Carpet noise... at DVinfo.net

Renton Maclachlan · July 20th, 2011, 03:09 PM

In recordings I have done in the last couple of weeks in my studio...using a boom mic aimed at about 45 degrees down and at my mouth...and a Pin Mic, I've noticed a noise periodically in the recordings of what sounds exactly like me moving my feet on the carpet on the floor...and therefore assume that is what the noise it. It's not very loud but is there...discernable sometimes when I'm not speaking.

The boom mic wouldn't be too far off aimed right my feet - though a lot further away than my mouth is.

Has anyone had this issue before, and if so what solutions did you come up with to solve it? I've thought of trialling stuff put on top of the carpet, to wearing smooth socks only, to trying to remove the sound in post with SoundSoap...

Richard Crowley · July 20th, 2011, 03:19 PM

But you didn't mention whether you WERE actually moving your feet on the carpet at the time? (And why?) There are other sources of noise (both acoustic and electronic) that might sound similar to that.

Greg Miller · July 20th, 2011, 10:01 PM

If the boom mic is aimed at your mouth, and is facing downward at a 45 degree angle, then it is aimed roughly 5 feet (i.e. 60 inches) behind your feet (i.e. the terminal parts of your legs). Unless you are seated, in which case it might be picking up some other source of noise.

Mark my words: this will turn into a six-page thread about where to buy noise-free socks in NZ.

Colin McDonald · July 20th, 2011, 10:52 PM

Some people's feet definitely do hum a bit.

Renton Maclachlan · July 20th, 2011, 11:58 PM

I'm sitting down and have found the video is more interesting if I move around a bit/being more animated...which involves moving my feet and rearranging my butt on the seat. There's no way of knowing whether I was moving my feet at any of these precise moments but as the sound is the same, I assume I was.

The sound is a sort of (here goes!!!) sshhhsshh...with maybe more s's or h's... :-) ...definitely not a hum... :-)

Perhaps if I could levitate that would solve it...

Andy Balla · July 21st, 2011, 05:25 AM

It could also be clothing rustle when you move. Is it on both the boom track and the pin mic track?

Renton Maclachlan · July 21st, 2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Balla

It could also be clothing rustle when you move. Is it on both the boom track and the pin mic track?

I haven't checked if it is on both tracks. Will do. I've taped a loop in the pinmic cable to limit possible movement. Don't know if it is really necessary but thought I would do it anyway.

Andy Balla · July 21st, 2011, 03:56 PM

Yeah, check the individual tracks first to see if it only on one or both. If it is on both due to your feet moving on the carpet, does it occur while you are speaking or only between lines of dialogue? If its only between lines, you could easily cut it out and lay in some room tone. If it is occurring simultaneously with the dialogue, you could try using some low background music to mask it, if that works with your production.

Renton Maclachlan · July 23rd, 2011, 10:29 PM

To try and 'solve' the problem (which is quite minor...I've just been through two more takes this morning and I didn't hear any noise that bothered me) I 'thought' I may try putting some vinyl floor covering (I have some) under my feet and wearing socks only...

Chris Soucy · July 23rd, 2011, 10:45 PM

Sounds like a plan, can't see how you could generate much, if any, noise with socks on vinyl.

Let us know how it works out.

CS

Chris Hurd · July 24th, 2011, 12:34 AM

A number of polarizing off-topic posts in this thread have been withdrawn from public view.

If you feel the need to postulate about certain topics which fall outside the realm of digital
video technology and creative techniques, then please by all means post those topics to
*your own* blog / site / forum / whatever. Thanks in advance,

Bob Hart · July 24th, 2011, 01:06 AM

Before you go investigating too far, examine skin/stubble rubbing on shirt collar or shirt collar gently rubbing on jacket collar with throat and jaw movements.

Greg Miller · July 24th, 2011, 07:18 AM

I also wonder whether you might be generating some static electricity, which then discharges to ground by creating a small arc from your body or clothing, which then jumps to the grounded case of the pin mic. But in that case, I'd think the noise would all be on the pin mic track, and not picked up on the boom.

July 20th, 2011, 03:09 PM	#1
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	Carpet noise... In recordings I have done in the last couple of weeks in my studio...using a boom mic aimed at about 45 degrees down and at my mouth...and a Pin Mic, I've noticed a noise periodically in the recordings of what sounds exactly like me moving my feet on the carpet on the floor...and therefore assume that is what the noise it. It's not very loud but is there...discernable sometimes when I'm not speaking. The boom mic wouldn't be too far off aimed right my feet - though a lot further away than my mouth is. Has anyone had this issue before, and if so what solutions did you come up with to solve it? I've thought of trialling stuff put on top of the carpet, to wearing smooth socks only, to trying to remove the sound in post with SoundSoap...

July 20th, 2011, 03:19 PM	#2
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	Re: Carpet noise... But you didn't mention whether you WERE actually moving your feet on the carpet at the time? (And why?) There are other sources of noise (both acoustic and electronic) that might sound similar to that.

July 20th, 2011, 10:01 PM	#3
Greg Miller Trustee Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,792	Re: Carpet noise... If the boom mic is aimed at your mouth, and is facing downward at a 45 degree angle, then it is aimed roughly 5 feet (i.e. 60 inches) behind your feet (i.e. the terminal parts of your legs). Unless you are seated, in which case it might be picking up some other source of noise. Mark my words: this will turn into a six-page thread about where to buy noise-free socks in NZ. Last edited by Greg Miller; July 20th, 2011 at 10:41 PM.

July 20th, 2011, 10:52 PM	#4
Colin McDonald Trustee Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 1,546	Re: Carpet noise... Some people's feet definitely do hum a bit.

July 20th, 2011, 11:58 PM	#5
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	Re: Carpet noise... I'm sitting down and have found the video is more interesting if I move around a bit/being more animated...which involves moving my feet and rearranging my butt on the seat. There's no way of knowing whether I was moving my feet at any of these precise moments but as the sound is the same, I assume I was. The sound is a sort of (here goes!!!) sshhhsshh...with maybe more s's or h's... :-) ...definitely not a hum... :-) Perhaps if I could levitate that would solve it...

July 21st, 2011, 05:25 AM	#6
Andy Balla Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 182	Re: Carpet noise... It could also be clothing rustle when you move. Is it on both the boom track and the pin mic track?

July 21st, 2011, 03:56 PM	#8
Andy Balla Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 182	Re: Carpet noise... Yeah, check the individual tracks first to see if it only on one or both. If it is on both due to your feet moving on the carpet, does it occur while you are speaking or only between lines of dialogue? If its only between lines, you could easily cut it out and lay in some room tone. If it is occurring simultaneously with the dialogue, you could try using some low background music to mask it, if that works with your production.

July 23rd, 2011, 10:29 PM	#9
Renton Maclachlan Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,180	Re: Carpet noise... To try and 'solve' the problem (which is quite minor...I've just been through two more takes this morning and I didn't hear any noise that bothered me) I 'thought' I may try putting some vinyl floor covering (I have some) under my feet and wearing socks only...

July 23rd, 2011, 10:45 PM	#10
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Re: Carpet noise... Sounds like a plan, can't see how you could generate much, if any, noise with socks on vinyl. Let us know how it works out. CS

July 24th, 2011, 12:34 AM	#11
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Re: Carpet noise... A number of polarizing off-topic posts in this thread have been withdrawn from public view. If you feel the need to postulate about certain topics which fall outside the realm of digital video technology and creative techniques, then please by all means post those topics to your own blog / site / forum / whatever. Thanks in advance, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 24th, 2011, 01:06 AM	#12
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,477	Re: Carpet noise... Before you go investigating too far, examine skin/stubble rubbing on shirt collar or shirt collar gently rubbing on jacket collar with throat and jaw movements. Last edited by Bob Hart; July 24th, 2011 at 01:07 AM. Reason: error

July 24th, 2011, 07:18 AM	#13
Greg Miller Trustee Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,792	Re: Carpet noise... I also wonder whether you might be generating some static electricity, which then discharges to ground by creating a small arc from your body or clothing, which then jumps to the grounded case of the pin mic. But in that case, I'd think the noise would all be on the pin mic track, and not picked up on the boom.