nOOb question about how to record singing at a decent quality

[Josef Fritzl]

Basically I have a few instrumental tracks, but I want to add vocals to them. Can someone tell me the cheapest way to this and at a decent quality?

Thanks in advance for any help and if I posted in the wrong section of the forum please move it to the correct

 

[Richard Monroe]

Insufficient data, dude. What you've said is- "I've got some tires and I want to enter a NASCAR race. What's the cheapest way to do it?"
You will need to tell us about the room you are recording in, how the original tracks were recorded, every piece of gear you currently own, and what you mean by "cheap".-Richie

 

[glynb]

Whatever your setup you'll benefit from using a condenser microphone. The best one you can afford.

 

[Amos McWoods]

Knowing how to sing is a good start...that and a little volume control with your voice. If you have a very dynamic volume range in your singing that may not work for some songs. You have to be the judge of what works for your own stuff though.

Oh and buy a pop filter, those help too.

 

[Massive Master]

Whatever your setup you'll benefit from using a condenser microphone. The best one you can afford.

While nearly every "go to" vocal microphone is a dynamic (with a few exceptions, of course depending on the source), would you care to elaborate on that a bit...?

 

[Noise Tank]

Reverb on vocals usually gives a nice sound.

 

[Massive Master]

(Yet another random pearl of wisdom with no explanation...)

 

[RAMI]

I like Jell-0.

 

[Dani Pace]

Knowing a little about your singing voice would help, is your voice sweet and mellow, rough and scratchy, bright and crisp, screaming vocals, or whatever? Some mics work better than others for certain applications and vocal styles.

 

[Disease8]

Its simple

Get yourself the best $100 condenser mic you can get:
(ADK a1, Behringer B2, Studio Projects, AKG Perception 120).
Maybe get a decent dynamic depending on the background noise, dynamics are more directional and less sensitive. Look to spend around $20-80 on a dynamic, I know its crazy but you can get a Behringer XM8500 for $16 and they rock! But you may want to spend a little more. If you bought the Behringer you could afford to get a dynamic and a condenser?
Maybe buy a nice cheap valve preamp (ART MP are really good and cheap ish £80) depending on how much you want to spend.

Be sure to read lots of review before you buy things and see if the sound they give is what you want, some mics may suit your vocals better than others...

Now the recording process is the most important part, mic positioning and background noise are extremely difficult to post produce. Find a nice quiet part of your house, have a listen all over to find a nice spot maybe away from any windows like a cupboard, or corridor (only if the reverb sounds nice!).

Depending on the sound you want choose your positioning.
So if you want a bit of natural reverb maybe a kitchen or bathroom with their big flat surfaces would be good, also if you want reverb recording in the centre of a space/room is better. (perfectly square rooms are the worst acoustically and if you want more depth to reverb choose a strange shaped room with lots of stuff in it).

If you want a nice dry recording so you can have more control over reverb and effects in post then a cupboard full of clothes is a great vocal booth. The clothes act as dampers and reduce any echo or reverberation to the minimum. If you do this be aware of making a space for the performer so they do not brush on any clothing and cause a sound.

One more thing is it is important to put something behind the vocalist to stop reflections from the wall behind them, this applies to recording in a cupboard more but a panel of some sort can be useful in a room to treat areas of concern like corners and big flat surfaces... (you can make your own panel with a tall clothes horses or two high mic stands with heavy soft blankets over).

You can achieve some great results in a lot of different environments including domestic housing its just about using what's at hand to your advantage and never being afraid to move around and experiment with positioning....

Good luck.....

 

[Han]

Thinking that condensers sound better than dynamics is nonsense, sometimes an SM57 sound better than a cheap condenser. And an inexpensive Lexicon MPX110 will give you a far better reverb than your bathroom.

About your nickname: Josef Fritzl is a silly old asshole, I hope you are not.

 

[kcearl]

Definitely try a tube pre-amp, when using a lower end mic or unsuitable room your vocals may sound a little thin or reedy...a tube pre-amp will help thicken them to a point

The ART MP Project is a good buy (seen them around $20 on flea-bay) if not the behringer MIC100 will suffice (forget the limiter and can be a little noisy for some though)...one other thing with these is that if and when your budget allows you can swap the tube out with a decent brand...again there's hundreds on flea-bay starting at $10+, this will make an even bigger difference on the warmer and lusher tones you can achieve.

Bonus is these sound just as good (for the price) with instruments and drums imo...

 

[Steenamaroo]

arguably the cheapest way to go at 'decent quality' is to put a foam head or pop filter on a 58 (assuming you have some sort of preamp...)


a lot of people preach about condensers, and while i'm no pro,,,i'm of the opinion that there's little point in vocal condensers unless you can afford a pretty good one...

i've all but stopped using my nt1a, cos the sm7b or md421n (even 58) almost always sound better to me (depending on the singer)

 

[kcearl]

Id say the Sennheiser e835 is a pretty decent "cheap" dynamic as well, I picked one up new for $70, a bit harsher on the high ends than a 58 but maybe you want that..I did

 

[Steenamaroo]

fair enough

 

[Massive Master]

Definitely try a tube pre-amp, when using a lower end mic or unsuitable room your vocals may sound a little thin or reedy...a tube pre-amp will help thicken them to a point

"Cheap" and "tube" in the same sentence almost invariably leads to "crap" in the next. The last thing you want is cheap tube gear. "Warmth" has absolutely nothing to do with tubes (as almost every single classic preamp out there is solid-state). And *IF* a cheap, crappy tube preamp sounds decent, you can bet the bank that it's not about the tube.

The ART MP Project is a good buy (seen them around $20 on flea-bay) if not the behringer MIC100 will suffice (forget the limiter and can be a little noisy for some though)...one other thing with these is that if and when your budget allows you can swap the tube out with a decent brand...again there's hundreds on flea-bay starting at $10+, this will make an even bigger difference on the warmer and lusher tones you can achieve.

Again, the tube has NOTHING to do with the signal chain on most of these things. It's all starved-plate, cheap marketing crap. You could probably replace the tubes by jumping the contacts with paper clips. Behringer makes a unit that has a slow-start LED behind the tube to make it appear as if there's actual voltage running through it - IT - a single tube (in a stereo unit).

a lot of people preach about condensers, and while i'm no pro,,,i'm of the opinion that there's little point in vocal condensers unless you can afford a pretty good one...

i've all but stopped using my nt1a, cos the sm7b or md421n (even 58) almost always sound better to me (depending on the singer)

Word (to the peeps). Most classic vocal mics are dynamics, while we're on the subject. The SM7b being a personal favorite at nearly any price point.

There must be some sort of "stupid audio myths" thread around here somewhere... 1) "Track as hot as you can without clipping" 2) "Condensers are for studio use and dynamics are for stage use" 3) "Tube gear sounds warm"** -- Those should all be right at the top.

** Not that some tube gear doesn't sound "warm" - "Real" tube gear tends to sound rather "warm" - Even so, it's rarely because of the tubes...

 

[Steenamaroo]

dynamics kick ass. got four 635as and an re11 in the post....hope i like em......

 

[kcearl]

"Cheap" and "tube" in the same sentence almost invariably leads to "crap" in the next. The last thing you want is cheap tube gear. "Warmth" has absolutely nothing to do with tubes (as almost every single classic preamp out there is solid-state). And *IF* a cheap, crappy tube preamp sounds decent, you can bet the bank that it's not about the tube.


Again, the tube has NOTHING to do with the signal chain on most of these things. It's all starved-plate, cheap marketing crap. You could probably replace the tubes by jumping the contacts with paper clips. Behringer makes a unit that has a slow-start LED behind the tube to make it appear as if there's actual voltage running through it - IT - a single tube (in a stereo unit).


Word (to the peeps). Most classic vocal mics are dynamics, while we're on the subject. The SM7b being a personal favorite at nearly any price point.

There must be some sort of "stupid audio myths" thread around here somewhere... 1) "Track as hot as you can without clipping" 2) "Condensers are for studio use and dynamics are for stage use" 3) "Tube gear sounds warm"** -- Those should all be right at the top.

** Not that some tube gear doesn't sound "warm" - "Real" tube gear tends to sound rather "warm" - Even so, it's rarely because of the tubes...

well it sounds warmer and thicker to me...Ill check my websters dictionary for the definition lol


yes its cheap but does it make it sound better?...most definitely
does changing the tube make a difference?...again most definitely...so I'll imagine that the tube has something to do with it (allow me my imagination) regardless of LEDs and other gimmicks

when Im ready for my $1000 pre-amp Ill give you a yell for advice but until then I will try the paperclip idea, don't quite think it'll be the same as the sovtek but Ill get back to you

 

[Disease8]

Geez

Man people are over opinionated about sound equipment especially mics... If you buy a nice tube preamp (tube MP) it will definitely make any mic you put through it sound better.... There is no rule how can you people say "dynamics will sound better than a cheap condenser"??? That is over opinionated bul*s*it!
You don't know what you are talking about...
It is really down to the individual mics and environment...
I don't see any problem with the advice I gave him why even argue about it????? You get a Studio Projects B1 and it will sound more clean and be more sensitive than an SM58... And by the way if you can't get a good sound out of your condenser thats down to the sensitivity.. It will pick up more background noise hence why I suggested getting both....
Sorry to swear but i though people would be a little more helpful..
Just use your common sense...

 

[kcearl]

Man people are over opinionated about sound equipment especially mics... If you buy a nice tube preamp (tube MP) it will definitely make any mic you put through it sound better.... There is no rule how can you people say "dynamics will sound better than a cheap condenser"??? That is over opinionated bul*s*it!
You don't know what you are talking about...
It is really down to the individual mics and environment...
I don't see any problem with the advice I gave him why even argue about it????? You get a Studio Projects B1 and it will sound more clean and be more sensitive than an SM58... And by the way if you can't get a good sound out of your condenser thats down to the sensitivity.. It will pick up more background noise hence why I suggested getting both....
Sorry to swear but i though people would be a little more helpful..
Just use your common sense...

Some people just spoil for a fight rather than try to help...his first two answers were both antagonistic and without content..

The OP asked for opinions for "cheap" solutions to recording vocals..he got some, he didnt ask for an in depth discussion on how reverb works in vocals, condenser v dynamic superiority, or whether the warmth (yes the warmth) emanating from a preamp comes from the tube or the solid state..

somebody needs to find a dog to kick...

Tube mic preamp

In a studio or home studio, this is an essential part of recording. Whether old or new, these can be very expensive but there are indeed priceworthy preamps. A tube mic preamp work a low power so the effect on the audio is not the same as for tube power amps. Instead, input transformers may have a certain effect on the sound in mic preamps.
Tube preamps are not always best for mic recording. Even though tube mic preamps are preferred for its sound in music recording, there are situations when an unaffected sound is wanted and then a clean solid state mic preamp would be a better choice. That is in situations when recordings are to be made for an authentic reproduction.
The most common tube in mic preamps is probably the 12ax7.

Some mic preamps, either solid state or with tubes, have an impedance transformer at the input that colors the tone at least a little. The "warmth" that is commonly associated with vintage or expensive preamplifiers, may (also) come from the tone characteristics in the impedance matching input transformers.
If the impedance matching can be adjusted (like 150 - 600 Ohms), the interaction between the transformer and microphone interaction can be adjusted. Different settings may change the tone a little.

http://www.tubepreamp.net/

Doesnt matter where it comes from, warmth is the result....

Id also suggest suing several companies that are advertising warmth through the use of 12ax7 tubes as they are obviously contravening Americas Trading Standards..here's just a couple I know

The new ultra low noise discrete microphone preamp front end has an extremely flat and wide frequency response and handles a wide range of input signal levels with a minimum of coloration. This gives you a very clean and neutral sound with a wide variety of signal sources. The high impedance 1/4” instrument inputs optimized for guitar pickups allowing every nuance to be heard. We use a high quality 12AX7A tube inside to add warmth to musical dynamics and the power supply is external to keep AC line noise and hum back at the wall.

http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?id=124&cat=1&type=79


This mono tube pre-amp is optimized for use with guitar. Its vacuum tube stages add fullness and warmth while two switchable filters simulate the timbre of speaker cabinet resonances. You sound like you're playing through a stage stack even if you’re using a practice amp or Direct Injecting.

http://www.paia.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9210K

The Tube Microphone Pre-amp uses the same warm tube tricks that have made the TubeHead such a popular and useful addition to many studios but includes balanced inputs with switchable 48V phantom power (on the front panel) and balanced or single ended outputs on the back panel. The kit for this one is mono, and the fully enclosed Rack Case is designed to accomodate two amplifiers. Kit includes wall mount power supply.

http://www.paia.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9407K

Tubes can really warm up a signal fast, giving it depth and character. Though transistors have succeeded the technology, many musicians agree that tubes deliver superior sound. BEHRINGER's TUBE ULTRAGAIN MIC100 gives anything from microphones to acoustic or bass guitars that vintage tube vibe in a dependable, affordable package.

http://www.behringer.com/en/products/mic100.aspx

these are all cheap, they've all got one tube, they are all liars.. and so are the folks all over the internet that saying that they too have noticed a difference after changing valves..


and finally from that bastion of knowledge wiki

A tube preamp, is used primarily in audio applications because of its reputation to provide warm and realistic sound. These applications include stereo preamps, microphone preamps, turntable/phono preamps and guitar preamps. A tube preamp is alone regarded as an essential part in audiophile stereo systems or music/studio recording.

Before transistors were common or used at all, vacuum tubes were used in all equipment. Therefore, some older, vintage preamps have gained higher status, due to a claimed reliability and tube sound characteristics.

Of course, as we've been told all the classic preamps are solid state...really? mmmm

Its a mass conspiracy...thankfully the elite can save us from spending our money on these lies!!!!