When close miking someone whispering, an omni polar pattern can be a good option.
I have to record some whispering. The room is not great so I will put the whisperer close to the mic. The mic will be a Rode NT2A or the new Earthworks SR117, both using a pop screen. I also have a Royer ribbon mic, but would it be dangerous to work so close to a ribbon? I’m very paranoid about blasts of air (I’m even paranoid about sliding it in and out of the cloth protection sleeve it came with!). The mic will go through the UA 6176 pre/compressor then into the box. I’m thinking in the box I might need a limiter and maybe another compressor. Any suggestions on attack times or other configurations would be appreciated.
The whisperer has acting experience but I wouldn’t think they would know how to work the mic.
SOS Forum post
SOS Tecnical Editor Hugh Robjohns replies:I’d suggest putting your compression questions on the back burner for now, and focusing on the mic technique. There’s an inherent expectation that a whisperer must be close to the listener’s ear, so the close‑miking approach you suggest is appropriate. However, talking directly into the mic on‑axis tends to over‑emphasise the talking mechanics — things like lip smacks, tongue noises and so forth. So I’d suggest talking across the mic instead of into it. In other words, place the mic near the cheek, pointing across the front of the mouth a couple of inches away. A pop shield probably won’t be needed in that position, but it’s better to use one if possible; the size of the pop shield is likely to be the limiting factor here.
Ribbons don’t like strong blasts directly into the ribbon, but talking across it, or at an angle to it, is fine.
Working that close, you can probably get away with an omni pattern (you could switch your NT2A to that setting) because room sound will be strongly subdued. That would prevent there being big proximity effect bass level variations if the talker moves in and out. Ribbons don’t like strong blasts directly into the ribbon, but talking across it, or at an angle to it, is fine. Though do note that there will be a mighty bass lift if you’re close‑working a normal ribbon. You can compensate for a static bass boost with EQ but, again, if the talker moves in relation to the mic it will vary, and that could cause you a headache!