Bata Beat ! Help with vocals! (Repost with right attachment)

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FedePatane

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Dear gurus, This is a repost because the attachment on the other wasn't working right.

I recorded a song with my band and can´t seem to get the vocals right.

Please help!!!! What am I doing wrong?

I recorded with Shure SM58 (with pop filter) through Pod x3 live pedalboard. Effects added later were EQ, a little reverb and tone booster. And still it doesn't sound right.

I feel it sounds a little Opaque and lifeless. and I can assure you i saw my singer record and he gave all he could give.
Can someone tell me what am doing wrong or at least point me in some general direction where to investigate?

As for all the rest in the recording comments and suggestions are of course welcome, but my main concern is the vocals.

Removed attachment and added sound cloud, hope you can hear it now...

http://soundcloud.com/federico-patan/bata-beat-versi-n-3

Thanx in advance!

Fede
 
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How long did it take the singer to write all those verses and choruses? :)

The main problem is that you recorded vocals through a guitar preamp/effect/modeling unit. Vocals need a much fuller range captured where as guitar amps and effect have a narrow band in the overall mix spectrum. This is why you rarely see 15" guitar speaker cabs and never with a tweeter. Sounds dull and squashed because that is what happens when you use the wrong setup. If you can, have your singer go direct-into the PA and record straight out from the PA (if you have one). Or invest in a small interface and let your singer record direct. Bottom line, wrong signal chain for vocals.

Now IF you HAVE to and MUST use your current setup, then add top end (again going to be a fixed frequency designed to support guitar tones) and try not to distort the input which is also happening now.

Bata beat bada boom!

Much respect and many blessings!
 
Thanx for you comments. The lyrics are really deep and thoughtfull :facepalm: . Nahh, the singer came up with it on a Jam session and it kind of got stuck there.

As for my pedalboard it is prepared for doing vocals, I have even configured a signal chain using this preamp:
Acording to the manual it is base on this:

American Classic
This model is based on* an
API® 512 Mic Pre and API®
550b EQ housed in an API®
Lunchbox 500 6-B.

and following this I used a De-esser .

I thought This would process voice correctly but as you pointed out it sounds squashed and flat.

I am a bit stubborn and will try again changing my settings. Will realy check what happens with the high end and harmonics. I have seen recording with the same pedalboard and they sound great, that is why i think that it is I who is doing something wrong.

Do you thing a compresor would help in the screaming in between?

I really apreciate your comments! Thanks again.
 
I thought the song had good energy.

The vocal sounds like there is nothing above 3Khz or so. They need compression too - things jump out from time to time. Was the singer drunk? If you said yes I'd believe it.

Cymbals have a hyped upper end that make them a little abrasive.

Guitars and bass sound OK - but the guitar is a little on the "sterile" side.
 
Agree with above, that the vocals are missing some top end and the cymbals are a bit prominent, but the vocals missing top end is the most important bit. Liked the song, it really reminded me of The B-52's and I really like The B-52's.
 
FedePatane said:
As for my pedalboard it is prepared for doing vocals,
Click to expand...
Fede. Your pedal will NEVER be prepared for vocals. I really want to emphasize this point. This is a guitar preamp/modeling/effects unit. It will not capture vocals with any dynamics.


FedePatane said:
and following this I used a De-esser .
Click to expand...
Remove this. De-essers tend to kill top end and presence, even the very good ones, not to mention trying to de-ess this particular signal chain.

FedePatane said:
I am a bit stubborn and will try again changing my settings.... I have seen recording with the same pedalboard and they sound great, that is why i think that it is I who is doing something wrong.
Click to expand...
You have seen VOCALS recorded through a POD guitar effects unit that sounded great? This would be nearly impossible unless you were going for an effected type of vocal sound for color / effect. Can you post some clips for us?

FedePatane said:
Do you thing a compresor would help in the screaming in between?
Click to expand...
No, not here. In normal circumstances it MIGHT be advisable, but the effect unit by its very nature is squashing the vocals to nothing. The air is already gone. Honestly, on a side note any singer worth his salt learns to practice mic dynamics. As for your singer, his ARM should be his compressor.

Best with it!!

Much respect and many blessings!~
 
Thank you all for your suggestions.

As for the symbals it is my fault. I put up the highs cause i coudn't hear the ride so I EQ it high, must work on it.

TripleM: what do you mean by "sterile" guitars?

Toad_UK: thanx for the comment, but we were not going for the B-52's sound.... But glad you liked it!

Bonafide: I remember having heard the samples from the Line6 page that aren't there any more with really good vocals, but then again, I am not an expert so I may have heard wrong. I want to do the best I can with what i have.

My singer was not drunk or drugged in any way. It is just the way he is.

I will remove the De-esser. What I´ll do is re-record with no efects whatsoever and see the dinamics and try and do the best with what I Have.

Thank you all again for sharing your time and knowledge with me!

Fede
 
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