recording help

[xylonath]

Hey guys, new here, sorry if this isn't where this should go.

I have been making home recordings for probably almost 5 years now and
my recordings have gotten progressively better. But one major problem
that seems to stand out above the rest is vocals.

I purchased a Line 6 Toneport UX2 a little while ago and it has been a
great aid in my recording being USB and not having the buzz and hiss I
used to. But using the settings it has for vocals still doesn't seem
to be doing the right thing for me.

I have a friend who also records his music and I think he does pretty
decent vocals. He says my trouble is the vocals should float on top.
He also talks about my needing to turn the music up in my headphones
loud so I have to sing louder and that would make things sound
better...but at the same time it makes me wonder what about soft
recording...though he said for softer songs I wouldn't have to sing
as loud to get over the music.

But I think a big problem is that the vocals sound muffly, stuffy,
unprofessional.

Didn't know if I should try making my own vocal settings with
different EQ settings or if I can fix it mixing afterward or really
what the stinking problem is.

I am using Cool Edit Pro 2.0 and a Tone Port UX2 with the Gearbox
software it comes with.

Sorry if I've come off stupid or if it makes not much sense, thanks
for any help.

[mattr]

Using presets is probably the root of all your problems.
There's no way that some settnigs chucked together quickly and saved as 'lead vocals' will be anything near what your tracks actually need. It depends completely on the voice, the mic, the signal chain and the mix. And even then there is no 'need' for anything in particular - everything is down to personal preference.

Ban youself from using presets and see what good comes of it

[xylonath]

Yeah. Actually for my next go at good recordings I planned on making my own settings for guitar/bass/vocals.

I recall reading things in my internet travels like not to mess with EQ at all and stuff like that...but that would mean having all things turned at zero?

So should I just go to Gearbox's "basic vocal setting" and then start changing emulated preamps and whatnot and turning "knobs" until it sounds good straight up?

[NYMorningstar]

Have you tried recording the vocals with a large diaphragm condensor mic in a decent room?

[mixsit]

Originally Posted by xylonath

He also talks about my needing to turn the music up in my headphones loud so I have to sing louder and that would make things sound better...but at the same time it makes me wonder what about soft recording...though he said for softer songs I wouldn't have to sing
as loud to get over the music.

But I think a big problem is that the vocals sound muffly, stuffy,
unprofessional..

Two things. I got this drilled into my head from a vocal coach- IMHO it works everywhere (not just vocal.
In a nut shell-
No matter how 'soft, 'mellow (or not 'soft', that isn't the point)
-It has to be focused. And it has got to be interesting.

This is exactly the same thing as in any 'presentation- you have to deliver it so that listener 'gets it. Same as sitting on stage with your ax 'assuming all the subtle shades of emotion you're feeling- 'doing(?) -is making it past the first row.

Given I don't know what goes on in the Toneport so as a question- Is there not just a straight clean path setting to record? Straight good tone could be thought of as step one to get to get out of the way so you can get a baseline on getting it good up front, fixing what needs changing there. Then expand into 'options, one at a time, etc..

[rf1]

Originally Posted by xylonath

I have a friend who also records his music and I think he does pretty
decent vocals. He says my trouble is the vocals should float on top.
He also talks about my needing to turn the music up in my headphones
loud so I have to sing louder and that would make things sound
better...but at the same time it makes me wonder what about soft
recording...though he said for softer songs I wouldn't have to sing
as loud to get over the music.

I'm not a recording pro or anything, but I agree with your friend in one thing and disagree in another.

I think yes, the vocals should float on top. That means you should probably lower the levels on the rest of the instruments so that the vocals stand out in your mix... probably adding a compressor would be a good idea? I'm not sure, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

But, I think singing louder is a baaaaad idea. I think you should sing as it should be. What I mean is... if you're recording a soft ballad and you sing loud... it would sound really weird and false to the mood of the piece.
You could also damage your voice if you start screaming, and tuning your voice to the key of the song is also more difficult if you can't hear yourself from the loud music.

What do you think?

[I Got Riffs]

I was recently told that mic preamps are the most important part of recording vocals. So if you are really unhappy, try using something other than the UX2 I guess.

But on the other hand, I've experienced firsthand how much of a difference having a good microphone makes. I also use the UX2 along with a friend of mine and it seems to work just fine with his decent condenser mic.

[stealth_prod]

Is your room you are recording vocals in treated or untreated? If its untreated then you should look into some treatment.

I will disagree that a preamp is the MOST important thing for vocals. It starts with the source. Make sure the sound going into the mic is not soft or boxy.

[NYMorningstar]

Originally Posted by I Got Riffs

But on the other hand, I've experienced firsthand how much of a difference having a good microphone makes.

~--BINGO--~

[xylonath]

Okay. I tried screwing around with the "knobs" in Gearbox and doing stuff with basically minimal vocal settings and junk. From a combination of that and the posts on here I think I have decided I should buy a new microphone...you'll probably laugh and agree when I tel you what i am using but I know nothing about equipment...I just kinda know how to play and write and sing poorly

I am currently using a *drum roll*:

NADY SP-5 Starpower Series

That's what it says on the mic anyways, the NADY SP-5 is on one side the Starpower SeriesTM on the other.

I bought it when I wanted to record my band a few years ago, back when I was even more poor than my poor self today.

Hehe I looked it up and I probably did a deal similar to this back then cause it sounds familiar. At musiciansfriend.com its buy one get 2 free!! Haha. Man these are probably crap.

So anyways. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a decent mic for me to record my vocals with that still wouldn't be crazy expensive.

I found a "MXL V63M Studio Condenser Microphone" in my musiciansfriend.com browsing and wondered if it would be good enough to get the job done or too cheap and crappy.