Headphone Music Bleeding into Mic

DK-1 · Jul 24, 2005, 02:37 PM

This question is for the musicians (or anyone who can answer i guess). When I record vocals the music from the headphones is being picked up by the mic. Even when I have the vocalist step back from the mic the music from the headphones is still recorded on the vocal track. I'm using a pretty good set of headphones (Bose Multiport headphones) that are supposed to block out sound, and stop sound from leaving the cups. Any ideas how I can at least minimize this other than a noise gate. I want to stop the sound before it reaches the vocal track, not apply a noise gate afterwards. Thanks for your help.

TravelRec. · Jul 25, 2005, 04:15 AM

The only way to get the headphone-sound effectively away from the track is to be sure that it cannot reach the mic, so if you say you have a good headphone set, this should eliminate this issue by itself. Be sure, the headphone it is a so-called closed system. Be sure it fits correctly on the vocalist´s head and the sound is not too loud. Push down the hights of the signal a bit, you feed into the headphones, to minimize crosstalk between it and the mic. All other electronics or plugs you insert in the signal path will distroy the sound, so better leave them away. I work with middleclass sennheiser headphones (closed system) and get relative good results; of course, there is some crosstalk at -70 db, but this is cancelled out in the mix later.

DK-1 · Jul 25, 2005, 07:41 AM

Thanks TravelRec,

Great Advice! I'll try your suggestion the next time I record. I agree that any plugins, processors etc inserted will destroy the sound. That is exactly what I want to avoid. By the way, I took your advice and bought a preamp to boost my mic signal works great, and very inexpensive.

kokoon · Jul 25, 2005, 12:12 PM

i just got sennheiser hd280pro headphones and there's NO sound bleed from them

also they sound totally awesome.

TravelRec. · Jul 26, 2005, 12:27 AM

Hmm, you can attach some liquid rubber on the headphone, before you put it on your head, to have a maximum hermetic effect

(no, just a joke!)...

DK-1 · Jul 26, 2005, 08:34 AM

Had to adjust the sound. Made a big difference when I adjusted the highs and lowered the volume. Fortunately (TravelRec) I didn't have to take your last suggestion. The liquid rubber would have been hard to get out of my hair(smile).