Recording Screaming Vocals

[adam.zamane]

Hey guys,
So I'm new to recording vocals, I just started today actually when all my equipment came and I am completely lost. I am using an MXL V89 microphone (condenser), a Lexicon Alpha interface, and the software I am using is called Audacity. The recording has worked perfectly for singing, however screaming vocals have been a problem. Unlike singing vocals where "lines" that look like a heart rate, bear with me I don't know the correct term for that, in screaming vocals it is just a block that does not move up and down. It also sounds very distorted. I have tried messing with the compressor and amplify effects but neither seem to work for me. I also even changed the input level to the lowest it could go, but it still sounds bad. I was hoping someone who is familiar with Audacity would be able to tell me what is wrong with this, I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks!
Adam

 

[Nathan1984]

Ok, first if you are getting distorted sounds, you are clipping. It is still running to hot. Back the singer away from the mic, you're using a condenser mic, keep him about 6 to 12 inches back with a pop filter in place. To be honest, you are really using the wrong mic for screaming vocals. I personally use an sm7b for heavier vocals. But if you don't have access to that, get a dynamic like a sm58, 57, or anything like that will probably yield better results. I haven't used audacity in a long time, but if it has a meter make sure that the level is at around -12 db when you are ready to track them. That's where you wanna be, then what I would do is bring up an eq, high pass vocals at around 130 hz and low pass at around 12 kHz, compress at a ratio of like 3:1 and try not to crush the hell out of it, just a 2 or 3 db reduction is all you need if you got a good vocal track. Try to keep the singer consistent as humanly possible when tracking, that will help a lot. Hope this helps you out bud, I've been there and done that. And being one of the few metal producers around, I always like to help the metal guys.