Hanging vocals
Home > Home Recording Forum > Recording Techniques > Hanging vocals
Posted on Jul 14, 2002 07:37 am
crux
Typo Szar
Member Since: Jul 04, 2002
Another question i guess, from me... everyday i surf around this board to see if i can answer one, but i guess im just too inexpierienced :( anyhow i have a question, all my recordings are coming out pretty good, instrument wise. and even the vocals, but it just seems to me that i cant seem to get the vocals to sink into the mix like they should. ive added different kinds of reverb, and compressed the vocals. but they still stick out like a sore thumb... any input?
[ Back to Top ]
Jul 14, 2002 10:43 am Ya, vocals are a tough one, it's an art unto itself. It may be that you are just not using the right kind of reverb to make the vocals sound sonically similar to the rest of the mix, know what I mean? Maybe use two mics to record the vocals? one right on the voice and one back a few feet to catch the natural reverb of the room you are recording in. Also, maybe try compressing it less, over compresion can add presence that is unwanted.
Try those things and let us know what you get.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 17, 2002 12:24 am You can also try some EQing to cut the vocal prescence a bit. Just experiment and try cutting a bit in differant frequancy's and see if that helps put it farther back in the mix.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Jul 17, 2002 05:01 pm Yeah, Overcompression is terrible. What I recomend is using 3 mics, one directly in front of the voice, one 2 or 3 in back of this mic, pointing at a slightly different angle, and one more mic in a corner of the room. This works for me. Hope it helps some
Nov 22, 2002 10:43 am Hello Loki, can you tell me what kind of mic you used at the various positions?
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Nov 22, 2002 07:34 pm sorry I took so long to respond. Wasn't watching this post. Anyway, for my mics I use a Senheiser E825S on pointed directly at the singers mouth, a cheap audio technica mic placed three feet behind this, pointed at the mouth at a different angel, and a MXL V63M condensor Mic in the corner of the room.
Nov 23, 2002 02:54 pm How much compression is overcompression? Should the threshhold light always be lit when someone is singing, or should it go on only during real loud parts?
Nov 23, 2002 03:22 pm Compression is a totally relative topic, it is dependent on the person singing, type of music, desired effect and so forth, but NO, the compressor should not be compressing every note that comes out of the singers mouth...doign that you just suck all the emotion out of the track.
Nov 23, 2002 03:53 pm remember that too little compression is better than too much. you can always compress some more later on the PC, but you can't uncompress.
i've had some luck lately recording thru my Peavey MkIV bass head (it's the only hardware with a compressor that I own) line out into my soundcard. It doens't have any adjustments on the comp, but I can adjust the gains until I get the right amount of compression from it. I agree with dB, overcompressed recordings are loud but lifeless.
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Nov 23, 2002 06:53 pm I like to have the light blinking on and off fairly quickly...but I sually just use it as a limiter
Nov 24, 2002 01:55 pm In general, what are some good settings for the attack and "let go" (I'm having a brain freeze trying to remember the right word..)
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Nov 24, 2002 05:19 pm release is probably the word you're looking for there. :) lol I actually don't know any settings for teh compressor... I just turn knobs and hope it sounds alright.
Nov 24, 2002 07:48 pm the release, usually measured in miliseconds, will determine how long the effect will stay on, so the release settings will be determined by what kind of peaks you are trying to eliminate. For simple "limiting" a fast release around 10 or 20 ms will do, but for hard squashing you'll need more. like Loki says, just mess with it until it sounds right.
