Need Help!! (Home Recording & Mixing)

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fateiznear

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I have many problems trying to mix my music. I know home recording doesnt always sound professional, but i know that it can be very close with proper techniques.

Everytime i record & try to mix down my vocals it sounds too low/deep or too digital. I have a slightly deep voice with a slight lisp. I am looking for the instructions on how to mix Hip Hop/R&B music. I use double ups & I also like to do two extra (panned) vocal recordings for the end of each bar/line. I need it to blend accordingly, so it sounds official.

PLEASE HELP!!!:confused:


The equipment i use is the following :
-Neumann TLM103
-M Audio Fast Track Pro
-Kiwi mic cables
-COOL EDIT PRO
 
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fateiznear said:
Everytime i record & try to mix down my vocals it sounds too low/deep or too digital. I have a slightly deep voice with a slight lisp.
Click to expand...

What does "too digital" sound like.

You will need to explain your problem better or post a sample so we can figure out what you mean
 
1. If you are very close to the mic you are probably getting a lot of proximity effect. Lows and low-mids build up when the mic is close to the source. That may require a fair bit of eq to compensate.

2. With multiple vocal tracks you may need to do some rather aggressive compression to get them to blend. This depends on how close you can match yourself with each take.
 
I think too digital was bad wording on my part, They just never sound right when i try to do the compression.

The tools i use on Cool Edit are the following in the order i use them:

1.Amplify ("Center Wave" Preset)
2.Dynamics Processing ("Vocal Comp-Fast Attack" Preset)
3.Reverb ("Tight & Close" Preset)
4.Graphoc Equalizer ("Spit Clear" Preset)
5.Parametric Equalizer ("Added Dimension" or "Loudness" Preset)
6.FFT Filter ("Heavy & Wide" Preset)

Is my process to lengthy? or even wrong?

Is Cool Edit not a great program to use.

&&

When you say "aggressive compression" what do you mean?
because im usually pretty on point with the timing. It just never blends too good. Maybe im not compressing the vocals right?
 
fateiznear said:
I think too digital was bad wording on my part, They just never sound right when i try to do the compression.

The tools i use on Cool Edit are the following in the order i use them:

1.Amplify ("Center Wave" Preset)
2.Dynamics Processing ("Vocal Comp-Fast Attack" Preset)
3.Reverb ("Tight & Close" Preset)
4.Graphoc Equalizer ("Spit Clear" Preset)
5.Parametric Equalizer ("Added Dimension" or "Loudness" Preset)
6.FFT Filter ("Heavy & Wide" Preset)

Is my process to lengthy? or even wrong?

Is Cool Edit not a great program to use.

&&

When you say "aggressive compression" what do you mean?
because im usually pretty on point with the timing. It just never blends too good. Maybe im not compressing the vocals right?
Click to expand...

Wow, that's a lot of stuff to put your signal through. The processes you add should be specific solutions to the specific problems of the track. Presets are unlikely to be just right since they weren't created for your particular situation.

Start with eq and get the tonal balance of the vocal track right. If there is a proximity effect problem then eq out some lows and low-mids. Then add a compressor after the eq and set it by ear. Listen to the vocal and how it drops under the music and pops up over it, then adjust the compressor to even out the volume. adjusting the threshold, ratio, knee, attack and release until you get a sound you like. This takes time, experimentation and focus to get right, and you have to decide when it's right by your standards. You may have to go back and forth between eq and compression to really set the vocal into the mix. Once you get one vocal sounding good you can save your own presets and apply them to your other vocals, probably adjusting them a bit for each track.

By "aggressive" I mean a fairly significant amount of gain reduction. That could be from a high ratio and/or a low threshold. Just do whatever it takes to make it sound right to you. Listen to other music you like on your monitors and compare your mixes to them.

Once you get things balanced and under control you can get artistic. Customize your sound like you'd customize your car. Find a balance between creative and tasteful that works for you and your audience.
 
You're never going to get anywhere near pro results using a bunch of random plugins with presets.
There is absolutely, positively NO FORMULA to pro sounding results.
There's no magic plugin, no perfect mic, no right program, no set it and forget it settings on any old compressor or eq.

There is work and learning and using your ears.
So, before you put another plugin on any of your tracks, read read read. Don't just toss a bunch of stuff that you don't even know what it's doing on there and think that that's gonna get you good sounds.
The only reasons to put a plugin on a track are either a: you don't know how it sounds and want to experiment with it to figure out what it sounds like or b: you know exactly how it sounds and want that particular sound/effect for that particular track because it will benefit the overall mix.

Find out what equalizers and compressors do to sounds and what their general uses are. This information can be had all over the place - google is your friend.
You should avoid anyone who tells you "you should use these specific settings" like the plague.
Presets are occasionally useful as a starting point and should never just be set and left alone.
And when you do use them as a starting point, it's because you understand what that particular effect does and have a feel for your individual recording/mixing process and know what general settings you want to go for on a particular track. And once you pull up the preset, it's gonna almost always need tweaking to fit that particular track in that particular mix.
And as you start using effects more (after having done the work to gain a basic grasp of what they are meant to do and what the different controls on them are meant to effect), you'll probably find that you use presets less and less or, if you use them, the ones you use are ones that you've created and saved because you know what your first steps almost always are.

And. though that was all a bit rant-ish, if you find that it was TLDR, then you are never, ever, ever going to make professional sounding recordings. Because you need to read way more than that to even get started understanding what is going on in commercial recordings.

Alternatively, if you hate reading, you can just get really lucky and happen to have a really knowledgeable friend or acquaintance who doesn't mind spending hours (and hours and hours) explaining to you things that you could easily learn from reading the manuals that come with all your equipment.

If it was easy, they wouldn't call it "professional."
 
If it's any help to you, I hardly ever use presets. I usually start with a flat default and work carefully, end to end/ band to band. Many sound processors come with an A/B comparrison switch and/or a bypass. Use these often, to see how far you've deviated with each knob tweak. You might be amazed at how much you've done but if you never listen back, you can keep going on and on, deeper into the woods and eventually get lost. It's happened to me enough times to know.

Finally - and this is advice from someone who's still starting out - I think less is more. Just one or two FX per channel should be more than enough, especially on vocals. For instance, you only need one EQ plugin and if used carefully, you should be able to do a lot with it. I can't see why you'd need two! The only time I stack up a load is when I'm making hideously distorted monster voices and stuff like that. For your vocals, your primary aim in life should be to record them nice to begin with, so there is less work to do afterwards. Every effect you add, adds distortion of some kind, even if you're not immediately aware of it. Therefore, less is more.

Just my two penneth worth.

Dr. V
 
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Right...when I saw the word "Preset" after every plugin... :eek:

Your problem is common for many recording newbs...assuming that presets will just work somehow to make things better.

Without getting into lengthy details about how to set each plugin (it's also kinda hard to do when we can't hear the music)...the best thing to do so that you learn what each one of those plugs is doing...is to LISTEN...rather than just pile them on like you were making an ice cream Sunday. :)

Strip all that shit out...start with nothing and then consider what you are hearing and what you think might be needed.
More plugs doesn't always = better.

Heck...you might just need a touch of EQ, as long as you know which frequencies to adjust...and your ears can help you with that.

If you put up some sound clips...the guys here will have a better chance of helping you more specifically.
 
If you are going to use a preset, then at least study the settings to see what it's actually doing. Never go by goofy phrases like "Fat 'n mean" or "Sizzling Sausages" etc, because those are just subjective names, thought up by the programmer. Usually for their music - not yours.

I've found presets useful only for learning what an effect unit can do when I first download it. I seldom actually use them - and when I do, I'll sometimes use one as a starting point for what I'm trying to achieve.

Dr. V
 
Dr. Varney said:
If you are going to use a preset, then at least study the settings to see what it's actually doing. Never go by goofy phrases like "Fat 'n mean" or "Sizzling Sausages" etc, because those are just subjective names, thought up by the programmer. Usually for their music - not yours.



Dr. V
Click to expand...
Those goofy phrases sound more like ads for porno movies than mixing presets ! :laughings:
 
I think I'd enjoy making up preset names for a living. I can just envisage some chump sittin' there pressing them all, just to see what they sound like... everything from "Throbbing Gristle" to "Squirting Stumps". I actually wrote a song called "Shopping Trolley Incident (pile up in aisle 13)" on my old Amiga.

Dr. V
 
i want sizzling sausages...I have a mix begging for it....
 
miroslav said:
Right...when I saw the word "Preset" after every plugin... :eek:
Click to expand...
Yeah man, red flags all over the place.

You ain't gonna get pro results with presets. So, first thing first, delete all the presets.

Then sit down and actually listen to your stuff and start to identify strenghts and weaknesses, then you will be able to apply the tools you have to achieve specific results.

Presets with EQs and compressors are bad news. These are not synths you know... come to think of it, I have issues with presets on synths too. :D
 
you guys are a bit harsh...presets can be great places to start from if they describe what the are trying to achieve accurately you can learn from them...

after all where would anyone be without sizzling sausages :)


saying that theres way to much going on in the OPs chain FX....cant think of one process Ive duplicated on my many many vocal tracks (thats around 6 lol)
 
bouldersoundguy said:
Start with eq and get the tonal balance of the vocal track right. If there is a proximity effect problem then eq out some lows and low-mids. Then add a compressor after the eq and set it by ear. Listen to the vocal and how it drops under the music and pops up over it, then adjust the compressor to even out the volume. adjusting the threshold, ratio, knee, attack and release until you get a sound you like. This takes time, experimentation and focus to get right, and you have to decide when it's right by your standards. You may have to go back and forth between eq and compression to really set the vocal into the mix. Once you get one vocal sounding good you can save your own presets and apply them to your other vocals, probably adjusting them a bit for each track.


Once you get things balanced and under control you can get artistic. Customize your sound like you'd customize your car. Find a balance between creative and tasteful that works for you and your audience.
Click to expand...

That is one of the best descriptions I've heard for how to work with a vocal track. There is no magic bullet (or preset) that can replace taking the time to eq, compress, reverb etc a vocal track. As mentioned, once you find what works for a particular singers voice, save that as your own preset and it will make the next song a lot easier.
 
Dr. Varney said:
If you are going to use a preset, then at least study the settings to see what it's actually doing. Never go by goofy phrases like "Fat 'n mean" or "Sizzling Sausages" etc, because those are just subjective names, thought up by the programmer. Usually for their music - not yours.

I've found presets useful only for learning what an effect unit can do when I first download it. I seldom actually use them - and when I do, I'll sometimes use one as a starting point for what I'm trying to achieve.

Dr. V
Click to expand...

You are bang on about the stupid names. I love using the Vintage Channel in Sonar and one of the presets is something stupid like "female airy vocal" Well, that one actually sounds great for my voice in certain instances, but because of the name, I missed trying it for a long time.

I started with it, tweaked it, then renamed it something more testesteronish!:D
 
before any plugins

hi just wanted to add a little note to this:
before using any plugins you should look at the more basic opperetions that are often forgoten- rhythm and pitch. vocals often stick out, don't blend and sound wrong if they are out of time or not in pitch and esspecially when double tracking. you said you are doing hip hop so pitch might not be an issue for the most part but don't get sluck on timing. even if you think the recording was the best you could do. you can go back and menually adjust the timing of all your tracks. you will find that after doing it you will need less eq and compression to fit them to the mix. takes some time and practice to "pocket" your tracks but if you want pro results you should put the time in. if you can get your hend on auto tune or melodine you could fix some pitch issues as well. effect of eq and compressions can be hard to hear at first and only practice will teach you what to listen to and how to work them. the following books helped me a lot: "multi platinum pro tools" - there are a few yuotube clips as well, goo for any daw not just protools. "mixing with your mind" - a clasic and great a great way for using compressors, "the mixing engeneer's hand book", there are also some great youtube clips out there if reading is not your thing
good luck
 
fateiznear said:
I have many problems trying to mix my music. I know home recording doesnt always sound professional, but i know that it can be very close with proper techniques.

Everytime i record & try to mix down my vocals it sounds too low/deep or too digital. I have a slightly deep voice with a slight lisp. I am looking for the instructions on how to mix Hip Hop/R&B music. I use double ups & I also like to do two extra (panned) vocal recordings for the end of each bar/line. I need it to blend accordingly, so it sounds official.

PLEASE HELP!!!:confused:


The equipment i use is the following :
-Neumann TLM103
-M Audio Fast Track Pro
-Kiwi mic cables
-COOL EDIT PRO
Click to expand...

Maybe the 103 is just not suited for your voice. Try something else.





:cool:
 
kcearl said:
you guys are a bit harsh...presets can be great places to start from if they describe what the are trying to achieve accurately you can learn from them...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I mean me saying 'never' is a bit of an exaggeration but generally, their meanings are going to be better known to the person who programmed them.

If they do describe well what they're aiming to achieve, then I don't see a problem - except I think you learn more by making your own.

Later on I need a telephone conversation going on in my play. There's a preset for that in my EQ section so I've no doubt I'll be selecting it for the sake of convenience. Doesn't take long to work out what works for you and you can always rename them to something more... testosteronal...

Dr. V
 
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