I sound like I'm in a tunnel, can I fix this with a filter?

[NerdDoc]

So I went out and bought the wrong mic for recording voice overs... which I realize only now that it's too late to bring back. I've got a Snowball with a homemade pop filter in front of it, but I still sound like I'm in a tunnel ... or a really small, cramped office (go figure!). I've been playing around with compression, but I don't know anything about audio so I'm not sure how to even describe my problem, let alone figure out how to fix it. Hoping someone can identify this "tunnel" sound for me and school me in the appropriate processing to use, assuming there is one.

Here's a short clip of my voice over

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/40199349/clip.mp3

Thanks for the help!

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

I don't think it's the mic causing this at all - well, not directly anyway. Usually 'tunnel' effects are linked with monitoring conditions, and I don't suppose that this is any different, even though it doesn't sound quite as bad as I'd expect. First thing is that there's no way you can filter this out; you have to fix the actual problem. So, the first thing we'll need is a detailed description of exactly how you are making the recordings - how you are monitoring, particularly. The snowball mic, whilst nothing at all to write home about, can certainly make better recordings than that!

[Bob_Howes · Accepted solution]

First, no filters are going to fix this.

Second, I suspect it's just that you're a bit distant from the mic in an untreated room.  Work as close to the mic as you can (without getting a boomy proximity effect) and hang some heavy soft furnishings behind you (and maybe slightly to the side but not all the way around) when you're recording.

It's not a substitute for proper acoustic treatment but I think you'll find it helps.

(Boring anecdotal aside...when working on news stories in hotel rooms and the like, it's not unusual for even big name reporters to record their voice overs with a duvet draped over their heads.)

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Bob Howes wrote:

Second, I suspect it's just that you're a bit distant from the mic in an untreated room.

Possibly. It could just be the compression artefacts I'm hearing...

[NerdDoc]

Thank you both for the input - it helped me find the problem! I had tried to be fancy and my Snowball was mounted to a shelf that was above my head and about 2 feet away from me. I'd gone the cheap route and just threw a t-shirt in front of the mic. Moving it closer to me has completely fixed my problem. Hoping the T-shirt over the mic is okay to do as well, as long as I don't touch it?

[ryclark]

What's the T-shirt for? It may very well muffle the high frequencies trying to get through to it.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

ryclark wrote:

What's the T-shirt for? It may very well muffle the high frequencies trying to get through to it.

If I had one of those Snowball mics, I'd want to put a T-shirt over it too...

Seriously, a proper pop filter would be a better idea.

[ryclark]

Even an old pair of tights stretched over a bent wire coat hanger would be better if a pop shield is needed.

[anitam1405587]

Thanks for the duvet tip, I had been trying everything I could think of. When I covered myself with a quilt...problem solved!

[ryclark]

Could you still read your script in the dark under the duvet?

[anitam1405587]

Yes I can because I put it on an ereader. It's kind of like my own little bat cave. Just a short term solution for now.

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