changing vocal style

  • Thread starter Thread starter LI Slim
  • Start date Start date
LI Slim

LI Slim

New member
There was an article in a recent NY Times about Elvis Costello and an opera singer whose name escapes me (Sophie something or something Sophie), who have recently completed an album together. In recording, Elvis insisted that she control her volume and get closer to the mic to get that intimate sound desired in modern popular recordings. I've had a similar experience in learning how to record my humble, less-trained voice. It's just different than performing. In my last song I moved from the approx. 15'' range to about 9" away from my large condensor mic, and controlled the volume, never going as full out as I might live. Judging from the response I've gotten it's by far my best vocal recording.

Does this concept work for you?
 
I just started using a condensor-large-and I found that my voice sounded so much better in my last song- I stood pretty close to the mike and i guess i was pretty much forced to sing better . I'm not that familiar with the mechanics of mikes in general but I prefer the upclose and personal sound. Especially if the accoustics in the room do nothing for your voice.
Peace out
Shana
 
Yo Slim One:

Close or far from the mic? What kind of mic are you using? It only matters if you have a decent mic or one that works for your voice; however, you do need a mic preamp and whatever you are recording on, you need to know when you clip. All voices are different and if you have ever experienced words that are garbled, you will know how nice it is to record a tune, vocal, and the articulation is cool.

Frank Sinatra recorded through some mics that are out of limits in my budget; however, Frank did not have digital technology and with some real effort and practice, we can do vocals that are clear and up front.

I don't have a professional studio but I have a studio and strive to do professional sound.

Don't overuse the reverb and your vocals, depending upon your gear, will come out better -- if you have ultra gear, you can do anything if you are knowledgeable and are willing to do it over and over and over.

I work with a gal who will sometimes do a two minute song ten times until it sounds just right; then comes the real problem; I have to mix it so it sounds like she heard it!!

Can you dig it?


Green Hornet
 
My vocals suck no matter what I do, I have to pile on effects to cover my crappy vocal abilities....Im ashamed....and dissapointed that I cant sing....

john
 
My grandmother sing'a 200% better than me;and she's been dead for over 60years. I can't sing to save my own daughters life!!! If the fate of the HUMAN RACE depended on me singing
the old child-hood song "ABCEDFG...." in key,mankind would cease to exist as we know it! I can't even TALK in key!!!
But, I do know this, vocal mic technique, pop-screen applications,
proper use of voice staccato & vibrato,breath control,vocal tonality, understanding vocal expectations and limitations and most of PRACTICE are a few of the important ingredients involved
in the art of singing! LI SLIM, these quality's you possess!
With that all said,perhaps you should try using a larger condenser mic which can pick-up,define and properly translate the nuances of your most exceptional vocal skills!
Why not audition 1 of them Neumann thingys or a Manley. I've heard so-called vocalist's perform thru these mics and sound great (mind you,these 3 vocalists can't even HOLD the PACKAGE
to your jock-strap when it come's to singing!! :) ) so hey,give a shot! Otherwise,IMHO,"If it ain't broke,no need to fix it!!"
Just my .000003cents worth.
Peace
Mr.Q
 
Well Green and Q, you both make valuable points, but I was focusing on this particular issue about how close one should get to a large condensor mic, given a decent mic (I have an AT4047, which I think is as good as any that you can buy for less than a thousand dollars) and decent singing voice. Maybe it's impossible to have a general rule of thumb. It's just that I've read in several places that you should be at least a foot away for optimal sound and I don't think that's what people actually do. I think what sounds best to people is getting closer, turning up the headphone volume and singing in a more controlled or conversational style so as to avoid distortion and get that intimate feeling from it. Also, I think that this is different from what the same singers do live when we step up close to a dynamic mic and really drive the sound.

Certainly, without really really good recording equipment, it's hard to match the sound of a good live performance -- at least it is for me, I guess a lot of folks usually sound better canned.
 
MISTERQCUE said:
!
Why not audition 1 of them Neumann thingys or a Manley. Just my .000003cents worth.
Peace
Mr.Q
Click to expand...

AT4047 Huh!!??? Uhhh, never mind!!!!:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top