Vocal Recording Recommendations

[Couloir_KW]

Hi,

Seems like there is some great expertise here that I would like to tap into. My daughter is an aspiring vocalist, and I would like to get her set up to do some recording. This doesn’t have to be studio quality stuff, but I would like it to be good quality. Also, she is not a technical wizard.

I want to be able to set her up to do recording on a PC. So at this point, I think I am looking at a capable desktop PC (Pentium 4 2.6GHz or above with Hyperthreading, 800MHz FSB, at least 512MB of dual channel DDR400 ram, and a large Hard Drive with 8MB cache), a good sound card (16 bit, M Audio Audiophile or a Delta 44?), recording software (Cakewalk Home Studio?), a good mic (Shure 58?), mic stand/boom, and comfortable headphones.

We have a very basic MIDI Controller (keyboard) for composition. I thought I would like to supplement that with a Vocal-to-MIDI software application, to allow her to vocally record scores, and then edit them. Any recommendations?

She has several friends with more sophisticated recording studios that she likes to collaborate with. So, they may write a song and record instrumental tracks, and then have her record a vocal track. Can this type of collaboration be done easily with digital recording, or should I be looking at a 4-track recorder as well?

I am open to any feedback on whether I am on the right track, if there is something else I should consider, or if I am missing something. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[The Green Hornet]

Yo KW:

For sure, keep your daughter working with those kids with the home studios -- somehow, folks of the same age have this wonderful capacity for exchanging information at a level they understand and, as we all know, the young pick up PC stuff fast.

Even if you get a SIAB, you have a miniature computer that runs the box. So, computer savvy is a great help.

Suggest your daughter might take a music class at a Junior College, something that will give her some ear/voice training. Usually, a JC course is not expensive.

Also, if she can get to hear some talent perform and pick up on "mic technique," that would also help. Whenever I record talent, it's pretty easy working with someone who has mic experience -- couple times through, and it's done.

You're at the right site for learning.

Green Hornet

[Bulls Hit]

For what she wants to do, the Audiophile would be a good soundcard.

She'll also need a mic preamp.

There's no need for a 4 track. This site http://www.recordingproject.com/bbs/index.php allows you to upload mp3 tracks for collaboration with others. A cable modem or dsl broadband would be good too

[Couloir_KW]

Thanks for the input. She has been working with a professional voice trainer for a few years now, so she has the ear/voice down pretty well. She has also had numerous performances, so she has pretty good mic technique. Her issue with mic'ed performances is that she has a very strong voice, so she has had to learn to adapt accordingly with the mic. I expect any quality recording set-up will require her to hone those skills.

Thanks again for the advice!

[wheelema]

Please look at this thread.

[manning1]

audiophile sound card or echo mia is good.
if your doing midi maybe the mia might be the choice.
on microphones ive found female voices sound good on some of the cheaper audio technica mics or even if you want to spend more a sennheiser 421. if you want excellent , but expensive might i suggest a shure sm7. there are also many cheaper condenser mics that might suit her voice like a v67 or i can highly recommend CAD microphones which get good reviews.
if you really want something very cheap there are articles on the internet on how to build your own mic out of inexpensive mic capsules.
if you want to save computer money a lot of folks are running AMD 2 ghz systems with 512mb of ddr ram and 2 hard drives.
the trick is you put windows and your audio application on
one hard drive and your audio tracks on the second.
i just steered a friends daughter towards powertracks that does midi plus offers 48 concurrent audio tracks. she likes it a lot,
and it only costs 29 dollars. just check out the demo at pgmusic.com if you dont believe me. and talk to some of the friendly pg forum folks and users who helped me in the past.

[Couloir_KW]

Thanks Manning!

What about the pre-amp? Is the MAudio AudioBuddy too much or too little?

Also, any feedback on Soundblaster Audigy 2 sound card?

[Rockr56]

Stick with the Audiophile. AudioBuddy is fine.

[manning1]

look out for a rane ms1. i didnt realise they were now affordable.
very nice preamp thats often overlooked in mic preamps.
also people often forget to mention symetrix.
as female voices are delicate instruments i would definitely invest in a echo mia. staudio also have a card a lot of folks like. i'm not sure but i think its still under hundred bucks.
if it was me for a total of 500 bucks,
the rane, v67,and an echo mia .
best of luck. maybe asee if the store will let you audition different
mics for her voice.
a tip. if your multitracking her voice have her double her vocals ie ; sing it twice. the little nuances add character. and add a small
amount of echo to one of the tracks and mix the dry and wet track till you find it pleasing.