Vocal Max SPL

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:26 pm

A couple of people here recently have expressed concerns about loud vocalists and condenser mics.

Many condensers seem to have a maximum SPL that is above the threshold of pain, but then again I have occasionaly had someone reach the threshold of pain by shouting into my ear though this is usually an attempt to be heard above music so it may be the combined volume of the music+shouter that is painful.

So, does anyone have any ballpark figure as what SPL we could expect from a very loud vocalist close to the mic?

Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:42 pm

Do you have a sound level meter? No? Go to Radio Shack and pop $40 for one. Every sound person should have at least that.
Anyway, once you secure that, set it at the highest SPL range, "A" weighted response, and switch on the "hold" or "slow" option. Got it? Good...now have the vocalist in question take the silver spoon out of his mouth and scream into it full blast. That should give you a good idea of what is coming out of his piehole...it can also be used to protect your future hearing and assist the police in prosecuting your neighbor with the 10kilowatt stereo...

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 8:44 pm

heh heh... nice calls moonbaby.

i've also maxxed out a couple vocal mics. you gotta either get 'em to back off 6 inches- 1 foot or go out and spring a couple grand for another mic.

i usually go with option A.

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