Basic sound blanket questions

[kat.hayes]

1.) When should sound blankets be used? I am new to sound recording and will be doing simple shoots consisting of a camera focused on me while I speak through a Countryman earset connected directly to the camera. The room has carpet on the floor and stucco ceilings. There does not seem to be lots of echo in the room. What do you base the decision to use them on?


2.) I can't imagine it making a difference, though does it matter if the sound blankets you are using are dirty? Can this affect sound quality? I guess what I am concerned with is whether or not I need to keep them clean in bags when not in use.

Thanks.

 

[Alex H.]

1.) When should sound blankets be used? I am new to sound recording and will be doing simple shoots consisting of a camera focused on me while I speak through a Countryman earset connected directly to the camera. The room has carpet on the floor and stucco ceilings. There does not seem to be lots of echo in the room. What do you base the decision to use them on?

Blankets should be used whenever you're ina reflective room, you aren't happy with the bright acoustics, and the camera/lighting setup will allow for it. And check and see how the mic sounds (record a little and listen back) so that you know if it's going to tape with all the reflections.

2.) I can't imagine it making a difference, though does it matter if the sound blankets you are using are dirty? Can this affect sound quality? I guess what I am concerned with is whether or not I need to keep them clean in bags when not in use.

Only thing that'll happen is that your audio may not smell fresh like a spring rain. But keeping them clean does have a true advantage... if you let them get dirty, unpacking and rigging them can send out accumulated dirt as dust that can get into gear, or make the homeonwer at a location very unhappy with all the dust flying around his/her nice things.