Question to Rode Procaster

H

hellboy80

Well-known member
I have two questions to this mic:
http://uk.rodemic.com/microphone.php?product=procaster

1) It has internal pop filter - that means I don't need any pop-filter at all?

2) I'm recording voice-overs (in my flat) with Rode NTG2. I know this mic isn't probably the best choice for recording voiceovers, so I'm thinking about buying Rode Procaster. The question is - will I hear any apparent difference?

I have no sound booth, but I could buy this Porta-Booth:
http://www.amazon.com/Porta-booth-Portable-Sound-Studio-Compression/dp/B0015TFO24
 
1) You're still safer using an external pop filter of some sort, but with proper technique it's not essential.

2) Being a dynamic, the procaster should pick up a lot less random noise from the room than the NTG2 will, definitely a good thing in an untreated space. Overall it's a warmer sounding mic. You could also look at Heil's PR-40 or PR-30 for similar mics.
 
First of all, an extra pop filter is always an advantage. But you will discover that very soon.

Then, the quality of a mice is equal to it's costs... So a neumann of 2000 euro will be better then a rode of 200 euro... but that doesn't mean that Rode isn't good. For lowbudgets, starting rode is quite ok. But now that there are always better.
 
I've got the RODE Podcaster for narration, it's a USB mic and feeds straight into the NLE which is where it's going anyway. Also has a handy onboard headphone outlet. The Procaster has an XLR out.

http://www.rodemic.com/microphone.php?product=Podcaster

Has its own website.

http://www.rodepodcaster.com/?page=Help

Always keep a pop filter on all studio v/o mics to stop any spittle which could eat into its grill. I've seen the results it's like acid erk.

Also now got that Porta-booth which is great. I looked at making one up but it's just as cheap to buy that Harlan Hogan model. Also helps to damp the room down by closing curtains etc. HTH Cheers.
 
So I bought Rode Procaster and i have a question. User guide says: "for optimum results you should address the microphone at a distance of no more than 5cm (2")".
That means the narrator has to be maximum 5cm (2") from the mic?
 
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Yep, that's what RØDE recommend. If you listen on headphones as you record your voice, don't run them too loud, you'll have a tendency to speak too quiet.

The reverse applies, headphone volume too low, you'll tend to shout.

This can take a lot of experimenting to get the sound you're after. When you get a track you like the sound of, after you've heard it on a few different systems ... save some on your desktop for quick reference next time ... and use it :)

Cheers.
 
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Thanks. Ok, I'll keep the distance short.

BTW, user guide also says:
"An absorbent crystal pack is supplied with the Procaster™.
This should stay in the zip pouch at the head of the
microphone when not in use to prevent any build up of
moisture."
- I can't find any absorbent crystal pack. Do I really need it?


"When the crystals turn pink, they can be dryed out in an oven
at 100 - 150 degrees celsius for approximately ten minutes.
Once they turn blue they can be reused."
- How do I know that crystals turn pink? Do I need to open the mic somehow?
 
That's called Silicagel and I keep a fresh sachet in all my mic boxes. You can buy it at Home Depot by the packet.

When it's fresh it looks a light blue colour through the sachet, after it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere over time, it turns a pinkish colour.

Time to dry it out; be careful in the oven it doesn't catch fire.

Never open up any mic, you'll void its warranty. Cheers.
 
One more thing - I tried to record some narration with Rode Procaster and there is a rather strong noise. I was recording voicevoers with Rode NTG2 before and there was no noise. I was recording in the same room with the same XLR cable and the same XLR-3.5mm transformer as before. (This transformer - The Shure A96F: http://store.shure.com/store/shure/en_US/pd/productID.104215400).
Where could be the problem?
 
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I'm recording into camera (Canon HV20). I do this because I'm regularly recording in the flat of my narrator (and I dont know if soundcard in notebook of hers is good for recording sound, so I'm using a camera.)
Ok, I'll try to upload some sample.
 
I think we're going to hear earth hum. Make sure the 3.5 plug is fully pushed in and if you're using the HV20 on AC mains try its battery .. or vice versa.

And try her notebook, some of the newer ones have reasonable soundcards. As I said you need to experiment .. lot.
 
Raster said:
I think we're going to hear earth hum. Make sure the 3.5 plug is fully pushed in and if you're using the HV20 on AC mains try its battery .. or vice versa.
Click to expand...
The 3.5 plug was fully pushed in and I was recording with HV20s battery first and then (when the battery was too low) with its AC adapter. I think there was no difference.
 
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Check the NTG2 link, can't access it from here at present.
On the first sample the volume is low might account for some noise, try turning the HV20 record volume up.

Is that traffic or music playing somewhere?

The room is too live, damp it down with as many blankets as you can get .. over chairs, close curtains etc. She could work closer to the mic. and at a slight angle to reduce some sibilance. Make sure there's a pop filter on it.

You haven't modded the A96F for 150ohms have you? See user manual. What's your NLE?
 
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Raster said:
On the first sample the volume is low might account for some noise, try turning the HV20 record volume up.
Click to expand...

The volume on HV20 was something bellow the -12db (which is recommended sound level in the HV20 user guide). But the mic was not too close to the narrator, thats right (it was problably 15cm (6") from the narrator. Maybe this would be the problem.

Raster said:
Is that traffic or music playing somewhere?
Click to expand...
No, there was no ambient sound outside the room.

Raster said:
The room is too live, damp it down with as many blankets as you can get .. over chairs, close curtains etc. She could work closer to the mic. and at a slight angle to reduce some sibilance. Make sure there's a pop filter on it.
Click to expand...
I just ordered porta-booth from Amazon. Ok, I'll by pop-filter too. Maybe it will help.

Raster said:
You haven't modded the A96F for 150ohms have you? See user manual. What's your NLE?
Click to expand...
No, I didnt mod anything (I don't understand electricity stuff :)) Do you think it could help?
My NLE is Sony Vegas 8c.
 
That new link worked. There's something in the background on both clips, could be traffic. Close all the doors in the place, but don't worry too much about it it's low level.

IMO the Porta-Booth will help, but you'll need to experiment with it too.
Definitely need a pop filter so she can work closer without popping the mic.
No don't modify the A96F. Vegas is good. Cheers.
 
Raster said:
That new link worked. There's something in the background on both clips, could be traffic.
Click to expand...
That could be the sound of the camera. I'm keeping it 1-2 meters away from the mi. But I'm more concern about the Procaster noise...
 
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hellboy80 said:
That could be the sound of the camera. I'm keeping it 1-2 meters away from the mi. But I'm more concern about the Procaster noise...
Click to expand...

I hear vehicle traffic motors and a constant low-level AC hum intruding. A bit of sybilance in the voice that needs to be tamed and a sort-term "ringing" from the room reflections. Then there's hiss that probably comes from the camera's preamps. Can't hear anything I can directly attribute to noise from the mic. What's probably happening is the camera recording gain has to be higher with the low-output dynamic Procaster than it does with the hotter NTG-2 so the inherent noise in the preamp is more apparent. Using a mixer with quality preamps between the mic and the camera/recorder would go a long way in eliminating the problem.
 
Steve House said:
Using a mixer with quality preamps between the mic and the camera/recorder would go a long way in eliminating the problem.
Click to expand...

I see. Could you please recommend me some (not so expensive) mixer?

Is there a way to remove AC hum? As I said earlier, I try to record without AC adapter too, and I didn't hear any difference (but maybe I don't how AC hum sounds).

BTW, my narrator speaks some words very loud and some words very quiet. I told her about it, but I think she can do nothing about it, even if she tries :) Is there some way how solve such problem? This is why I keep the recording volume bellow the -12db, I don't want the loud words to be above -12db. (My camera user guide says: "adjus the recording level so that the audio level meter will go to the right of the -12db mark only occasionally).
 
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