Tag Archives: Rode Procaster

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First test with the new Zoom H6 portable audio recorder out of the box plugged into my Rode Procaster microphone Rode Procaster Vocal Microphone. (No EQ applied, so it might sound low or flat.) I was not able to use this mic directly with the Zoom H4n without adding at least a Cloud Lifter Cloud LIfter in between.

The Rode Procaster will sound better when used with the the Tascam DR-60D, but now it appears this Zoom H6 has become my favorite portable audio recorder. I'm sure people will complain about not being to lock the input gain dials on the H6, but compared to the H4n, I prefer the dials over the digital input adjustments on the H4n.

BTW, if you're in the Bay Area and looking for a Tascam DR-60D, i've got a barely used one for sale..


Samson Zoom H6 Portable Audio Modular Mic Shotgun Stereo XY TRS XLR
find-price-button Zoom H6 Modular Mic Digital Audio Recorder

Rode Procaster Microphone
find-price-button Rode Procaster Vocal Broadcast Dynamic Microphone


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I was shooting this for my own journal and didn't think I would actually publish the video, as i'm pretty private about certain things I work on. Then again, I was pretty happy with the results and wanted to share what my treatment was.

Keep in mind that this is not for Sound Isolation. This is not a Sound Booth that will block out all ambient noise. This setup is merely just 'treatment' of a small space to make the vocals sound better (get rid of echo and deflection).

DIY-Voice-Recording-Sound-Booth-Vocal-Room (4 of 5)DIY-Voice-Recording-Sound-Booth-Vocal-Room (1 of 5)

Sorry fellas, I have to warn you that the video (below) even gave me a bit of motion sickness. If you're not interested in building out a room for voice recording, maybe you should just skip this one. At about 3:50 into the video, you'll hear a before and after comparison (turn up your volume).

There are low budget options to sound absorption, but I wasn't very happy with those results (I tried). When it comes to covering the most amount of square footage on the walls, the AudiMute stuff was my best bet.

DIY-Voice-Recording-Sound-Booth-Vocal-Room (5 of 5)DIY-Voice-Recording-Sound-Booth-Vocal-Room (2 of 5)

I tried the heavy moving blankets to absorb sound, but going with the more expensive AudiMute Sound Absorption Sheets was worth the difference (and look much better). You can get a pack of (5) 4x8 sheets for $230 dollars.

Audimute Sound Absorption
find-price-button AudiMute Sound Absorption Sheets

I also tried a variety of cheap foam, but in the end, a box of Auralex foam wedgies solved all the deflection issues. I used about 12 on the ceiling and another 12 to make a Reflexion filter behind the Rode ProCaster microphone. A box of 24 Auralex Wedges will run you $99 bucks. You don't need to cover every square inch with this stuff, just a few will treat a room very well.

auralex-wedgies
find-price-button Auralex Wedgies Box of 24- 1'x1'x2 Panels

For the floor we just added some thick padding. So for about $330 dollars, I feel we got some really good results in a fairly professional looking voice recording room. Hard to tell from the audio of the point and shoot camera I was shooting on, but through a high quality vocal microphone it's a world of difference.

If you're looking to buy Foam by the piece (not the box), you can find a variety of types on eBay starting around $5.00 dollars (Click Here).

smaller-foamfoam-pyramid-4foam-acoustic
find-price-button Foam Wedges Pyramids Acoustic Sound Panels