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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: (Evan) on April 15, 2009, 04:22:26 AM

Title: Is hair acoustically transparent?
Post by: (Evan) on April 15, 2009, 04:22:26 AM

Hey guys. I was wondering how transparent human hair is acoustically? I normally record with my microphones mounted to my ears, and my hair is longer than I used to have it. Will a little bit of hair in front of the mics make a big difference in sound? Thanks

Title: Re: Is hair acoustically transparent?
Post by: travelinbeat on April 15, 2009, 04:39:12 AM

Depends on the hair.  Upload a photo  ;D

If it's just "a little bit" of hair, as you say, I'd think it shouldn't make much of a difference.  Something that will affect your recordings is the brushing of the hair against the mic source.  You should pick up some windscreens and be sure to put them on the mics if you're going to be wearing the microphones anywhere they can be brushed or anything.

Title: Re: Is hair acoustically transparent?
Post by: GirthCoquer on April 18, 2009, 03:23:45 AM

The title of this topic sounds like an avantgarde album title  :P

Title: Re: Is hair acoustically transparent?
Post by: guysonic on April 19, 2009, 07:17:34 AM

Might depend on the condition of the hair.  Generally organic plant/animal fibers are fairly transparent being of very small dimensions, and 'hollow' with mostly air inside. 

However, if damp or greasy transparency factor may go minus a bit. 

Most synthetic fibers while maybe being small, are not hollow and do 'color' and/or reduce sound propagation.