Advice for recording lots of vocals

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Recording Newbie/DIYer
Member Since: Jan 22, 2008

I'm looking at the prospect of recording a CD for a group in my neighborhood. Up to now all I've done is my own personal hobby recording, consisting of me, a guitar and a bass. This group is a chorus of more than a dozen singers, plus instruments. I have no idea how to do this, but I certainly won't let that stop me.

So we're clear here, this is not a John Williams production- it's just a bunch of guys who like to get together and belt out dirty drinking songs (who could forget such timeless classics as "The Night I had O'Reilley's Daughter" and "The Sexual Life of a Camel?"). Still, if I do this recording I want it to have the best sound I can give it, and clearly my Shure 58 and Tascam US 144 will not be adequate to the task.

Any suggestions as to what mics and interface I should use (I've been meaning to upgrade in both of these departments anyway)?

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www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Jan 23, 2008 02:28 pm

Where is the venue? Is it in a proper room, outside or?? What kind of instruments? Drum kit??

Recording Newbie/DIYer
Member
Since: Jan 22, 2008


Jan 23, 2008 02:51 pm

Indoor, one of the band members' houses. The room itself, while not a studio, is well as well suited for the purpose as any I'll find without renting space (I'm pretty much doing this pro-bono). Well insulated, low echo, very little outside noise.

The instruments (elec/acou guitar, whistles, bodhran and other various percussion, but no kit), I'm not as worried about. The songs themselves all stand alone as a capella pieces, and some in fact are. My plan as of now is to record the singers first and then handle the instruments later. The guitars I can record same as I always do. For the rest, I do have a few Shure 57s available to me. I figure they should work well enough, but I'm definitely pen to suggestions.

My real concern is recording the vocals. What kind of mics would you suggest? How would you arrange/place them? Stuff like that.

As for he interface, I'm looking for something with 8 or more XLR inputs. Might not need that many for this project, but others, with drumkits, are likely in the future. Be nice to stay under $500 if I can.

Recording Newbie/DIYer
Member
Since: Jan 22, 2008


Jan 23, 2008 02:52 pm

BTW, I love the site. I've been here all of two days and I'm already learning all kinds of neat stuff.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Jan 23, 2008 02:59 pm

mic-wise your best bet for the vocals is two matching large diaphragm condensors, in a stereo configuration like XY or spaced pair...

try to arrange the singers so they blend well together, don't put all the high piched singers together, and all the deep voices all bunched up...mix 'em up good and even.

as for an good interface, on the cheap, the Alesis i/o 26 is right in your price range and can get the job done just fine (as long as you have firewire on your computer). sounds like a fun project.

welcome to HRC!

wyd

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Jan 23, 2008 03:23 pm

A matched set like the Rode NT4 or Samson C02 may be a good choice. I recorded a choir recently, and while my placement was bad, my recording was good (with the NT4).

I think placement will be the greatest variable. Try and do some test runs, if you can. If there are people who are playing instruments, I would set up a 57 for the instrument, if possible. Record them along with everyone else, as it'll keep the whole recording coherent. Better to capture coherent performance with inferior tone, than great tone later, that doesn't 'live' with the performance.

Good luck, sounds like fun.

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Jan 23, 2008 03:27 pm

Maybe someone can explaing to me, cuz I never understand what people mean when they say put it in an XY configuration. I guess I'm wondering how would you describe the physical placement in this configuration?

Edit: Nevermind, found it here:
www.wikirecording.org/XY_...phone_Technique

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Jan 23, 2008 05:09 pm

Not a cheap mic, but I used my Rode K2 in a similar fashion when recording a drunken sounding backup track with four people.

The reason it worked so well is the ability to change the pattern from omni, cardiod and figure 8. I used Omni to capture tone from all sides, I would have preferred two mics of course but you work with what you can.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Jan 23, 2008 07:08 pm

man sounds like a great project, i really dig that sorta stuff.
i would consider recording some or all of the percusive stuff first. will be kinda hard to get the timing afterwards otherwise.

Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Jan 23, 2008 11:08 pm



Why couldn't you use a shure 58 for the group vocal? if your strapped to get two matching condensors, i think a shure 58 placed right at a good distance in a nice room will give you a great bar room type sound for a large group vocal.

Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004


Jan 23, 2008 11:48 pm

Is it wrong that I know the second line of "Camel"?

"Is stranger than anyone thinks..."

I played rugby.

A couple of pencil condensors set wide and relatively far.


Recording Newbie/DIYer
Member
Since: Jan 22, 2008


Jan 25, 2008 01:05 pm

Much thanks for all the info and advice, folks.

WYD:
I was leaning toward the i/o 26 to begin with. Seems like the most bang for the buck. Have heard of some folks having compatibility issues with it though, at least with some software. I'm running Acid Pro 6. Heard anything about problems between those two?

CptTripps/pjk:
Those Rode pieces look to be a bit beyond my budget. The Samson pair is a bit more in the price range. Thanks.

Crux:
That's actually what they did on their last set of recordings, and in the same room I believe. The large "barroom" sound was good, but the tone was awful. On top of that, my own 58 is hardly in mint condition. I still might set it up along with a set of condensers, and try to mix in that larger, more reverberous (if that's a word) sound to give it flavor. Can't hurt to cut a track of it I suppose.

TallChap:
Yes, it is wrong. It is very wrong. But at least you're not alone.

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