Getting a clean voice

[Nightfire]

First off, I have NO experience on how to set EQ's etc. I got my gear about a week ago and I really want to learn how to do this, so please bear with me and my stupid questions.
Listen to this song
www.myspace.com/mikeduerksen

Im using a Behringer Eurorack UB1202, with a Behringer dynamic mic. From the console Im going from "tape out" to the "line in" on my comp (standard soundcard) and recording with Acoustica Mixcraft. My eq settings for this song were
-Hi: +7
-Mid: +7
-Lo: +3
The voice is not coming out clear enough. I added compression (dont really know what that does) as well as basic mid boost in acoustica mixcraft. Can you give me any pointers on how to make the voice clearer? I sing close to the mic...

Mike

[ez_willis]

Start here .

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by Nightfire

First off, I have NO experience on how to set EQ's etc. I got my gear about a week ago and I really want to learn how to do this, so please bear with me and my stupid questions.
Listen to this song
www.myspace.com/mikeduerksen

Im using a Behringer Eurorack UB1202, with a Behringer dynamic mic. From the console Im going from "tape out" to the "line in" on my comp (standard soundcard) and recording with Acoustica Mixcraft. My eq settings for this song were
-Hi: +7
-Mid: +7
-Lo: +3
The voice is not coming out clear enough. I added compression (dont really know what that does) as well as basic mid boost in acoustica mixcraft. Can you give me any pointers on how to make the voice clearer? I sing close to the mic...

Mike

Without listening to the song, I can tell you that if you're boosting frequencies by 7db, you might want to go back to the tracking stage and see why those frequencies are missing (if they really are). In general, with some exceptions, you should be cutting unwanted frequencies rather than boosting others.....Boosting lows on a vocal is usually the last thing you want to do and might be a huge reason for you not getting clear vocals.

[Nakatira]

One thing that is utterly important is to sing as clear as you can.

Try singing in to the mike from different angles distances, if its dynamic these options are limited off course.

Second is aplying a bass cut @ 100hz I would also lower both of the other settings.
Btw from my experience the Behringer Euro rack, hasent got the best of EQ`s, not efficiant, and usually bad sounding.

If your using a stock\standard soundcard, this will aslo need to changed to a proper soundcard.
The stock sound cards usually sounds very poor.

Last tip for better recordings Use a metronome, its very helpfull and if used properly it will make your tracks sync way better.

Do a few searches in the newbies section and ect lots of good info.

[Nightfire]

Thanks for the tips, I wish I could understand more of all this.
When you say "bass cut" at 100hz what exactly do you mean? I have a button on my "Lo" eq know that says "Lo cut", would this achieve a bass cut?
What have I done by adding "compression"?

Thanks,
Mike

[TragikRemix]

nothing if you dont know how to use it..

look up southsideglens compression tutorial. good stuff.

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by Nightfire

Thanks for the tips, I wish I could understand more of all this.

Start here .

[Kevin Deschwazi]

I wouldn't use the eq on your board at all.

First off try and get as close to the sound you want at the tracking stage without any processing. Then it's better to do any necessary processing after you've recorded. Can you use vst plugins with your recording software? If so download a parametric eq and learn to use that.

The Paris eq is very nice (and free)

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/944.html

But yeah, you need to build your knowledge from the bottom up really, the RP mixing primer (that eZ--~WiiliS linked to) is very good. The project studio handbook is also a great resource.

http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

[ecktronic]

Originally Posted by RAMI

Without listening to the song, I can tell you that if you're boosting frequencies by 7db, you might want to go back to the tracking stage and see why those frequencies are missing (if they really are). In general, with some exceptions, you should be cutting unwanted frequencies rather than boosting others.....Boosting lows on a vocal is usually the last thing you want to do and might be a huge reason for you not getting clear vocals.

Well I boost vocals by 7dB, and usually cut some lows. And I get a decent enough sound.
www.myspace.com/crystalmixing.

The first song in the link above I did some big boosts and cut the lows.
Eck

[RAMI]

You boost frequencies in your vocal track by 7db???

Hey, as long as it works for you, I guess.

[ecktronic]

Originally Posted by RAMI

You boost frequencies in your vocal track by 7db???

Hey, as long as it works for you, I guess.

Yeah, even more sometimes.
I try not to go by set ways, as I beleive keeping an open mind about things like this can really progress my mixes.

Sometimes little or no EQ is needed, sometimes loads. Its what sounds best for a certain situation Id guess.

Eck

[DAS19]

Your vocals arent sung very cleary. You have a deep drowny voice and you arent even singing more of talking. Trying to actual sing more or less talk. I dont know why your trying to get clear vocals on a dynamic mic anyway. It can be done but large diaphram condensors are the industry standard for recording vocals.

[ecktronic]

Originally Posted by DAS19

Your vocals arent sung very cleary. You have a deep drowny voice and you arent even singing more of talking. Trying to actual sing more or less talk. I dont know why your trying to get clear vocals on a dynamic mic anyway. It can be done but large diaphram condensors are the industry standard for recording vocals.

Anthony Keides uses an SM57 to record vocals. They sound pretty clear to me.
I say its more to do with how well you pronounce, not how well your mic picks up details, as if you dont pronounce, a great condensor isnt going to make those bad pronounced words more pronounced! Its going to make things more detailed like bring out the Ss etc.

Eck

[VSpaceBoy]

Originally Posted by ecktronic

Anthony Keides uses an SM57 to record vocals. They sound pretty clear to me.
I say its more to do with how well you pronounce, not how well your mic picks up details, as if you dont pronounce, a great condensor isnt going to make those bad pronounced words more pronounced! Its going to make things more detailed like bring out the Ss etc.

Eck

+1

Plus, it sounds like you should back off the mic a tiny bit.

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by ecktronic

Yeah, even more sometimes.
I try not to go by set ways, as I beleive keeping an open mind about things like this can really progress my mixes.

I agree about keeping an open mind.

I guess what I meant to say is that it's one thing to be boosting things like crazy if you're looking for a specific sound or you want something different or special. But if you HAVE to be boosting frequencies that much just to get the vocals to sound decent, then there's something wrong and it probably happened in the tracking stage. There shoudn't ever be a need for that much boosting on a vocal track just to get it to sound normal or decent. But I have nothing against weird or original.

[Nightfire]

Thanks. Like I said, Im new to all this. I didnt know a clean voice couldnt be achieved with dynamic mics, I cant spend the dough on anything else at the moment. Thanks for the links, I have read through most of them
I am a little shy when it comes to singing, I'll give the vocals another run without touching the EQ, stepping back from the mic a little and trying to sing clearer and more open as well.


Mike

[DAS19]

Originally Posted by ecktronic

Anthony Keides uses an SM57 to record vocals. They sound pretty clear to me.
I say its more to do with how well you pronounce, not how well your mic picks up details, as if you dont pronounce, a great condensor isnt going to make those bad pronounced words more pronounced! Its going to make things more detailed like bring out the Ss etc.

Eck

I dont know which recordings he used an sm57 but I know on all of the newer stuff he used a better shure dynamic (forgot the model) not a 57. Let me see if I can find that article.

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by Nightfire

I didnt know a clean voice couldnt be achieved with dynamic mics,

They can, it just depends on your definition of "clean".

Michael Jackson recorded Billy Jean with a Shure SM7, so don't buy into the notion that you "can't" do it.

Originally Posted by Nightfire

I am a little shy when it comes to singing

This will hurt a vocal performance more than anything else.

Singing MUST be done confidently! Practice, get familiar with hearing your voice, and relax!

[ecktronic]

Originally Posted by Nightfire

Thanks. Like I said, Im new to all this. I didnt know a clean voice couldnt be achieved with dynamic mics,

Mike

What?!!
Of course a clean voice can be achieved with a dynamic mic! One of my posts above says how Anthony Keides from Red Hot Chili Peppers uses an SM57 to record vocals. Clean recording is more so to do with your singal chain after the mic. What pre you use, how well you set your pre what soundcard, what cables you use, what conectors etc.

Eck

[ecktronic]

Originally Posted by DAS19

I dont know which recordings he used an sm57 but I know on all of the newer stuff he used a better shure dynamic (forgot the model) not a 57. Let me see if I can find that article.

Probably on hiw older stuff then.
I did read it a while back.
I bet the engineer had a hard time getting him to change mic from SM57 to a Beta! Hes probably used the 57 most of his career and got stuck to it. But obviously a Beta will sound better in most cases.

I read that he also holds the mic in his hands when recording and puts it right up to his mouth to sing. His recorded sound is a really upfront sound.

Eck

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Originally Posted by ecktronic

I read that he also holds the mic in his hands when recording and puts it right up to his mouth to sing.

Probably why he records with an SM57, no engineer will let him near any expensive mics.

[ecktronic]

Originally Posted by Kevin DeSchwazi

Probably why he records with an SM57, no engineer will let him near any expensive mics.

lol!
I could just see it.
The engineer has just purchased a premium tube Neumann and then Anthony slevers all over it and shorts the circuitry!

Eck

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by ecktronic

lol!
I could just see it.
The engineer has just purchased a premium tube Neumann and then Anthony slevers all over it and shorts the circuitry!

Eck

I read an article last night with the engineer that did Blood Sugar. He said the Kick was mic'ed with a U47.

[flatfinger]

Originally Posted by Nightfire

The voice is not coming out clear enough. I added compression (dont really know what that does) as well as basic mid boost in acoustica mixcraft.
Mike

First off, It's time to begin your study of compression. It's tricky so don't think a quick primer someplace is going to cut it.

For instance, many VCA types will add a great deal of harmonics to the low frequencies ,especially with high compression settings with a slow release. 160hz-320hz is "the mudrange" not something you usually want to accenuate on a vocal

as far a getting a clean voice, why are you boosting the mids??? 320hz to 1280 (part of the spectrum that's part of the "telephone voice" area) is going to make it honkey and tubby and wooley ( ya , trying to describe sounds with words is tough!)




Good Luck

[mikeyp62]

Give the mic room to breathe. Eating the mic is no good. Don't use the eq on that behringer crap. Record flat and eq when you're mixing it. Experiment with distance and placement of the mic and find it's sweet spot. You're using crappy tools, but you can get a decent sound with anything. Once you get your current setup sounding good, sell everything you own and start buying gear like a fiend in a crackhouse.

Another thing, don't listen to anyone talking that crap about "needing a condenser mic" On a budget there are many "industry standard" dynamic mics to be had, that have recorded platinum selling vocal tracks. I don't think I can say the same for the comparably priced condensers. Off the top of my head I can name U2, Alice in Chains, Michael Jackson, The Killers, Slayer, and Red Hot Chili Peppers that have used SM57's, SM7's, or Beta 58's for studio vocals.