Reflexion Filter Technical Manual
About Your Reflexion Filter
What is the Reflexion Filter?
The Reflexion Filter is basically a portable device for recording live sound sources with reduced room ambience.
It is an advanced composite wall which is positioned behind any microphone by means of a variable position
stand clamp assembly which ships with the product. The main function is to help obtain a ‘dry’ vocal or instrument
recording. This is especially useful in studios without proper acoustic treatment, but can also be used to help
record takes in control rooms, where the performer also has to operate the recording device, or in rehearsal studios
to reduce ambient noise.
The Technical Bit:
The Reflexion Filter has 6 main layers. Firstly, a strong layer of punched Aluminium which allows sound waves to
pass through it, diffused, to a layer of absorptive wool. The sound waves then hit a layer of Aluminium foil which
helps dissipate energy and break up the lower frequency wave-forms, and from here they hit an air space kept
open by rods passing through the various layers. The air gap acts as an acoustic barrier. The sound waves then pass
to a further layer of wool and then through an outer, punched, Aluminium wall which further serve to absorb then
diffuse the remaining acoustic energy.
The main absorber has 4 formed pieces of state-of-the-art specialist acoustic absorptive material attached to its
face via the extended separation rods, which further serve to absorb and then diffuse the sound waves as they
pass to the main filter.
The stand assembly comprises a mic stand clamp fitting, which attaches by means of a vertical joint to the
horizontal bar assembly onto which both the Reflexion Filter, and any standard fitting shock mount can be fixed.
The microphone (in its shock mount) can then be moved both vertically and horizontally along the bar, and the
Reflexion Filter itself can be moved vertically to obtain the optimum working position.
How does it work?
The various layers both absorb and diffuse the sound waves hitting them, so progressively less of the original
source acoustic energy passes through each layer. This reduces the amount of energy hitting un-treated walls
and other surfaces so there is less of the original source reflected back as unwanted room ambience to the mic.
The Reflexion Filter also helps prevent any reflected sound reaching the back and sides of the mic. Its shape and
size have been carefully tested to maximize absorption while keeping ‘coloration’ down to only around 1dB, and
leaving the microphone’s polar pattern unaffected.
In summary:
All in all, it’s a very clever and desirable piece of kit. It allows you to record vocals, guitars etc with a ‘drier’ sound
without having to have an acoustically treated room. It’s portable. It uses state of the art materials. It works… and
it’s a fraction of the price of acoustically treating your studio environment!
