recording vox

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

Just wondering if there was anything i could do to be able to hear things more cleary in the headphones when recording vocals?

I always seem to have problems hearing everything, mainly the music over the vocal during the recording process.

obviously i want the vox up enough so i can hear it all good enough, but i find i have issues with my timing as i cant hear the music clearly enough.

maybe dropping the level of some instruments? i dunno, what do ewes blokes do?

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Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Oct 09, 2009 06:40 am

I usually roughly mix the instruments into a "vox ready mix" before laying down my trax, getting some eq cuts in and such. U really only need several things when doing vocals, the kick and snare (or watever gives u ur beat), the bass to stay on key, and one of the rythmic instruments to give u the feel, u dotn really need to hear everthing if u alreayd have a clear picture of the song. then ofcourse, u can always do the classic just using one side of the headphone, seems to work for most ppl.

ive never really had a huge need to hear my own voice when recording though... i mean when i do vocal exercises its about being able to lock in everythign in my head and then just have some small cues to know im producing it right, so i usually make sure the music is front when im tracknig so that i can really get the feel.

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


Oct 09, 2009 06:53 am

cool mate, i was thinking about lowering certain instruments.

I do need to hear myslef though, doing heavy vox its imperative i dont have to scream too hard to hear myself.

I have about half a song in me if i go too hard to quick.

Abomb Muchbaby
Member
Since: Jul 02, 2009


Oct 09, 2009 11:04 am

I actually run my monitor through the phones when recording vox. Kinda sounds weird at first, but it lets me really get my timing down right. not sure if you have that option.

MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Oct 09, 2009 11:24 am

There's a reason that you always see people holding one side over their ear...

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Oct 09, 2009 12:22 pm

My process,

Vocal ready mix is key.
Crank the phones until the vox are dead clear through them.
Bring the music up loud but not painfull.
Sing with one ear only half covered by phones.

Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Oct 09, 2009 01:34 pm

can i just add another very pretentious sounding note, i to had all the hang ups most vocalists have going into studio, but from meeting with other longer performing singers n such and just my own experience, in the end a vocalists has to have control over their voice just as an instrumentalists would, so the whole pushing it too hard coz u cant hear and all taht stuff, u can overcome it and practice and learn how to sing in some pretty extreme conditions. again, a good vocalists has to pretty much be playing their voiced as if their mind was the fretboard and their mouth as the soundhole, if u know wat ur doing and hearing it in ur head, it should be all u need.

end of pretention.

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


Oct 09, 2009 09:22 pm

not so with heavy vox IMO, but also coz i havent been using them too much latley, there's a certain point with screaming where you have stop pushing for volume.

basicly as soon as you can hear that scratch and bottom end come thru a bit that's when you stop. its gives you so much more time behind the mic and the next day you can get up there again with no hassels at all. the voice is fine, as it should be.

Point is, you cant always tell if your going over the threshold if you cant hear yourself clearly, until you start noticing your voice get tired, and sometimes not until the next day, by then its too late, you gotta rest it till its ok again.

singing in normal voice is different though, i can smash that **** out all day and not even break a sweat, but the heavy screaming, well, that needs to be monitored by yerself closely or you can forget it in the long run.

but as for the one can on the ear thing, cool as, will give that crack for sure, sounds good.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 10, 2009 11:29 am

If your desk can do it as well you can send to separate aux mixes to the phones. One for the music and the other strictly for the vocal mix. That way you can get the level's set properly and tweak them to taste for whomever is singing.

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