I record in the lounge. This is because it is the only interior room where I can avoid most of the road traffic noise from outside. The room is wide and therefore early reflections are not a problem but it has a lot of ambience since it’s got no acoustic treatment whatsoever. So as an attempt to get reasonably good results and bearing in mind that I’m not even considering doing any serious acoustic treatment I recently purchased one of RealTraps Portable Vocal Booth. The obvious alternative would have been SE’s reflexion filter. I was attracted by the fact that RealTrap’s solution is much bigger and therefore gives us more acoustically treated surface. It also seems easier to carry around since once folded it is flat.

RealTraps are very professional and within a few days I had my PVB at home and ready for some testing. The packaging was excellent. The PVB came in a solid cardboard box with protective styrofoam in the corners to easily withstand the trip from the factory.

The PVB comes with a metallic piece that can be effortlessly attached to any standard mic stand, as shown in the picture. I recommend that you get yourself a solic mic stand cos the PVB is relatively heavy and my mic stand tilts slightly by the weight of the PVB when it is at full height for vocal recording, although it shouldn’t really be a problem in any case. The construction of the PVB is good, it looks solid and that will probably last many years of use.

Let’s go into the sound aspects. Even before mounting it I unfolded it and spoke into it and could already hear the damping. I’ve been trying it with my Rode NT1A microphone directly into the Focusrite Saffire and so far recorded vocals and spanish guitar and the results are excellent, the sound is instantly dryer and better than I imagined I could get in that room without any complicated and expensive treatment.

So that you can judge by yourself I have uploaded some examples below.

Guitar Sample Without Portable Vocal Booth

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Guitar Sample With Portable Vocal Booth

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