Mar 19, 2007 02:20 pm vocal without compression! heretic!
Questions about recording Vocals
Posted on Mar 19, 2007 02:19 pm
sampson_mike
Member Since: Feb 27, 2007
I have a large Diaphram condensor mic and an ART Tube Preamp, recording through a M-Audio Mobile Pre USB interface, but I'm finding no matter what I do I can't get the vocals right. Without buying a compressor anyone have any ideas for good vst plugins to help make vocals sound more professional without REVERBing the hell out of them ?!
Thanks for the help !
Mike
myspace.com/mikesampsonmusic
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Mar 19, 2007 03:28 pm find a software compressor, and eq your vocals cutting a bit below 80Hz and maybe a slight boost around 1500Hz...
Mar 19, 2007 04:14 pm I do not have an outboard compressor :(
But for vocals, I record through an ART also. Then use software compression and a vocal plate reverb at only about 3-7% wet.
The vocals under my profile on "makes no sense" were done this way.
Mar 19, 2007 05:21 pm sorry thats what I meant what vst compression should I be using, I run it through the tube, and my mic is very clear the vocals just aren't ..... I know you guys know what I mean.....So compression and EQ should solve my worries?
Mar 19, 2007 07:36 pm Antress has a (free) VST called ModernChannel. I've found that when used with some restraint it can add a wonderful sheen to a vocal track.
As for the gear you have, try recording with the EQ's at unity, and back the gain off on your pre-amp. I find that those little 12ax7 pre's are better for adding just a little air and warmth, rather than full colour. Get the vocal as clean as possible, and then add just a soupcon of gain on the pre.
Quote: Vocal without compression! heretic!
ROFLMFAO! That's going to become my new mantra.
Mar 20, 2007 12:32 pm eh, so i listened to better off on your myspace. Cool song. I think the thing with the vocals is they sound good, but i noticed two things. One, they are being burried by the guitar, so, I would try and eq a notch in the guitar track so the vocals can come through in that notch. Like I said earlier, you should try and make that around 1200-1500Hz, but experiment a little to see what sounds good (that's just a starting point). Read the eq article thats somewhere on this site if you are an eq nebie, it's very good. Also, the vocals seem to be a bit far back in the mix, I'm thinking you probably have too much reverb on the vocal track. I can't hear the reverb trail, but they are pushed back, so that's what I'm thinking, unless you recorded yourself and stood kinda far from the mic.
As for compression, try a couple of the free ones on for size and go with what works for you. Do a google search for free vst compressors and see what comes up.
On pieces, I think too much reverb again. Also, see if you can get your hands on a de-esser to cut some of the sibilance sounds (the sssss sounds).
Mar 21, 2007 12:21 pm So basically by notching down between 12 and 15 hundred thats going to give me a "spot in the puzzle" to put the vocals...now when I EQ the vocals should I then bring them up between 1200-1500 slightly? and by doing this I'm probably going to correct my desire to reverb the hell out of things because it'll fit in the mix better and I won't have to raise the vocals MORE and then wet the hell out of them so I feel like they fit lol
Sweet man, thank you sir that was a huge ****** help!
Apr 06, 2007 03:46 am The problem about recording first and compressing later its that you'll have to record at lower levels because if the signal clips when you are recording, even if you compress it later on, youll be compressing a clipped signal!!, so my advice is to get a compressor and slightly (and i mean slightly, since you'll be able to compress it more later) compress the signal when you are recording, this way, you'll have better signal to noise ratio, louder vocals, more prescence, and you wont be clipping the meters, then try eq'ing like these guys said, but remember, its better to have the best out of the source.
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