Best place to record vocals?

  • Thread starter Thread starter William Choi
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William Choi

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Hi, where is the best place to record vocals that does not have any natural reverb?
Could it be anywhere or must it be in a large room totally soundproof?
I see a lot of studio photographs with people singing in a pretty spacey room. But are singing well away from the mic(please tell me what this mic is, its a larger diaphram) and they're in front of those flat circular spit and pop screens(filter)?what are these?how much are they?
I do my vocals pretty much in a large room with a SM58 fitted with a spongy pop filter. And I sing close to the mic.
Should I sing in a quite room and try distancing myself from the mic? Will this give a better quality?
Does close micing vocals better than distant micing vocals with a SM58? Whats the deal with what I see in studio vocal micing and what I do? Is it smoother or something?
There is a significant difference but I can't quite put my finger on it.
 
More times then not, you are looking at a Nuemann U-87 in those pictures. And that is a pop filter in front of the microphone.

You can brush up on microphone applications at <a href="http://www.shure.com/applications/faq.html">http://www.shure.com/applications/faq.html</a>

Often the singer is pulled far away from the microphone to reduce the proximity effect of the mic. This is where the closer the source is to the mic, the more bass is going to be picked up. Also, if the singer is aways from the mic, there tends to be a smoother level going to the mic pre-amp. This has to do with proximity effect also.

You will probably not have very good results trying to distance mic with a SM-58. The 58 was designed for live applications where singing close to the mic is desirable to reduce the gain before feedback. Large diaphram condencer mics are preferable in studio work because of the mics ability to provide a very flat responce. They tend not to work so well in live applications on a source that needs to be boosted a lot.

About room acoustics, many times, this is desirable, IF, the room has an ambience that flatters the sound source. Most of those studios you see in those pictures have more invested into the design of the main recording room than most of us have in out entire set up. If you find that the room seems to add a little something to a singer in it, it will give the recorded tract a sense of space that a digital reverb just can't do very well. In the case that you don't have a very good sounding room to record vocals in, or, if the room is very noisy, then up close micing is a better way to go. The closer the sourse is to the mic, the less of the room acoustics will be picked up by the mic. If the case is that you don't desire room acoustics for whatever reason, try to be creative is approaching this problem if you lack the funds to really do a proper job of treating a room. Try curtains, about 12" from a wall, and in a corner, with curtains behind where the singer will sing. You can also hang some from the ceiling, but still make sure that it is about 12" away, as this space is needed for sound absorption.

Hope this helps, and Good Luck.

Ed Rei
Echo Star Studio <a href="http://www.echostarstudio.com">www.echostarstudio.com</a>

[This message has been edited by Dragon (edited 09-21-1999).]
 
Hi William

In regard to the room if you're looking for a vocal recording without natural reverb you would avoid large live spaces(especially with hard floors). ideally a smaller more dampened room (lots of absorptive materials like carpet and curtains). This will give you a much more 'dead' sound to work with. or best of all a 'vocal booth' <- look these up.

in regards to mic choice, the typical 'studio mic' you see singers use is a 'large diaphragm condenser' microphone. This type of mic will give you a lot more intimate and and clear vocal recording over your SM58 which is a 'dynamic' microphone good for live vocals and demo recordings. The 'pop filter' plays the same job as the spongy one you have on your SM58, it helps to reduce the 'pops' like the 'Sss' and 't' sounds and also helps guide the singer at a good distance to sing from the mic.

In regard to mic placement for a 'Dead' sound without natural reverb you will be wanting to stay close to the mic. a few centimeters with a 'dynamic' and 5-10cm form a 'condenser' this will ensure little 'room sound' and leave your with a much cleaner 'dryer' vocal take.

Trout.
 
steel-head said:
Hi William
Click to expand...
Hi William wanted the answer to his question 13 years ago. Even a die hard persistent never give up type would've given up the ghost by now !
What amazes me is that in order to answer a 13 year old question, you have to go back 500 pages. Didn't you notice ?
Still, it happens to the best of us !
 
WOW! 13 years. :eek:

It's probably better that the OP didn't read it anyway.
 
He's probably left home recording behind and is now a behind the scenes special advisor to the president or something. Maybe he sings to him on occasion.
 
Well, it's good advice if you include the zoo or the ocean or outer space ! :D
 
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