I tried the Eyeball and it doesn't sound right. What do I do?
The Eyeball is designed to isolate your microphone from the external environment and capture the full vocal spectrum of your voice. All recording spaces vary, some spaces are more reflective and can create additional echos. The Eyeball can be quite effective in reducing these reflections and ambience, it just may take a little extra time to set up and test.
Follow these instructions to achieve optimal sound quality:
· Make sure you are actively speaking/singing into the Eyeball.
· It may be necessary to turn down the input gain when using the Eyeball by 2-5db. The projection of your voice towards the microphone allows the Eyeball to capture the true tonality of your vocals, amplifying them.If you are using a USB mic, adjust the gain on the mic, software, and interface.
· We recommend using Cubase, Protools, Luna, Logic, Ableton, Reason or Studio One to record your vocals. We have found that the processing engines in other software are not adequate in reproducing a high-quality sound.
· If you are using a XLR cable make sure it is of high-quality a low-quality XLR tends to degrade in time and will cause anomalies by exuberating certain frequencies. This will sound like ambient noise within your signal chain.
· Ideally, the Eyeball and microphone should be centered in the recording area to allow for space, so that the reverberations can disperse through the air. Try setting up in different areas of the room to see what sounds best for you.
· Vocal microphones are specially designed to record vocals. Using microphones which are designed for both vocals and instruments will pick up your entire space. You most likely have a vocal microphone as they represent 90% of the microphones sold.
· If your recording space is less than ideal (concrete, windows, bare floors and walls, etc.) minor tweaks and additions could help. Try adding a rug under your mic stand, extra sound dampening objects or insulation around the recording space.
· Adjusting the space between the vocalist and the Eyeball will affect the sound. Play around with different distances to determine what works best.
Remember, you can never eliminate all reverberations - even the best studios may have room reflections. The Eyeball will not eliminate all unwanted reflections or natural reverberations but will vastly reduce the need to treat your recording space.
Can I be featured or cross-promoted on your social media sites?
The Kaotica community is a colorful tapestry of artists, their stories and shared ideas. We are honored to have such loyal supporters and appreciate all content curated with the Eyeball. We welcome you to share your photos with us, but please note that we receive hundreds of these requests. Although we will try our best to post your photo, we cannot offer a guarantee. Also, we do not typically post videos that are not curated by Kaotica and our marketing team.
Why am I having trouble placing my order?
Please contact your financial institution to verify any blocks that may have been applied to your account. Kaotica hosts an encrypted website and requires purchases to be processed via secured connection. If you are using your mobile device to place your order, ensure your WiFi is turned off. We do not accept orders by telephone.
Once your order is confirmed, an order number will be sent to you via email. As soon as your order ships, you will receive a second email with tracking details.
All orders are subject to bank authorization prior to processing. Only authorised purchases will be processed and shipped. An eCheck is an electronic funds transfer from your bank account to another PayPal account. eCheck transactions can take up to 7 business days to clear and Kaotica will process and ship these orders only after the eCheck has cleared.
If an eCheck bounces, PayPal will attempt to reprocess the payment in 3 business days, and the clearing process may take up to another 7 business days to clear thereafter.
Please click here for further information on PayPal eCheck.
Why do my recordings sound louder when I use the Eyeball?
The Eyeball channels sound directly into your microphone, sound which otherwise would not be picked up. This results in a perceived increase in volume of the overall loudness in the recording. Make sure to turn your pre-amp or input level settings down. The input gain should register about three quarters on the scale.
How will the Eyeball affect my mixing and mastering ?
The Eyeball lessens the need for excess equalization and post-production processing. It provides a clear tone, vastly reducing reflections and the ambiance within a recording space. The Eyeball captures the complete spectrum of your voice and reduces much of the external environment, giving you clear and concise vocals, free of coloration.
How do I clean the Eyeball?
Due to the porosity of the foam, the Eyeball will naturally
collect dust and debris. The best way to keep your Eyeball clean is to gently
use a sticky lint roller. If you've stained the Eyeball with food or a
hard-to-remove substance, use a bit of water and gently rub it out with a
non-abrasive, lint-free cloth.
Can microphones be positioned sideways or upside down within the Eyeball? What if my microphone has knobs?
Yes, the Eyeball can be set up in any position. If your microphone is long-bodied, when installing the microphone, make sure to insert it through the top, sliding the microphone’s capsule down until its diaphragm is vertically centered within the Eyeball cavity. To prevent damage to the Eyeball, take extra caution when inserting and removing a microphone with knobs. The Eyeball’s base should sit just above the knobs on most microphones.
Why do some artists use multiple pop filters?
The Eyeball includes a custom-fit pop filter. To achieve your preferred sound, you can double-up or replace the Eyeball’s pop filter with your own. Ensure you place the additional pop filter right against the front opening of the Eyeball.
Will my microphone and shock-mount fit the Eyeball ?
The original Kaotica Eyeball is designed to accommodate most side-address microphones with long/short-bodies within a diameter of 38mm to 63mm / 1.50” to 2.50”.
The Kaotica Fatboy is modified to accommodate larger diameter side-address microphones with long/short-bodies within a diameter of 63mm to 95mm / 2.50” to 3.75”.
The Kaotica 7B is designed with a rear microphone opening to accommodate front-address microphones primarily used in podcasting and live radio applications.
The Kaotica 800C is designed to physically accommodate high-end tube microphones, such as the Golden Age and Sony 800 series.
Please refer to the compatible microphone list on the purchase page to see which Kaotica product is best suited for your type of microphone.
For side-address microphones, the Eyeball can be optionally paired with your existing shock-mount. If you choose to do so, the Eyeball sits freely on most shock-mounts without the need for any attachments. Short-bodied microphones sit decoupled from your shock-mount, and long-bodied microphones screw onto the shock-mount. It is not necessary to screw your microphone onto its respective shock-mount, especially ones that are short-bodied. All microphones held within the Eyeball are naturally decoupled, regardless if they are screwed onto a shock-mount or not.
Can I customize my pop filter colors?
The standard pop filter color combinations are as follows:
Each Kaotica Eyeball product in the series comes with its corresponding pop filter color and cannot be substituted for an alternate color. Additional pop filter colors may be purchased separately or as an add-on to your order.
Please note that all pop filters offer the same performance and only differ aesthetically.
As an artist on the go, you know that inspiration often strikes in the most unlikely places. But inspiration never waits for you to find the perfect conditions. You’ve got to either capture that lightening the moment it strikes or it’s gone forever. That’s why we created the Eyeball, so you can create studio quality tracks anytime, anyplace. Kaotica envisions a colorful tapestry of artists, their stories and shared ideas, creators and industry pros like yourself who make up our awesome community.
Kaotica was born in 2009 when founder, Konrad Zukowski, was watching his friend make beats in his basement studio. His friend had just finished installing thousands of dollars’ worth of foam and sound insulation to treat his space, unfortunately all his time, money and effort did not produce his desired outcome. With a passion in music, and an urge to resolve this dilemma, Konrad applied his background in business and innovative spirit into creating Kaotica and the revolutionary Eyeball used by some of the world’s greatest talent today.
It took years of research and development, patent implementation, and countless hours to introduce the Kaotica Eyeball to the world in 2015. Established in Canada, Kaotica believes in supporting local suppliers and businesses. The Eyeball is 100% manufactured in North America to ensure consistent fine quality, and our services are found locally to provide outstanding support and experience to our valued customers.
Shipping Policy
Please allow up to 2 business days to process your order. All orders are subject to a customer verification procedure. Please ensure your address details and profile information are accurate to prevent delays in shipping. We may refuse your purchase if we find evidence of fraud.
Standard shipping is 2-5 business days in North America and 5-10 business days worldwide.
We offer priority shipping for an additional charge within North America only. Orders must be received and verified by 2:00 PM MST Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) to enjoy next business day delivery. Orders placed after 2:00 PM MST on business days or on weekends/holidays will be shipped on the next business day and received the following business day.
Orders are shipped and delivered on business days (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) via FedEx from Canada. We do not ship to P.O. Boxes.
Individual pop filter purchases are shipped via Canada Post and USPS within North America via standard 7-12 business day delivery with tracking.
Orders placed outside of North America may face import duties, taxes and fees which are not included in Kaotica’s item pricing. It is the buyer’s responsibility to check with their customs office to determine what additional costs may arise upon delivery.
We do our best to estimate the most accurate delivery time for your convenience. Although tracking details state an expected delivery date, these are estimates, and delays caused due to weather, customs clearance or misinformation are not Kaotica’s responsibility and we are not obliged to reimburse shipping fees charged to the customer.
Returns & Exchanges
If you are not satisfied with your purchase, you can return the Kaotica Eyeball for a refund on the purchase price or an exchange. A return request must be placed within 30 days of receiving your order. Items must be returned in the original packaging and in new condition. Items that have visible wear are not considered to be in new condition and will be returned to the customer at his or her cost. Individual pop filter purchases are final sale and not applicable for refund.
Warranty
Limited One Year Warranty: Kaotica warrants your product to be free from physical defects in material and workmanship for a period of 1 year from the date of original retail purchase. This warranty covers defects in manufacturing that arise from the correct use of the device. It is limited to defects in materials and workmanship and does not cover damage caused by abuse, misuse or unauthorized modification. This warranty also does not cover the normal wear and tear of the pop filter, pop filter removal or microphone insertion and removal.