Any suggestions for recording and processing vocals?

[cadbawdbawks]

I'm having a hard time getting my vocals to sound right, for some reason they just don't sound crisp and clear and have a tendency to sound really muffled and distorted (much like the radio effect, only not to that much of a degree of distortion). It actually sounds quite boomy sometimes too. I've tried compressing, eq, panning, recording at different levels...even after hours and hours of tweaking I can't manage to get the sound I want, there always seems to be that congested kind of sound no matter what I do.

I'm currently recording some pop and alternative tracks. I admit i'm not that great of a singer myself but I've recorded a few tracks at my friend's house which sounded exceptional (sound quality wise). I'm not so much concerned as to how in tune the vocals are, but rather the sound quality, crisp, clean, big, and clear. Are there any tips/ strategies in terms of the recording, to the processing? I'm using an MXL990 mic, my friend uses an AT2020 and is able to get the exact sound I am looking for. Should I be looking for another mic? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Here's one of the recordings I did with my friend at his home studio for a reference as to what sound I'd like to achieve,

Thanks!

 

[TeyshaBlue]

I'm having a hard time getting my vocals to sound right, for some reason they just don't sound crisp and clear and have a tendency to sound really muffled and distorted. I'm currently recording some pop and alternative tracks. I admit i'm not that great of a singer myself but I've recorded a few tracks at my friend's house which sounded exceptional (sound quality wise). I'm not so much concerned as to how in tune the vocals are, but rather the sound quality, crisp, clean, big, and clear. Are there any tips/ strategies in terms of the recording, to the processing? I'm using an MXL990 mic, my friend uses an AT2020 and is able to get the exact sound I am looking for. Should I be looking for another mic? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Pretty tough question without a sample track to hear. It could be many, many things. You might be sharing too much space with other instruments in the mix....guitars and vox often share the same eq real-estate. It could be that you are burying the vox in verb or other FX....I really don't have enough infor to go on.
It could be the mic, although the 990s I've heard aren't exactly dull..thin maybe. If your buddy is getting the sound you want out of a 2020, and his gear is the same as yours, then your question is answered.

 

[RAMI]

they just don't sound crisp and clear and have a tendency to sound really muffled and distorted. I've tried compressing, eq, panning, recording at different levels...even after hours and hours of tweaking I can't manage to get the sound I want, there always seems to be that congested kind of sound no matter what I do.

If that's the sound being recorded, then all the EQ'ing, compressing and panning in the world isn't going to save them. If they sound muffled and distorted only after you do all those things, then don't do them.

 

[cadbawdbawks]

Pretty tough question without a sample track to hear. It could be many, many things. You might be sharing too much space with other instruments in the mix....guitars and vox often share the same eq real-estate. It could be that you are burying the vox in verb or other FX....I really don't have enough infor to go on.
It could be the mic, although the 990s I've heard aren't exactly dull..thin maybe. If your buddy is getting the sound you want out of a 2020, and his gear is the same as yours, then your question is answered.

Thanks for the quick responses,

As for the reverb/ effects, I haven't really been using any of that, I have tried it to no success though. I'm not too sure if i'm "sharing too much space with other instruments though". Sorry for my noob knowledge in recording. Would you care to explain how I could identify this/ resolve it? It does kind of sound like my vocals are being buried in the guitar but even when I adjust the levels, I either get too much of the vocal or too little, I can't really hit the sweet spot.

As for the equipment, my stuff is much lower grade. I use a tascam us 122 interface with the mxl 990. My friend has an apogee duet for his at2020 with an ART preamp. Perhaps I need another preamp?

Honestly I really have no idea what to be thinking..haha...sorry if I made any stupid comments above.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[cadbawdbawks]

If that's the sound being recorded, then all the EQ'ing, compressing and panning in the world isn't going to save them. If they sound muffled and distorted only after you do all those things, then don't do them.

Thanks for offering your help,

The eqing compressing and panning has to some degree made my recording sound a little better, but without it, the raw recording sound terrible...

 

[Jim Lad]

RAMI is to the point.
Got it across in a few words and I think he's right.
"Less is more".
How far from the mic are you?
Proximity effect can make you sound muffled.
I wouldn't be looking at adding any other equipment to your signal path either.
At least, not until you've been recording for a while and have identified a need.
Maybe try using a pop filter to keep you away from the mic or just experiment. 3", 5", 7" and listen to the differences.
I frequently talk to my vocal mic during set up, telling it how close I am, singing to it etc. then play it back to myself at the desk.
That way I get to check for clipping and know when I'm getting the right sound.

 

[cadbawdbawks]

RAMI is to the point.
Got it across in a few words and I think he's right.
"Less is more".
How far from the mic are you?
Proximity effect can make you sound muffled.
I wouldn't be looking at adding any other equipment to your signal path either.
At least, not until you've been recording for a while and have identified a need.
Maybe try using a pop filter to keep you away from the mic or just experiment. 3", 5", 7" and listen to the differences.
I frequently talk to my vocal mic during set up, telling it how close I am, singing to it etc. then play it back to myself at the desk.
That way I get to check for clipping and know when I'm getting the right sound.

Hi Jim,

Thankyou for your response. I've tried every 2 inches between 3 inches to 9 inches and I seem to get the same problem. I haven't tried recording myself talking to the mic though. Will give that a shot though and see how it is. Thanks.

 

[Jim Lad]

I haven't tried recording myself talking to the mic though.

That's just for a reference but what does your buddy think about your sound?
You're supposed to hate your own voice, you know.
It's in the Good Book!

 

[cadbawdbawks]

That's just for a reference but what does your buddy think about your sound?
You're supposed to hate your own voice, you know.
It's in the Good Book!

hmm, perhaps it's my pop filter? I do have a pop filter, but maybe it's to cheaply made (haha I had to make it myself cause I didn't want to have to wait a day to go out and buy one).

below's a picture of the pop filter that I made, which could be the cause of my issues (I also made my mic stands out of a lamp stand and the shock mount below out of an abs tube haha...cheap me..maybe this is why my recordings flat out suck...)

 

[cadbawdbawks]

That's just for a reference but what does your buddy think about your sound?
You're supposed to hate your own voice, you know.
It's in the Good Book!

haha actually, i'm too embarassed to send my recordings to my buddy...they really do sound terrible...which is also the reason why I didn't post up a sample of my own..i do apologize for being stubborn and hence making the job harder for you guys to solve though...

I do have a pop filter, but maybe it's to cheaply made (haha I had to make it myself cause I didn't want to have to wait a day to go out and buy one).

below's a picture of the pop filter that I made, which could be the cause of my issues (I also made my mic stands out of a lamp stand and the shock mount below out of an abs tube haha...cheap me..maybe this is why my recordings flat out suck...)

 

[cadbawdbawks]

Actually, it just occured to me...would the pop filter's proximity to the mic cause an issue?

 

[RAMI]

Actually, it just occured to me...would the pop filter's proximity to the mic cause an issue?

I'd be more concerned with proximity of the mic to the wall or window that's right behind it. That's sort of what I was getting at with my first post.

There are so many things you have to take into consideration before you go anywhere near the RECORD button, let alone compressing, EQ'ing, etc...after the fact.
The room, where in the room you're placing yourself, your signal chain and gain structure, etc...

Don't worry about which plug-ins you need until you've addressed at least a few, but ideally all, these factors.

 

[Jim Lad]

hmm, perhaps it's my pop filter? I do have a pop filter, but maybe it's to cheaply made (haha I had to make it myself cause I didn't want to have to wait a day to go out and buy one).

below's a picture of the pop filter that I made, which could be the cause of my issues (I also made my mic stands out of a lamp stand and the shock mount below out of an abs tube haha...cheap me..maybe this is why my recordings flat out suck...)

Nice work but that set up can really let you down.
Hey! I just had a listen to your sample and looked at the reviews on your mic.
If that's your vocals, you have nothing to worry about.
That's not taking into account that you're working with a $60 microphone.
Sounds good to me.
Now, treat yourself to a $30 mic stand.
Go on!

 

[cadbawdbawks]

Nice work but that set up can really let you down.
Hey! I just had a listen to your sample and looked at the reviews on your mic.
If that's your vocals, you have nothing to worry about.
That's not taking into account that you're working with a $60 microphone.
Sounds good to me.
Now, treat yourself to a $30 mic stand.
Go on!

Actually I'd love to say that's my recording, but that was actually done when I was at my friends house with his at2020. That's actually the sound I was looking for. Thanks for the comments though haha.

 

[Jim Lad]

In that case.... you should listen to RAMI.
He went easy on you.
Have fun with it whatever you do.
Adios!

 

[cadbawdbawks]

Would a preamp make much difference?

Thanks for the help guys!