echo, and generally make live shoots / recordings sound better, BUT, only if the production doesnt have to deal with external influences, such as leaf blowers, airplanes, barking dogs, jackhammer and construction crews, helicopters, sirens, children playing, folks coming home from work, etc. How often can you record or shoot free of that long list? This is why pro studios dont generally bother with sound blankets, they are ONLY useful if you are already in a quiet situation (and confident no croaking bullfrogs will make it into your mix anytime soon). If you need to be able to continue production when "the list" is present, you will eventually be building a very high mass room of some sort. In fact, anybody that has been inside Warner Brothers, Sony, Culver Studios, Disney et sound stages, can attest - the walls at these stages are very thick AND they have very thick batting (wire tied to the wall generally speaking). They dont have to worry about that list, if they did, they would never get anything done.
Just like everyone else, I run into ambient noise issues all the time and use techniques I've learned from others to manage them: Sending production assistants out to ask neighborhood kids to please hold off blowing their toy horns for about 20 minutes while we "make a movie" (no joke, this happened on a shoot last year), waiting for sudden crowds outside of a room to vacate (30 minute delay on today's shoot), unplugging refrigerators and placing my car keys in the fridge to ensure I remember to plug it back in after the shoot, cranking an air conditioner while we set up lighting and sound for a shoot, turn it off while we did the interview and crank it back up the second we cut the interview, and asking building managers to turn off white noise generators in offices. There are endless other sources of noise. Covering these and ideas for how to work around them would be a good topic for a future episode. :) Thanks for the idea!
Sir I want to record my poetry professionally. But I am full beginner. Should I go for dynamic mic or condenser mic? My room is not sound proof. The sound of fan also comes from outside. If I use condenser mic inside the blanket, will it be a good recording or not? I am very confused I can't understand what to do. Audio Technica 2035 or Sure SM 58 or Shure Mv7x which mic is best for me ?
Great review! I see that you're using a shotgun mic for this. What if it was a wireless lav instead? Would that mean you could cut down on the blankets?
Hey Andrew, I used a hyper-cardioid mic in this shoot (Audio Technica AT4053b) which has one of the most focused pickup patterns. Lavalier microphones generally have omni-directional pickup patterns. However, omni lavaliers have the benefit of being mounted on a person so the person's body will block sound from behind. In the end I find that super or hyper-cardioids do a little better at isolating the sound source and picking up less reverb (but that depends on the mic and the room, etc.) Good question!
Hi Curtis, super helpful video thank you! Curious the sizes you picked for the 3 blankets, do you have one thats larger for use with the C stands or did you keep them all the same size. Thinking about picking up 3.
Hi Curtis, when I bought mine, they only had one size - the 96 x 80", I believe - so all of mine are that size. I fold them in half to hang them on c-stands and that works well.
Hi Curtis, I know the video is quite old, but great job as always. I'm wondering if you have ever used the Matthews or Advantage brand sound blankets from Adorama or B&H, how they would compare, and if they are thrust worthy enough for pro or semi-pro work. Thanks
Hi Y. Zhao, I haven't used the other brands, unfortunately. I will say that I prefer the black/white colored blankets since they help or at least do not detract from lighting designs vs. the blue. So if you do try the others, I'd try the Advantage. Best wishes!
Another very helpful video. :) I am struggling with reverb when I am recording at my desk. I'm looking at a largish screen about 2' from me and the reverb has been pretty tough. There is a wall right behind it 1' so that doesn't help either. Since I can't hang a blanket in front of the screen I'm looking at options. In your video on improving the sound of basic film maker, you look like you are in a similar placement. After spending several hours doing some creative spring arm mounting of my condenser mic so it doesn't obscure the screen (very small desk) it pains me to have the reverb. **grin** My current thought is to fill in areas around the screen with acoustic foam. -- Side note: I'm curios why you haven't mentioned it along with the blankets? Probably cost and difficulty in installing I suspect. -- I also occurred to me that I might make a foam shield for the back side of the mic. I'll be trying this before you respond, but your thoughts and your desk set up would be much appreciated. Your videos are so helpful and easy to watch. Even when I don't have time to sit down with them, like right now, I do anyway. Thanks for continuing to provide great content.
Thanks! Foam can work but I find that in some cases when it is overdone, too much of the high frequency sound energy is lost so that recordings can start to sound a little dull and woolly. So if you go that route, be sure to experiment before you permanently adhere any of the foam. Having something behind you to dampen any sound reflecting off of walls or other surfaces behind can make a big, big difference since those are the sounds which come directly into the mic. Also, positioning the mic, assuming you're using a cardioid mic, with the back to the screen helps a lot. It is hard to tell in the piece with the Basic Filmmaker, but the back of my mic is less than 45 degrees off from the computer screen. The camera angle makes is seem like its even more out of the way. Best wishes!
Hello, thanks for This, was Pretty Helpful, Wanted to ask, what's your thoughts if use 1 inch mattress to help me in sound Proofing on set?. I have a one location series am working on and I plan to use those to help me because the budget isn't enough
Omg! I just ordered 4 of these... they didn’t tell me they smelled...I’m very sensitive to that, asthma etc. I don’t want to wash them how the hell am I going to wash 10’ x 8’ blanket?
Would you be able to make a video showing how to set up a recorder to the DJ set up to record off a microphone when people are giving out a toast and how to set up a wireless system with more than two transmitters and one receiver
Sadly cant find any of those thing in here. If i install a sounds foam on my wall will that help reducing echo and ambient or other noise from outside? I am very very sorry if i am keep on asking but you are my only man curtis.
Foam is also super expensive per square inch, and to get the same absorption rate of 80%, you have to buy 3 to 4 inch foam. You would go broke doing a whole room versus using our Producers Choice blankets to cover your space. Check us out! www.vocalboothtogo.com
Oh, forgot to add: It would seem to me that hanging the blankets away from the wall - 6" - 1" would be better than up against the wall, which I often see in videos. Also, it seems that having the blankets drape with folds would improve the attenuation, providing you have enough blankets and/or room to do so. Thoughts? :)
Which direction do you fold the blankets? I know as many boundaries as possible provides maximum absorption as sound waves loose energy as they pass through boundaries.
How well would fleece do for for this? My grand parents get me a new fleece blanket every couple of years so I have a few laying around now. Would they work well/at all or should I just leave them in the closet and get something more like what you were demonstrating?
The sound blankets here are way denser/heavier than fleece so they'll do more to absorb sound, but if you don't have the budget, definitely put those fleece blankets to the task! They're probably a lot better than nothing.
Hey Curtis, I have a related question. If sound dampening reduces the ambient DB in a room then wouldn’t that mean that in a full music venue running 120db would be getting the full dB in spite of the body’s in the room? So the problem I am having is the semi trained sound guys are using the dB meter to set levels believing that people are absorbing some of the sound. Setting the dB + 15-20 over. When I am working this venue I ware sound protection the whole time.
Hey Matt, Good idea to wear ear protection. I am astonished at the SPLs at so many venues, even for non-pop music. My understanding is that bodies do a better job of diffusing sound than absorbing it which will potentially prevent standing waves which tend to accumulate. 120dB SPL is WAY TOO LOUD even if that is just right in front of the loudspeakers. It'll be lower out in the audience seating areas, but still, ouch. That's a great way to damage everyone's hearing. Even 100dB is too loud. Keep wearing that ear protection!
Yes, using the tungsten colored Aputure COB 120t for the key light and daylight balanced Light Storm LS1s for the backdrop and rim lights. Camera is white balanced between the two. It was meant to be an experiment. :)
My previous apartment was noisy: commercial laundry facility with air compressor, diesel trucks with klaxon coming and going starting at 5am until 8pm, construction trucks for road and building maintenance/repair. Moved in to a house built in 1950. Already at a noise floor at -57db. Majority of the noise is 250hz on down. Military aircraft, diesel trucks, some personal vehicles, and people. Trying to no let my OCD take over and add 8in of rockwool to the walls and ceiling. At what point do I call it good enough and let software remove the difference especially for ACX?
@@curtisjudd have found adding sound proofing, sound conditioning, and AC power conditioning, the decision is both easier and harder. My cheap $36 microphone is sounding so much better in treated room. Will a $400 microphone be that much better?
@@curtisjudd thank you. Had not considered a microphone that compliments my voice. Just sound proofing, sound treatment, and electrical conditioning. Thank you for your help. Sorry to ask questions you've answered several times before.
VocalBoothToGo sells their "FlexTee" stand now. You can find other straight bar tee stands / t stands elsewhere also. The "FlexTee" stand is sort of cool in that they are jointed on either side so you can get two or three stands and form something like a circle or a box because you're not limited to just one straight bar all the way across. I believe their FlexTee stand is specifically designed to work with their Producers Choice acoustic blankets, though I don't see them state that exactly. Their verbiage includes, "FlexTee Stand not only gives you flexibility to use acoustic blankets Producer’s Choice anywhere, but you can use the same stand to mount the portable vocal booth - VOMO."; I'm not sure how well the S-hooks they provide with the FlexTee stand will work for everyone with Producers Choice blankets. If I recall correctly, when I bought the blankets a few years back it was stated the grommets may not be all evenly spaced or not the same from one blanket to the next. I don't see anything like that mentioned on their site now when I went to double check that so that may be incorrect or quality control may have improved since I made my purchase. However even if the grommets weren't at the right locations for the s-hooks on their FlexTee stand, or if you bought blankets without grommets, using the clamps shown in this video would still work. I bought a 6 pack of the Producers Choice blankets a few years back during some sort of sale. I think I paid around $240.00 for all 6 delivered to my door, and the shipping to the Los Angeles area of California alone was around $40 if I recall correctly, so the cost for the blankets specifically wasn't astronomical. It appears the same blankets I ordered back then are currently about $63.00 each.
I shoot in talking head vids in my 10 x 10 office that I rent. Since it’s not a permanent space, I don’t want to put permanent sound proofing fixtures in it that can’t be easily removed if and when I move offices or to a permanent future home studio. Space is a little limited which I why I bought the Lupo dual color soft 60 light instead of the Appeture 300x w/ softbox. What soundproofing things to you recommend I buy? Assume budget isn’t an issue. I am in this for the long term. Thanks!
Hi JZ helps, Sound blankets and C-stands are the least permanent, very effective sound treatment. You could also hang them from the ceiling with hooks if that is an option. Note that sound proofing is for keeping outside sound from getting in. I'm only talking about preventing reflections within a space when we cover sound blankets here. These will not block all outside sound.
Hi ! I'm interested about these blankets but I'm afraid of the smell. Does it smell like something chemical or is it more like a "new product"smell ? Thank you in advance for your reply
Hi Willie! I bought 6 but find that I generally use 2 or 3 at a time. Also, as an update, VocalBoothToGo contacted me in the last couple of days and apologized that they didn't see my email, noted that they have fixed the manufacturing issue they had with the smell. So that's hopefully good news!
Wonderful! Thanks for your answer. Good deal. I wasnt looking forward to washing all those blankets hahaha and yes I thought that would be a good idea to just start w 3. BTW, your lighting course, how does it work?
The lighting course is still very much in the planning stages. Currently I'm finishing up work on my audio post processing course which should be launched in the next few weeks. The courses are over at school.learnlightandsound.com Best wishes and I hope the sound blankets work out well for you!
For recording, I've found sound blankets to work great. You'd have to spend a LOT more money and use a lot of thick panels to get the same results. Not that I'm against panels, I've got my office treated with panels, but it cost over $2000 and with panels the idea is usually not to totally deaden the room, but to neutralize it for MIXING.
@@curtisjudd thanks for the tips as was thinking to put acoustic panel for a small office goin converted into a video recording studio. I will give sound blanket a try.
This is one of the most helpful videos I've watched as are most if not all the videos I've seen on your channel. I've been struggling with acoustic treatment for quite a while with several experimentational methods and strategies. Couple questions here... 1. Are sound blankets better than say roxul wool sound panels and bass traps? 2. If I'm hanging blankets to treat walls, does the distance between the blanket and wall make any difference? 3. I found these sound blankets and like the color options: www.amazon.com/dp/B07M8YP677/ref=twister_B07LC29HWP?_encoding=UTF8&th=1. Are these better or worse value than the ones you recommended? Thank you so much!
Thanks Haurjie. 1) They're more portable and Flexible for on-set use. But proper bass traps of higher density material like Roxul will trap lower frequencies which the blankets will not trap. 2) Yes, best to leave a few inches. 3) Not sure exactly how they compare, but they look good based on that NRC of .85. Best wishes!
This is sort of off-topic. Is there an inexpensive "breakout box" for boom operators to use to monitor their sound for use with a zoom H5/H6 set up? Ideally so that they sound recordist can monitor all sounds going into the H5/H6 and the boom operator can only monitor their boom mic. I found this: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/292989-REG/Sound_Devices_MM_1_MM_1_Single_Channel_Portable.html but I don't think that would work with a H5/H6 set up. Or I have seen duplex cables like www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=duplex+boom+cable&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search= but I don't think that would work with H5/H6's either. Just found your channel, great videos. I just subscribed. Thanks.
I think you could use either method but I prefer the inline sound devices preamp if you have the money. This probably has a better preamp than the Zoom and allows for a line level signal to run to the Zoom recorder. If you mix and boom at the same time try just putting boom on one channel and the lavs on the other for headset monitoring. Throw in some wireless tx/rx's on each channel and you can send each channel to a camera for synch and backup. This makes for a compact setup with minimal cables on set.
Would you put the sound devices preamp between the boom mic and the zoom h6 recorder? Does this degrade the audio signal going into the h6? I don't know that much about audio but I thought you want the least amount of things between the mic and the recording device. In pro setups, do they use a return signal coming out of the mixer and send it back to the boom operator? Sorry for these newbie questions. Thanks.
Yes, to accomplish what you are trying to do I would put the Sound Devices preamp with the boom operator then feed its line output to the Zoom recorder as a line level input. In theory each item you place in a signal path introduces noise, but Sound Devices preamps are usually quieter than Zoom's so you would have to experiment with how these two components would work together. So far as a pro setup, from my limited experience, splitting the tasks of booming and mixing is not normal for small sets. Usually one guy does both so what you are asking is not done, it is more common to have the boomer also run the audio recorder. Thus the technique of putting boom on one channel and lavs on the other channel for monitoring as you boom. If I were you, I would begin with this type of setup. It simplifies the signal path but the boomer does have to monitor his audio levels on the recorder. If you haven't already purchased the Zoom H6 I would spend a little more and get the Zoom F8. Its really a better audio recorder for cinema work (top panel controls, quieter preamps, brighter screen). Of course if you have the money, spring for a Sound Devices 688. That's what the pros use.
By the way check the reviews on B&H. There is a 2 star review of the Sound Devices Preamp you referenced that had problems with noise introduced recording while using a Zoom H5.
All good points from Gregg. I agree, I would go with the Sound Devices MM1. This has a very high quality preamp. For the person who reviewed the MM1 indicating they had trouble getting it to work well with an H5, I'm a little skeptical that it would be an issue with the MM1, but likely that the H5 operates like the Zoom F8: Line inputs are on the TRS inputs rather than XLR. You would want to confirm that with Zoom before buying. Its an odd choice that Zoom implemented on their F8 and I wouldn't be surprised if they also did this on the H5. If they confirm, this means that you would need to feed a 1/4" TRS input into the H5 and it should work great. I hope that makes sense and best wishes!
The blankets smelled and made your skin itch? Most likely (as most cheaper fabrics from China) they were sprayed with formaldehyde to prevent wrinkling and mildew in shipping.
I was just getting set to pick some of these up until... I read about the smell. I did some deep dives into forums and the manufactures claim they hunted down the source of the smell which was a synthetic mix of fibers and since then they have switched manufactures and now only have a cotton blend inside. They also claim there are no chemicals used. This was posted just a week ago www.gearslutz.com/board/studio-building-acoustics/482003-who-makes-best-blankets-sound-absorbtion-2.html. But seeing that you posted this just a few months ago doesn't exactly instill confidence. I want to get two big blankets for my studio to cover both doors/windows which also means I will be living with them for the majority of every working day. I also have a child so I'm very weary about ordering these especially since it feels like a gamble due to what would be a very hefty return shipping price. Any more insight into the smell? They claim the problem is solved but you seem to have run into just recently. It's possible you got a batch of the older model but they claim those would be sold as moving blankets and the new batch would be their sound blanket option.
Yes, the CEO of VocalBoothToGo contacted me after seeing this video and explained that they resolved the supplier issue. He sent me a new blanket and it was fine - no major smell. I think you're safe at this point. I put an annotation in the video with the update but UA-cam annotations only seem to show in some cases. :( Need a solution for that. For reference, I bought my initial set of blankets in June 2015.
Thanks, Curtis. I saw the annotation but was concerned based on the date of video. Good to know the blankets were purchased much earlier. Everything I've seen seems to indicate that the blankets are now fine and that the CEO has done a great job at following up on the issue and resolving it. At this point it's just trust;) Do they have an affiliate option for you? If so, pass the link otherwise thanks again.
It's going to take some significant work to knockdown my heavy reverb while still maintaining a visually appealing space but it will get there...slowly lol. What I want to do is put the blankets on a roller that attaches to the wall above each door. I'm thinking I might have to go with a roller that is made for pool covers in order to hold the bulkiness and weight of the blankets. Not so such that seamless, paper roll holders would do the trick. If any other ideas strike you, let me know. It's hard one to Google for ideas lol.
The pool cover roller sounds like a good line of reasoning. Or a custom job! :-D I envision big wood brackets, a wood pole to roll up the blankets, and a big wooden crank handle.
Hi Curtis, can you tell me if this sound is ok ? ua-cam.com/video/S_y7rzuMu7g/v-deo.html - I use an Aputure A.Lav lapel mic directly on my Samsung S4 android smartphone. The problem is that with some devices it seems ok - on UA-cam and with my Pioneer SE-MS5T-T headphones, but on other times there seems to be hissing noise when I talk.. only when I talk, I don´t understand. I am doing these videos for Udemy, they say on test videos I send to them that the sound is very good, but I doubt that because each guy at Udemy says something very different from the other..
Hi Franciso, on my computer speakers this sounded quite good. When I get to my studio, I'll have to listen on my better monitors and headphones. The issue is most likely the phone and perhaps any processing of the audio in post. There is, of course, subjectivity here as well. Everyone hears differently and has different standards for listening. If you're creating online courses, I'd recommend starting with what you have and when funds become available, investing in a proper recorder and higher quality microphone. Best wishes!
I have also a Blue Spark Digital, and I used to record audio separatelly on Audacity, but it´s a lot of work and taking off background noise makes sound like under water... I do prefer this solution, video + audio directly on my smartphone and the I connect to wifi and transfer the file - way easier to do it. I have a compliment for you: there are some guys like Sinatra that have an awsome diction - you have it too. It is incredibly easy to understand what you are saying. and some youtubers love to show off their personality, it´s awful - you are not that way :-) Thanks for all the great info. And thanks for enjoying my audio - your opinion it is more important than Udemy guys, trust me...
Honestly I think the problem is just the relativelly poor audio quality of my Samsung S4 speakers.. when I hear the same sound on headphones - cheap or expensive, the sound is very good. I have bought a ferrite device to end statics on the mic wire, I tested it and it seems to have improved a bit the audio quality. Thanks for all advices !
Vocalboothtogo.com has resolved the issue with the smell that I mentioned in this video from 7 years ago. I confirmed that with a newer blanket.
As always, great job! never knew sound proofing could include floors or counter tops! Bless you for keeping us informed!
Thanks Willie!
I love the message "if you cannot hear the reverb/echo, try a set of quality headphones."
if you cannot hear, step up your shit. I just couldn't help but laugh.
LOL! Yes, I did a tutorial once on how to reduce reverb in post and a few people said, "Duh! there's absolutely no echo in this recording at all so there's nothing to remove!" Evidently they were listening on their great-grandfather's lo-fi system or something.
I didn’t think they would make such a difference. I bought 2 blankets a load of foam tiles and wanted to build some acoustic panels. I guess I can use the blankets for now until I finish the set then use them in conjunction with the panels and tiles. Great video and as always you are a trusted source for audio. Thanks for your advice. Rooting for you to hit 1 million subs.
Thanks and happy recording!
Thanks so much for putting this video together featuring our products! We really hope you are enjoying them.
I am, they're a critical part of my audio kit and I use them every day!
@@MrCJT93 The smell you are referring to is the natural cotton filling inside, it tends to have an earthy, musty type smell being trapped in a compressed bundle coming from China. Once the blanket is allowed to fluff and air out the smell dissipates quickly. Our Producer's Choice blankets are made from a poly-cotton exterior fabric and 100% cotton inside. The cotton is what make the blankets so sound absorbing. When you hang them, they will produce some dust because of the cotton filling, but once they are up and you vacuum and dust, you won't see anymore as they hang. Hope this helps folks with this issue. There was a container back in 2016 that had a chemical spill in the container from overseas, but that was a one time occurrence.
THANK YOU! "Century stands" give me hope--I just received 6 of these blankets and am at a loss how to hang them. They're heavy, and I'm reluctant to put holes in the walls and ceiling where I rent. I'd love to be able to position them in a hexagonal shape around my drum kit. Century stands look pretty expensive, but it looks like creativity will be the ticket. Pipe and clamps or S hooks will be needed one way or another. Thanks again!
Thanks Andrew, yes, Century Stands are awesome! They're pricey but they'll last forever. And creativity is a lot of fun so I say go for it and best wishes on finding a creative solution!
Thanks for the great video!
I recently bought a pack of three Producer's Choice blankets and they are the real deal. I hung one on each side of my recording space and then one behind the camera. The reduction in reverb was dramatic. In addition to some foam tiles on the ceiling above the shotgun mic, I was able to eliminate almost all reverb. It was a very cost effective way to make my space usable.
Because my studio is a permanent installation I hung the blankets from the ceiling using the grommets with medium-duty hooks. Three hooks per blanket (one on each end, one in the middle) were enough to secure the heavy blankets (they're 8.5 lbs each!). One tip from the manufacturer is to hang them a few inches off the wall for better sound absorption.
I didn't have the smell issue that Curtis had but because these blankets are so heavy the shipping costs are considerable (I paid extra to have them arrive faster in time for a video course shoot). That was the biggest downside for me.
Thanks! Glad to hear they helped you too!
Hi Curtis, thanks for a really informative video. I ended up purchasing some 'sound blankets' and I'm super happy with them. I got them to treat my rented house for home recording - I'm a saxophone player by trade and couldn't do anything to the house by fixing things to the walls so I needed a flexible solution. I ended up suspending them from speaker stands with lighting T-bars using cable ties and they're brilliant, I'd be confident to take them to other locations to record, they're really portable too. If or when I move they'll remain part of my 'set up'
I still love sound blankets. I'm so happy you found them useful.
Enjoyed this as always. Others have done it but I would love to see you do a comparison of a variety of moving blanket types in a video. Something like you did in the kitchen, but then replace the blankets with a different kind, and repeat a sound check. I appreciate your method of testing things.
I am using Harbor Freight's better moving blankets, which go on sale for a nice price. I've only used one of them once so far, to make a room sound smaller. I hung mine on a Linco brand background stand with clamps. It did improve my recording. I am sure yours do a much better job though.
That's a great idea, thanks!
HF moving pads are not comparable in any way.
Great video (as always). I put these blankets on my windows to absorb external noise and then use another one between my little office and the kitchen, it does help a lot. I use regular tripods to suspend them with a long curtain rod.
Ah yes, good point. They can also be used to keep outside sound from getting in. And that's a clever idea, the curtain rod.
A video I've been waiting for ever since I started experimenting with booms vs of lavs. Thanks for sharing.
+Winterspring Studios LLC you're welcome!
This is the Best Video I have ever seen...Thank you for the idea on the stand...The stand is great for Renters to hang Acoustic Blankets...
Thanks Portia.
@@curtisjudd You're welcome...
I wasted so much time looking at audiophile videos, this is the kind of test I was looking for.
my friend just made her own buying salvation army/good will towels sewing them together to make a giant curtain (about 6 layers total, 10 ft height, 16 feet length) on a double curtain rod (3 layers each) with a solid fabric to hide her Frankenstein drapes of towels. Seems to work really well.
Great idea!
great video. Really like this idea as its mobile and doesn't even need to be fixed to a wall.
Thanks, yes, portability is nice!
Loved the video Curtis, really appreciate the variety of mounting options :D
👍
Great demo!
For work, I record educational content at whatever university I’m sent to, typically traveling by air. Any tip for lightweight sound treatments? I’m guessing the ‘any blanket will help’ section covers this? Much appreciated!
Fun fact, small offices with wall-to-wall shelves filled with books are a noticeable sound treatment themselves!
Yes, any blanket is better than none. Lightweight moving blankets might take the edge off, so to speak.
Just enrolled to all of your classes, thanks bro
+murto_photo thanks! I hope you find them helpful and look forward to hearing from you on the weekly Sound for Video sessions!
Curtis, just found you, cool stuff! I don't know if production audio people know about or use these, but as a recording studio guy, I'd have to vouch for broadband absorbers over anything like a blanket or that foam they sell for sound control. Blankets would only absorb highs, maybe high upper mids. A good broadband absorber will tackle the entire frequency range and make for a better recording. These are usually made from semi-rigid fiberglass and covered in an acoustically transparent material. You can build them but if anyone is looking for a deal for basically the same price as building without all the trouble, let me know- I have a bunch that I don't need anymore. They're 2x4' and can be framed or unframed.
Hi Stephen, I agree for permanent installations, but for shooting film on location, blankets are invaluable.
So in the studio setup there's no reason, for a couple extra hundred bucks DIY, not to go with the much better performing semi rigid panels. And for location, a 2x4' panel will go anywhere a blanket can go. They can be hung, propped against inanimate objects (like PA's, stands or chairs) or held by unfortunate PA's. And the big win is that the panels will soak up a hell of a lot more than just the upper freq spectrum, like a measly blanket would. Why would you only want to tame the highs? That's like a doughnut that only soaks up the coffee and not the cream too. Check out Realtraps for an idea and the cold hard data. Compare to blanket absorption coefficients- no comparison. Then just DIY or buy. YOU'RE WELCOME.
Thanks.
Great Video Curtis! Looks like a great product, but I was immediately turned off by a.) mention of the smell, and what you had to do to get rid of it, but, more so b.) you contacted them and they didn't get back to you. I always wonder if the owner of these companies eventually see these videos and do a mega goant face palm. :)
I hope they do!
We did get back to Curtis and straightened out the problem. Turns out it was a bad batch from the manufacturer and has since been resolved. Our blankets are filled with 100% recycled cotton and have no smell, but are also machine washable in any normal commercial laundry place. Your home machine will be too small to accommodate the size and weight of the blankets.
Thanks! All the other videos I've watched on this top, everything was black. Makes sense to use white if you're also filming, hadn't thought of that
You're welcome!
Curtis, thanks for the great insight, the kitchen demonstration segment was very useful. I have ordered a few of these blankets, hopefully the smell issue has been resolved. :-)
Hi Terry, thanks. The smell issue does appear to be resolved. VocalBoothToGo's CEO contacted me and sent me new blankets and they did not have the same chemical odor. Best wishes!
Look at that lighting!! Dang! Love'n it! Great review.
Thanks Levi!
Hanging sound blankets vertically on stands, a minimum of a foot away from walls, is the most effective. I use cheap speaker stands with lighting 'T-bars' that have been suitably modified to accommodate professional sound blankets with eyelets for hanging. Sound blankets on hard floors are always helpful, but the hanging blankets are best. I would also recommend getting professional sound blankets with one side white and one side black. This can be very useful for lighting if either bounce or flagging is required, and a big selling point if a DP is objecting to their use. In fact, the hanging blanket can be more effective for lighting purposes than some of the smaller flags or reflectors that are typically used. There is a significant problem associated with hanging sound blankets, as opposed to just throwing them down on the floor, and that is getting directors and DPs to allow them. When a room is excessively reverberant and a sound mixer recommends deploying hanging sound blankets, they may be confronted with resistance on behalf of the director or DP.... So one should be diplomatic and assertive if sound blankets are really needed!
Agreed on all points.
Thank you for sharing so many good tips.
You're welcome, thanks Frederic!
Fwiw, I use moving blankets a couple of feet off the wall. Have not tested, but has produced okay results. With another hundred dollar investment, I believe sound quality could be greatly improved.
Yep, can definitely help. Moving blankets aren't generally as heave as these particular sound blankets but every little bit helps. Also, moving them off the wall like that and I have heard that it can also help to hang them with vertical folds (like curtains).
As I understand it, waves have the least power at 1/4 their wavelength, so absorption at this distance off your reflective surface has maximal impact. Now I can't absorb bass frequencies whose wavelengths can be 32 feet (35 hz)... that would be absorbers at 8 feet off of the wall, but I'm about at a foot or slightly more, so I'm a about three octaves above that, which puts the absorption into the mud range. But all of those measurements are at sea level, and I'm 5k feet up, and it is chilly down there, so who knows? Good enough for me, the recordings I've gotten in that space have been entirely usable. They're relatively dead, but it is easier to get dead recordings and add synthetic room tone then to get actual real good room tone (have to build a structure with good harmonic proportions between floor and ceiling and walls).
I search all around for information on lighting and sound and your videos are ALWAYS the most helpful!
Question: How important is floor to ceiling coverage with the blankets? Do you prioritize making sure there isn't a gap between the hung up blanket and the ground, or anything else?
Thanks! It isn't critical to cover every inch so I don't usually worry about that. Ideally, leaving some space between the blanket and wall, if you hang them from a stand, can help the most. But covering desks, tables, counters, floors by just laying the blankets on them helps quite a lot too. Good luck!
Curtis Judd thank you so much!
You are usually very careful and precise about everything you state. That's why I'm even nitpicking here. Over all, this was a very good and helpful video. :-)
But about what you are saying at the end: Are you sure that water is a good absorber for sound? I would imagine the exact opposite: It is fairly heavy and essentially incompressible, and it has a fairly flat surface. Sound carries for miles over water, like on a lake, without being absorbed. And the sound in an inside swimming pool is horrible! :-) Now, I know from experience that having more people in a room greatly helps the echo and reverb, but I would guess it is from the cloth they wear with tons of wrinkles and folds, and from their non-flat shapes. I don't think the sound actually ever reaches the water within them before being absorbed. :-) I could be wrong though...
I do also think that the fact we're almost completely made out of water isn't the whole reason why people in the room improve acoustics. This video is only about absorption - which is just one thing to consider when thinking about room acoustics.
If you imagine a sound wave leaving the source, travelling through the room, hitting a bare wall and travelling back to the microphone - that's the kind of coherent echo or reverberation which is very annoying, especially in small to medium-sized rooms. When you start to place irregular-shaped objects - or people - in the room, some of the sound wave's travel paths will be blocked, so the wave will be reflected and thrown back in different angles. This effect is called diffusion and describes the scattering of a sound wave which effectively makes the reflected part of the recorded signal less coherent and also less strong because of the increased number of boundary reflections/transmissions the wave has to go through.
Everybody knows that an empty room usually sounds pretty bad. There is a lot of science behind proper room acoustics. But for on-location recording sound absorbing blankets and some properly placed diffusing objects or people can make a recording already a lot better.
Thanks Florian, I think you are right, it probably has more to do with diffusion than absorption.
Thanks, your explanation is definitely more articulate (and likely correct) than mine. Appreciated!
I really do like that idea. Keep going dude
Thanks, will do!
One more great video Curtis, thanks a lot !
Phil
+Philippe Schultz thank you Phil.
Thanks for the tip Curtis. It is very practical. Do we need to cover the ceiling with blanket too? Or does reverb does not bounce vertically? Thanks for your help.
Hi Joshua, it will help with as many flat surfaces as you can cover. Sound definitely moves vertically and bounces off of ceilings and floors as well. Ceilings can be a little more challenging to cover with a blanket if you're only doing it temporarily but if it is a more permanent installation, I would also place one in front of the ceiling.
Curtis Judd thank you very much. 🙏 It clears up my concern all this time whether sound also bounce vertically.
Thanks
👍
Another very helpful video Curtis, thanks.
If I am using a shotgun indoors like the ntg3, would I be right in thinking that because of their directionality it's more important to put these down on the hard floor around where the talent is standing, that is, where the mic is aiming?
Yes, that often does a lot to help. Wide open walls are next in line after that.
Mine smelled bad also. I just hung them in my garage for a while. It worked great
Good advice, thanks!
The smell you are referring to is the natural cotton filling inside, it tends to have an earthy, musty type smell being trapped in a compressed bundle coming from China. Once the blanket is allowed to fluff and air out the smell dissipates quickly. Our Producer's Choice blankets are made from a poly-cotton exterior fabric and 100% cotton inside. The cotton is what make the blankets so sound absorbing. When you hang them, they will produce some dust because of the cotton filling, but once they are up and you vacuum and dust, you won't see anymore as they hang. Hope this helps folks with this issue. There was a container back in 2016 that had a chemical spill in the container from overseas, but that was a one time occurrence. Thanks for doing this video Chris!
I know this is an older video but here are some observations.
1 if the ceiling is still open like in a partially finished basement you can probably spring clamp the blankets to the supports.
2. If you are using light-stands, you could rip cord a conduit or a couple of broom handles to the stands.
3. A backdrop stand kit is much cheaper than even a single C'stand and comes with a x-bar. ... you can get a fairly decent background stand kit for about 40$-70$ Can on amazon and TYPICALLY the stands are heftier than the cheap 15$ light-stands you would use for some flash units.
*Random Example kit:* www.amazon.ca/Neewer-Adjustable-Mini-Light-Stand/dp/B00VE72RMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1476900706&sr=8-2&keywords=background+stand+kit
As usual, love the videos.
Thanks Eric, great ideas!
Very helpful, been looking for some. Somewhat more expensive in the UK but hey ho!
Thanks Rob.
I love you Curtis Judd. Anytime you're on a video, i immediately trust it more now XD
Thanks ProfKranc!
Hi Curtis, your videos are very well done, thank you for sharing your vast knowledge. Agreed the sound blankets remove echo, and generally make live shoots / recordings sound better, BUT, only if the production doesnt have to deal with external influences, such as leaf blowers, airplanes, barking dogs, jackhammer and construction crews, helicopters, sirens, children playing, folks coming home from work, etc. How often can you record or shoot free of that long list? This is why pro studios dont generally bother with sound blankets, they are ONLY useful if you are already in a quiet situation (and confident no croaking bullfrogs will make it into your mix anytime soon). If you need to be able to continue production when "the list" is present, you will eventually be building a very high mass room of some sort. In fact, anybody that has been inside Warner Brothers, Sony, Culver Studios, Disney et sound stages, can attest - the walls at these stages are very thick AND they have very thick batting (wire tied to the wall generally speaking). They dont have to worry about that list, if they did, they would never get anything done.
Just like everyone else, I run into ambient noise issues all the time and use techniques I've learned from others to manage them: Sending production assistants out to ask neighborhood kids to please hold off blowing their toy horns for about 20 minutes while we "make a movie" (no joke, this happened on a shoot last year), waiting for sudden crowds outside of a room to vacate (30 minute delay on today's shoot), unplugging refrigerators and placing my car keys in the fridge to ensure I remember to plug it back in after the shoot, cranking an air conditioner while we set up lighting and sound for a shoot, turn it off while we did the interview and crank it back up the second we cut the interview, and asking building managers to turn off white noise generators in offices. There are endless other sources of noise. Covering these and ideas for how to work around them would be a good topic for a future episode. :) Thanks for the idea!
Oh, and yes, sound blankets solve very few of those types of problems, it is mainly for managing reverb in my experience.
Yeah HUGE difference between treating the space for reverb and echo and soundproofing.
I use a sleeping bag.
+CZsWorld good idea.
Thank you. you did a good job.
+Oup Kip thanks!
Sir I want to record my poetry professionally. But I am full beginner. Should I go for dynamic mic or condenser mic? My room is not sound proof. The sound of fan also comes from outside. If I use condenser mic inside the blanket, will it be a good recording or not? I am very confused I can't understand what to do. Audio Technica 2035 or Sure SM 58 or Shure Mv7x which mic is best for me ?
I’d probably start with a RODE NT1 5th gen and sound blankets.
Great review! I see that you're using a shotgun mic for this. What if it was a wireless lav instead? Would that mean you could cut down on the blankets?
Hey Andrew, I used a hyper-cardioid mic in this shoot (Audio Technica AT4053b) which has one of the most focused pickup patterns. Lavalier microphones generally have omni-directional pickup patterns. However, omni lavaliers have the benefit of being mounted on a person so the person's body will block sound from behind. In the end I find that super or hyper-cardioids do a little better at isolating the sound source and picking up less reverb (but that depends on the mic and the room, etc.) Good question!
Nice video, very useful!
Thanks Jose!
Hi Curtis, super helpful video thank you! Curious the sizes you picked for the 3 blankets, do you have one thats larger for use with the C stands or did you keep them all the same size. Thinking about picking up 3.
Hi Curtis, when I bought mine, they only had one size - the 96 x 80", I believe - so all of mine are that size. I fold them in half to hang them on c-stands and that works well.
Could you suggest a moving blanket that can serve as an alternative.
I don't have any specific moving blanket recommendations, I'm sorry. Heavier and natural fibers are better than lighter and synthetic fabrics/fibers.
@@curtisjudd Okay, thanks for the information👍👍
Hi Curtis, I know the video is quite old, but great job as always. I'm wondering if you have ever used the Matthews or Advantage brand sound blankets from Adorama or B&H, how they would compare, and if they are thrust worthy enough for pro or semi-pro work. Thanks
Hi Y. Zhao, I haven't used the other brands, unfortunately. I will say that I prefer the black/white colored blankets since they help or at least do not detract from lighting designs vs. the blue. So if you do try the others, I'd try the Advantage. Best wishes!
Thanks much for the prompt reply and the kind tip. Just what I had in mind. Best always! @@curtisjudd
Another very helpful video. :)
I am struggling with reverb when I am recording at my desk. I'm looking at a largish screen about 2' from me and the reverb has been pretty tough. There is a wall right behind it 1' so that doesn't help either. Since I can't hang a blanket in front of the screen I'm looking at options. In your video on improving the sound of basic film maker, you look like you are in a similar placement.
After spending several hours doing some creative spring arm mounting of my condenser mic so it doesn't obscure the screen (very small desk) it pains me to have the reverb. **grin**
My current thought is to fill in areas around the screen with acoustic foam. -- Side note: I'm curios why you haven't mentioned it along with the blankets? Probably cost and difficulty in installing I suspect. -- I also occurred to me that I might make a foam shield for the back side of the mic. I'll be trying this before you respond, but your thoughts and your desk set up would be much appreciated.
Your videos are so helpful and easy to watch. Even when I don't have time to sit down with them, like right now, I do anyway. Thanks for continuing to provide great content.
Thanks!
Foam can work but I find that in some cases when it is overdone, too much of the high frequency sound energy is lost so that recordings can start to sound a little dull and woolly. So if you go that route, be sure to experiment before you permanently adhere any of the foam. Having something behind you to dampen any sound reflecting off of walls or other surfaces behind can make a big, big difference since those are the sounds which come directly into the mic.
Also, positioning the mic, assuming you're using a cardioid mic, with the back to the screen helps a lot. It is hard to tell in the piece with the Basic Filmmaker, but the back of my mic is less than 45 degrees off from the computer screen. The camera angle makes is seem like its even more out of the way.
Best wishes!
Nice video again!
Thanks!
thanks, I learned something new!
+Paradigm Images Video-Photography thanks for the feedback!
you are welcome, I do enjoy your videos!
Yo Curtis! nice one, you got my subs mate! gonna be using a tip or two for the vids on my channel soon Cheers mate!
👍🏻 Good luck 4RAYS TECH!
@@curtisjudd awesome mate.
Hello, thanks for This, was Pretty Helpful, Wanted to ask, what's your thoughts if use 1 inch mattress to help me in sound Proofing on set?. I have a one location series am working on and I plan to use those to help me because the budget isn't enough
Soft things will generally help so if that’s all you have available, give it a try 👍
Omg! I just ordered 4 of these... they didn’t tell me they smelled...I’m very sensitive to that, asthma etc. I don’t want to wash them how the hell am I going to wash 10’ x 8’ blanket?
Not to worry. After I made this video, the company sent me a new blanket to prove that they’ve solved the smell problem.
Would you be able to make a video showing how to set up a recorder to the DJ set up to record off a microphone when people are giving out a toast and how to set up a wireless system with more than two transmitters and one receiver
Yes: ua-cam.com/video/Tzm3G46ozxQ/v-deo.html
Great content!
Thanks. Hope the blankets work well for you!
Sadly cant find any of those thing in here.
If i install a sounds foam on my wall will that help reducing echo and ambient or other noise from outside?
I am very very sorry if i am keep on asking but you are my only man curtis.
Foam can help absorb high frequency sound but will not reduce low frequency (bass) sound. It is an option for sure.
Foam is also super expensive per square inch, and to get the same absorption rate of 80%, you have to buy 3 to 4 inch foam. You would go broke doing a whole room versus using our Producers Choice blankets to cover your space. Check us out! www.vocalboothtogo.com
Oh, forgot to add: It would seem to me that hanging the blankets away from the wall - 6" - 1" would be better than up against the wall, which I often see in videos. Also, it seems that having the blankets drape with folds would improve the attenuation, providing you have enough blankets and/or room to do so. Thoughts? :)
I completely agree on both - best if you can keep it away from the wall and drape it with folds.
Which direction do you fold the blankets? I know as many boundaries as possible provides maximum absorption as sound waves loose energy as they pass through boundaries.
How well would fleece do for for this? My grand parents get me a new fleece blanket every couple of years so I have a few laying around now. Would they work well/at all or should I just leave them in the closet and get something more like what you were demonstrating?
The sound blankets here are way denser/heavier than fleece so they'll do more to absorb sound, but if you don't have the budget, definitely put those fleece blankets to the task! They're probably a lot better than nothing.
do all these type of blankets give the same results and these blankets will reduce some time in post, good video thanks
Thanks John, some are rated to reduce sound more than others. These are some of the better blankets available with an NRC of 0.8.
Hey Curtis, I have a related question. If sound dampening reduces the ambient DB in a room then wouldn’t that mean that in a full music venue running 120db would be getting the full dB in spite of the body’s in the room? So the problem I am having is the semi trained sound guys are using the dB meter to set levels believing that people are absorbing some of the sound. Setting the dB + 15-20 over. When I am working this venue I ware sound protection the whole time.
Hey Matt, Good idea to wear ear protection. I am astonished at the SPLs at so many venues, even for non-pop music. My understanding is that bodies do a better job of diffusing sound than absorbing it which will potentially prevent standing waves which tend to accumulate. 120dB SPL is WAY TOO LOUD even if that is just right in front of the loudspeakers. It'll be lower out in the audience seating areas, but still, ouch. That's a great way to damage everyone's hearing. Even 100dB is too loud. Keep wearing that ear protection!
Curtis Judd thanks for the info
Interesting, by the way are you using leds for this episode? because looks sort of cyan.
Thank you for the info
Yes, using the tungsten colored Aputure COB 120t for the key light and daylight balanced Light Storm LS1s for the backdrop and rim lights. Camera is white balanced between the two. It was meant to be an experiment. :)
I finally bit the bullet and ordered some sound blankets from that website. there was an error and the shipping came out to $298, lol.
Uh, oops! They're great blankets, but shouldn't cost that much for shipping unless you live in Antarctica. :)
+Curtis Judd turns out I had selected flat rate which is only worth it if you are being shipped a sound booth, lol.
Whew!
My previous apartment was noisy: commercial laundry facility with air compressor, diesel trucks with klaxon coming and going starting at 5am until 8pm, construction trucks for road and building maintenance/repair. Moved in to a house built in 1950. Already at a noise floor at -57db. Majority of the noise is 250hz on down. Military aircraft, diesel trucks, some personal vehicles, and people. Trying to no let my OCD take over and add 8in of rockwool to the walls and ceiling. At what point do I call it good enough and let software remove the difference especially for ACX?
Only you can answer that for yourself. But if we’re submitting to ACX, I’d look into making a DIY vocal booth.
@@curtisjudd have found adding sound proofing, sound conditioning, and AC power conditioning, the decision is both easier and harder. My cheap $36 microphone is sounding so much better in treated room. Will a $400 microphone be that much better?
@@aussernllc It depends. Possibly, but not necessarily. Microphones and voices should ideally fit like shoes - complement each other.
@@curtisjudd thank you. Had not considered a microphone that compliments my voice. Just sound proofing, sound treatment, and electrical conditioning. Thank you for your help. Sorry to ask questions you've answered several times before.
It’s actually good to wash them. It makes them fluffier.
And they smell better, too. Win-win!
oh god, that smelly blanket reenactment was hilarious!
Sadly, it was not hard to recall that smell so the acting came quite naturally. :)
VocalBoothToGo sells their "FlexTee" stand now. You can find other straight bar tee stands / t stands elsewhere also. The "FlexTee" stand is sort of cool in that they are jointed on either side so you can get two or three stands and form something like a circle or a box because you're not limited to just one straight bar all the way across. I believe their FlexTee stand is specifically designed to work with their Producers Choice acoustic blankets, though I don't see them state that exactly. Their verbiage includes, "FlexTee Stand not only gives you flexibility to use acoustic blankets Producer’s Choice anywhere, but you can use the same stand to mount the portable vocal booth - VOMO."; I'm not sure how well the S-hooks they provide with the FlexTee stand will work for everyone with Producers Choice blankets. If I recall correctly, when I bought the blankets a few years back it was stated the grommets may not be all evenly spaced or not the same from one blanket to the next. I don't see anything like that mentioned on their site now when I went to double check that so that may be incorrect or quality control may have improved since I made my purchase. However even if the grommets weren't at the right locations for the s-hooks on their FlexTee stand, or if you bought blankets without grommets, using the clamps shown in this video would still work. I bought a 6 pack of the Producers Choice blankets a few years back during some sort of sale. I think I paid around $240.00 for all 6 delivered to my door, and the shipping to the Los Angeles area of California alone was around $40 if I recall correctly, so the cost for the blankets specifically wasn't astronomical. It appears the same blankets I ordered back then are currently about $63.00 each.
Neat, thanks for the tip.
I shoot in talking head vids in my 10 x 10 office that I rent. Since it’s not a permanent space, I don’t want to put permanent sound proofing fixtures in it that can’t be easily removed if and when I move offices or to a permanent future home studio.
Space is a little limited which I why I bought the Lupo dual color soft 60 light instead of the Appeture 300x w/ softbox.
What soundproofing things to you recommend I buy? Assume budget isn’t an issue. I am in this for the long term.
Thanks!
Hi JZ helps, Sound blankets and C-stands are the least permanent, very effective sound treatment. You could also hang them from the ceiling with hooks if that is an option.
Note that sound proofing is for keeping outside sound from getting in. I'm only talking about preventing reflections within a space when we cover sound blankets here. These will not block all outside sound.
Curtis Judd thanks.
My Lupo light just arrived. What a solid piece of equipment!
@@RealJustinZiegler Excellent! It is a super useful light! And substantial!
Curtis Judd
When I opened the box and saw it, I thought “Wow. This is impressive”
Hi ! I'm interested about these blankets but I'm afraid of the smell. Does it smell like something chemical or is it more like a "new product"smell ? Thank you in advance for your reply
They fixed the issue. No longer a concern. I received a new blanket and it didn’t smell.
@@curtisjudd Thank you very much for your reply
Hi Curtis! Did you buy a set of 6 blankets or just a number of them? I am an indie/low budget producer. Thanks again!
Hi Willie! I bought 6 but find that I generally use 2 or 3 at a time.
Also, as an update, VocalBoothToGo contacted me in the last couple of days and apologized that they didn't see my email, noted that they have fixed the manufacturing issue they had with the smell. So that's hopefully good news!
Wonderful! Thanks for your answer. Good deal. I wasnt looking forward to washing all those blankets hahaha and yes I thought that would be a good idea to just start w 3. BTW, your lighting course, how does it work?
The lighting course is still very much in the planning stages. Currently I'm finishing up work on my audio post processing course which should be launched in the next few weeks. The courses are over at school.learnlightandsound.com Best wishes and I hope the sound blankets work out well for you!
can you do a comparison video?
Comparison of moving blankets to sound blankets?
and between them
What about acoustic panel Vs sound blankets?
For recording, I've found sound blankets to work great. You'd have to spend a LOT more money and use a lot of thick panels to get the same results. Not that I'm against panels, I've got my office treated with panels, but it cost over $2000 and with panels the idea is usually not to totally deaden the room, but to neutralize it for MIXING.
@@curtisjudd thanks for the tips as was thinking to put acoustic panel for a small office goin converted into a video recording studio.
I will give sound blanket a try.
This is one of the most helpful videos I've watched as are most if not all the videos I've seen on your channel. I've been struggling with acoustic treatment for quite a while with several experimentational methods and strategies. Couple questions here...
1. Are sound blankets better than say roxul wool sound panels and bass traps?
2. If I'm hanging blankets to treat walls, does the distance between the blanket and wall make any difference?
3. I found these sound blankets and like the color options: www.amazon.com/dp/B07M8YP677/ref=twister_B07LC29HWP?_encoding=UTF8&th=1. Are these better or worse value than the ones you recommended?
Thank you so much!
Thanks Haurjie. 1) They're more portable and Flexible for on-set use. But proper bass traps of higher density material like Roxul will trap lower frequencies which the blankets will not trap. 2) Yes, best to leave a few inches. 3) Not sure exactly how they compare, but they look good based on that NRC of .85. Best wishes!
This is sort of off-topic. Is there an inexpensive "breakout box" for boom operators to use to monitor their sound for use with a zoom H5/H6 set up? Ideally so that they sound recordist can monitor all sounds going into the H5/H6 and the boom operator can only monitor their boom mic. I found this: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/292989-REG/Sound_Devices_MM_1_MM_1_Single_Channel_Portable.html but I don't think that would work with a H5/H6 set up. Or I have seen duplex cables like www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=duplex+boom+cable&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search= but I don't think that would work with H5/H6's either. Just found your channel, great videos. I just subscribed. Thanks.
I think you could use either method but I prefer the inline sound devices preamp if you have the money. This probably has a better preamp than the Zoom and allows for a line level signal to run to the Zoom recorder. If you mix and boom at the same time try just putting boom on one channel and the lavs on the other for headset monitoring. Throw in some wireless tx/rx's on each channel and you can send each channel to a camera for synch and backup. This makes for a compact setup with minimal cables on set.
Would you put the sound devices preamp between the boom mic and the zoom h6 recorder? Does this degrade the audio signal going into the h6? I don't know that much about audio but I thought you want the least amount of things between the mic and the recording device. In pro setups, do they use a return signal coming out of the mixer and send it back to the boom operator? Sorry for these newbie questions. Thanks.
Yes, to accomplish what you are trying to do I would put the Sound Devices preamp with the boom operator then feed its line output to the Zoom recorder as a line level input. In theory each item you place in a signal path introduces noise, but Sound Devices preamps are usually quieter than Zoom's so you would have to experiment with how these two components would work together. So far as a pro setup, from my limited experience, splitting the tasks of booming and mixing is not normal for small sets. Usually one guy does both so what you are asking is not done, it is more common to have the boomer also run the audio recorder. Thus the technique of putting boom on one channel and lavs on the other channel for monitoring as you boom. If I were you, I would begin with this type of setup. It simplifies the signal path but the boomer does have to monitor his audio levels on the recorder. If you haven't already purchased the Zoom H6 I would spend a little more and get the Zoom F8. Its really a better audio recorder for cinema work (top panel controls, quieter preamps, brighter screen). Of course if you have the money, spring for a Sound Devices 688. That's what the pros use.
By the way check the reviews on B&H. There is a 2 star review of the Sound Devices Preamp you referenced that had problems with noise introduced recording while using a Zoom H5.
All good points from Gregg. I agree, I would go with the Sound Devices MM1. This has a very high quality preamp. For the person who reviewed the MM1 indicating they had trouble getting it to work well with an H5, I'm a little skeptical that it would be an issue with the MM1, but likely that the H5 operates like the Zoom F8: Line inputs are on the TRS inputs rather than XLR. You would want to confirm that with Zoom before buying. Its an odd choice that Zoom implemented on their F8 and I wouldn't be surprised if they also did this on the H5.
If they confirm, this means that you would need to feed a 1/4" TRS input into the H5 and it should work great. I hope that makes sense and best wishes!
Where to get them
Link in the description below the video.
The blankets smelled and made your skin itch? Most likely (as most cheaper fabrics from China) they were sprayed with formaldehyde to prevent wrinkling and mildew in shipping.
Yes, or something like it. Yuck.
I agree, stay away from these. I'm still looking for a replacement.
Why did you get the ones with GROMMETS?
So that I could use their ceiling hooks to hang the blankets.
Ah ok. Thanks for the swift response
Is the smell due to the flame retardant that they are coated with?
No, turns out it was a bad batch several years ago from one of their suppliers. They sent a new blanket more recently and it didn't have the odor.
I was just getting set to pick some of these up until... I read about the smell. I did some deep dives into forums and the manufactures claim they hunted down the source of the smell which was a synthetic mix of fibers and since then they have switched manufactures and now only have a cotton blend inside. They also claim there are no chemicals used. This was posted just a week ago www.gearslutz.com/board/studio-building-acoustics/482003-who-makes-best-blankets-sound-absorbtion-2.html.
But seeing that you posted this just a few months ago doesn't exactly instill confidence. I want to get two big blankets for my studio to cover both doors/windows which also means I will be living with them for the majority of every working day. I also have a child so I'm very weary about ordering these especially since it feels like a gamble due to what would be a very hefty return shipping price.
Any more insight into the smell? They claim the problem is solved but you seem to have run into just recently. It's possible you got a batch of the older model but they claim those would be sold as moving blankets and the new batch would be their sound blanket option.
Yes, the CEO of VocalBoothToGo contacted me after seeing this video and explained that they resolved the supplier issue. He sent me a new blanket and it was fine - no major smell. I think you're safe at this point. I put an annotation in the video with the update but UA-cam annotations only seem to show in some cases. :( Need a solution for that.
For reference, I bought my initial set of blankets in June 2015.
Thanks, Curtis. I saw the annotation but was concerned based on the date of video. Good to know the blankets were purchased much earlier. Everything I've seen seems to indicate that the blankets are now fine and that the CEO has done a great job at following up on the issue and resolving it. At this point it's just trust;) Do they have an affiliate option for you? If so, pass the link otherwise thanks again.
No affiliate link, just a good solid product that I use. Happy reverb-free recording!
It's going to take some significant work to knockdown my heavy reverb while still maintaining a visually appealing space but it will get there...slowly lol. What I want to do is put the blankets on a roller that attaches to the wall above each door. I'm thinking I might have to go with a roller that is made for pool covers in order to hold the bulkiness and weight of the blankets. Not so such that seamless, paper roll holders would do the trick. If any other ideas strike you, let me know. It's hard one to Google for ideas lol.
The pool cover roller sounds like a good line of reasoning. Or a custom job! :-D I envision big wood brackets, a wood pole to roll up the blankets, and a big wooden crank handle.
0:54 - 1:05 quite a difference
Yes, eye opening what some blankets can do...
I'm wondering if anyone has measured the sound dampening ability of those blankets after they've been washed 3+ times. :)
I use the same blankets and wonder if washing them would effect the dampening. I hung my blankets up for a few days and the smell got much better.
I haven't. In theory it should not affect their ability to absorb sound since they're quilted so the batting stays in place.
Just the thing you want ... if you're having trouble finding new ways to spend your money. :D
Ah yes, but this will potentially save you lots of time and frustration in post. :)
They are stinky new. Washing also fluffs them up.
👍
Hi Curtis, can you tell me if this sound is ok ? ua-cam.com/video/S_y7rzuMu7g/v-deo.html - I use an Aputure A.Lav lapel mic directly on my Samsung S4 android smartphone. The problem is that with some devices it seems ok - on UA-cam and with my Pioneer SE-MS5T-T headphones, but on other times there seems to be hissing noise when I talk.. only when I talk, I don´t understand. I am doing these videos for Udemy, they say on test videos I send to them that the sound is very good, but I doubt that because each guy at Udemy says something very different from the other..
Hi Franciso, on my computer speakers this sounded quite good. When I get to my studio, I'll have to listen on my better monitors and headphones. The issue is most likely the phone and perhaps any processing of the audio in post. There is, of course, subjectivity here as well. Everyone hears differently and has different standards for listening. If you're creating online courses, I'd recommend starting with what you have and when funds become available, investing in a proper recorder and higher quality microphone. Best wishes!
I have also a Blue Spark Digital, and I used to record audio separatelly on Audacity, but it´s a lot of work and taking off background noise makes sound like under water... I do prefer this solution, video + audio directly on my smartphone and the I connect to wifi and transfer the file - way easier to do it. I have a compliment for you: there are some guys like Sinatra that have an awsome diction - you have it too. It is incredibly easy to understand what you are saying. and some youtubers love to show off their personality, it´s awful - you are not that way :-) Thanks for all the great info. And thanks for enjoying my audio - your opinion it is more important than Udemy guys, trust me...
Honestly I think the problem is just the relativelly poor audio quality of my Samsung S4 speakers.. when I hear the same sound on headphones - cheap or expensive, the sound is very good. I have bought a ferrite device to end statics on the mic wire, I tested it and it seems to have improved a bit the audio quality. Thanks for all advices !
That's great news, good work and happy recording! Keep inspiring the world with your art. We need it!
Thanks ! I also teach art on Skype. I have a huge passion for good painting.
I could not tell the difference in sound with the before and after.
The difference is big when you listen on high quality headphones. (not earbuds, phone speakers or computer speakers)
A little too much reverb in this video, I wish you'd used the blankets while shooting the video.
Seriously? I used sound blankets except for in the sample without them.