Hello Everyone,

I am recently recording my acoustic instruments in my treated home project studio, and have been experimenting with 20cm AB omni and fig-8s. I like the results, but think I would like to limit the rear and some side wall refections.

I have been reading in several places (including the recently posted: dokumen.pub_the-art-and-science-of-surround-and-stereo-recording-including-3d-audio-techniques-3709148898-9783709148891.pdf) where this might be quite helpful in my situation. Especially with the fig-8s...

So, does anyone have a good recommendation for an absorptive baffle I could use just behind the mics? Maybe something that could be rigged to a mic stand for maximum flexibility and portability?

Does something like this make sense? Looks like what I am after, but not sure if it is any good?:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...ol-environment

Thank you for any suggestions and info. I appreciate it.

I owned one of the baffles like you listed. I found it to be fiddly to place exactly, and it required a heavy base mic stand to allow it to be set up. The baffle size and mic mounting attachment requires the baffle to be right on the back of the mic and too close to my face. I came to hate that baffle. It has lived in storage for a long time.
I now use a GK Acoustic 4’x4’x4” serious wood frame baffle behind fig-8 ribbons if I want to kill the back node. So far I’ve been able to use chairs, barstools or a pair of the backs of chairs or barstools to get the baffle centered behind the mic at the proper height for the singer or instrument. It would be fairly easy to put a mic stand mount on it if I got around to it. The size of the baffle allows placing the mic farther from the baffle than does the smaller baffle, so I feel less like I’m singing into a little curved box.

https://auralex.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq...MGGDqY3zm9787P

A 30 cm diameter Jecklin Disc, rotated 90 degrees, immediately behind a 20cm AB pair of fig.8’s (ie original Faulkner Phased Array) would screen out much of the rear pickup, but you’ll want to ensure it has a surface of lambswool or similar absorbent material to avoid it reflecting sound from the front source.

The sE Reflexion curved panel will likely work even better, to reduce side wall reflections (although that’s also the fig.8’s null zone, so the mic is pretty insensitive to incoming sound from that direction anyway).

A larger flatter panel as suggested above could be used a bit further back from the mic for a similar result

Rather than balancing things on chairs or stands, why not just use a floor-standing acoustic panel (aka gobo)? Easy to DIY or firms like GIK sell flat panels with feet for this use or folding pairs of panels that don't need the feet.
Cheers,
Roland

Lots of 'MacGyver' solutions, but a duvet or a packing (moving) blanket draped over the horizontal boom of a mic stand, even a pillow, strategically-placed upholstery, etc. all can work and cost nothing to try.

Thank you for the replies, everyone. I do have an extra GIK 2'x4' acoustic panel I could rig something up with, just wondered if the product I referenced was any good. It is convenient and seems well-made...

Anyone have a source for 2'x4' sheet of lambswool in the US?...;-)

Doesn’t have to be real/natural wool….synthetic or blend equivalent from your local fabric shop will be fine, or the same material used as car seat covers…lots of potential sources

Actually, a lot of the synthetic stuff is pretty acoustically transparent; basically the same stuff used for 'dead cat' windscreens ('fake fur').

For absorbing and blocking sound you want genuine sheepskin (with the hide still on. not just the wool).

In the past when I was putting together a Jecklin, I got genuine sheepskin seat covers from an auto parts store.

A relevant post from @ Earcatcher in another thread:
I don't know how easy it is to buy BASF Basotect in North America?

Yes, saw that! Thomann USA has that listed:

https://www.thomannmusic.com/hofa_absorber_eco_grey.htm

Wonder what the shipping would be?...

I put in my address (Eastern US) and DHL Express is $30.70; UPS Express is $52.20.

FWIW, HOFA ships free to Germany but I can't imagine their overseas shipping will be less than Thomann.
https://hofa-shop.com/erp/shop__HOFA..._a44380__en_US

“Chicken or the Egg?”
Is a good baffle too

Ah the classic “Jecklin and Hyde”.
Should make a good Cover song.

I would have done that in a second. However, I just added 4 of these and the shipping to CA, US was 116.00$...WTF! Nope...