H
Hi_Flyer
New member
when you guys double track the vox, how do you pan the two takes? do you keep them both fairly centered?
Farview
Well-known member
If you are doubling the vocals to hide the singers inability to sing, keep them centered. If you are doing it for an effect, pan it a bit. The farther you pan them, the clearer the individual takes get.
FALKEN
*************************
yeah I usually pan both center and make the doubled track just on the edge of being able to hear it or not. (so it comes out in accented parts but doesn't sound too much like boston or something)
also...this thread got me thinking back to when I first started out on a 4-track with a 57. I really wanted my vocals to sound better (cuz I sucked at singing....I was like 15). so I bought a condenser mic, and that made my vocals REALLY suck! I went back to the store and explained that it wasn't the right sound and he recommended a compressor....MUUCH better.... probably kept me from giving up altogether.
one more tip...if you add a "far" vocal mic (try a condenser) and record it to a separate track, it will give you more control on how much natural "ambience" (read: bury in the mix) you have.
also...this thread got me thinking back to when I first started out on a 4-track with a 57. I really wanted my vocals to sound better (cuz I sucked at singing....I was like 15). so I bought a condenser mic, and that made my vocals REALLY suck! I went back to the store and explained that it wasn't the right sound and he recommended a compressor....MUUCH better.... probably kept me from giving up altogether.
one more tip...if you add a "far" vocal mic (try a condenser) and record it to a separate track, it will give you more control on how much natural "ambience" (read: bury in the mix) you have.
CoolCat
Well-known member
it all winds up analog in the end anyway.........
MY INPUTS TO YOU:
i'm a believer its in the performance. the Tracking-stage 1 of 3.
Maybe your trying too many notes while singing?
Cut down, simplify the notes, maybe this will tighten it up. Have someone else sing it, see what you hear? (see what you hear?!??you get it..)
Run your vocal thru that new-Fake Auto correction software that can make everyone sound perfect!!!
Ever Track everything as dry as you can?
Pan in Mono. No EQ, No verbs...Keep It Simple Stupid..
Bluegrass.
K.I.S.S. Tracking mehtod by bmwerx.com....great and works, proofs in the pudding.
About the Author:
I have over 15years exp. making very crappy recordings in a bedroom, hall, or lunchbox,.. with all kinds of equipment being used with no real knowledge of what was going on at the least. I would consider myself possibly an expert on the subject of recording in the wrong manner.
Currently trying to figure out how a speakers Voice coil perfectly suspends balanced in the flux from the the fixed Magnet. I think it comes back to wrapping a nail with a wire, and hooking up a small voltage...and using a magnet to move the nail..electro-magnetics? sound is the battery, nail is the cone, magnet is the magnet which Pulls, and Pushes the Nail/Cone, depending oin the sound/voltage polarity... i think.
My most recent work of comparing the BW303 to a JBL Control 5 is in progress with the latter showing greater detail while sounding more harsh than the 303 and my Paradigms, and my Infinitys, and my...surround sound..
hence my new theory "Mid rangey Ear Bleed and Ear Fatigue is a sign of a GOOD Studio Monitor!"
Formerly worked at Texas Instruments on the DLP R&D Division....but didn't want to go to Malaysia before layoffs.
Question: What do they do with Engineers after 40?
Ans: They take em out and shoot 'em.
(Movie Quote: Primer - go see it at Blockbusters, #1 Sundance winner...my friends in it and it had some UTD clips about time travel warpage...good)
Feel free to send me money or Audio equipment. yes i have a new job...and will be housing some Homless Hurricane cousins. On a single income family of 6 now? whooa. my heads starting to tingle again???
what about my studio space???
I'll sleep in the studio they can have the master bedroom!! I'm Happy!...
MY INPUTS TO YOU:
i'm a believer its in the performance. the Tracking-stage 1 of 3.
Maybe your trying too many notes while singing?
Cut down, simplify the notes, maybe this will tighten it up. Have someone else sing it, see what you hear? (see what you hear?!??you get it..)
Run your vocal thru that new-Fake Auto correction software that can make everyone sound perfect!!!
Ever Track everything as dry as you can?
Pan in Mono. No EQ, No verbs...Keep It Simple Stupid..
Bluegrass.
K.I.S.S. Tracking mehtod by bmwerx.com....great and works, proofs in the pudding.
About the Author:
I have over 15years exp. making very crappy recordings in a bedroom, hall, or lunchbox,.. with all kinds of equipment being used with no real knowledge of what was going on at the least. I would consider myself possibly an expert on the subject of recording in the wrong manner.
Currently trying to figure out how a speakers Voice coil perfectly suspends balanced in the flux from the the fixed Magnet. I think it comes back to wrapping a nail with a wire, and hooking up a small voltage...and using a magnet to move the nail..electro-magnetics? sound is the battery, nail is the cone, magnet is the magnet which Pulls, and Pushes the Nail/Cone, depending oin the sound/voltage polarity... i think.
My most recent work of comparing the BW303 to a JBL Control 5 is in progress with the latter showing greater detail while sounding more harsh than the 303 and my Paradigms, and my Infinitys, and my...surround sound..
hence my new theory "Mid rangey Ear Bleed and Ear Fatigue is a sign of a GOOD Studio Monitor!"
Formerly worked at Texas Instruments on the DLP R&D Division....but didn't want to go to Malaysia before layoffs.
Question: What do they do with Engineers after 40?
Ans: They take em out and shoot 'em.
(Movie Quote: Primer - go see it at Blockbusters, #1 Sundance winner...my friends in it and it had some UTD clips about time travel warpage...good)
Feel free to send me money or Audio equipment. yes i have a new job...and will be housing some Homless Hurricane cousins. On a single income family of 6 now? whooa. my heads starting to tingle again???
what about my studio space???
I'll sleep in the studio they can have the master bedroom!! I'm Happy!...
Monkey Allen
Fork and spoon operator
Get that machine they used in the Simpsons to make, Bart, Milhouse, Ralph and Nelson sound all synthed
SouthSIDE Glen
independentrecording.net
Amen, brother!COOLCAT said:
G.
J
Jessica_X
New member
I am a weak and shaky vocalist.
My methods to deal are:
-don't hold the notes long, have a sort of conversational understated delivery
-compensate for this with lush instrumentation
-double track
-a little auto tune to get the double tracking to sound more in sync
-use three part harmony for the chorus
-sing countermelodies for parts of the chorus (usually I sing in falsetto, and double track or triple track this)
My methods to deal are:
-don't hold the notes long, have a sort of conversational understated delivery
-compensate for this with lush instrumentation
-double track
-a little auto tune to get the double tracking to sound more in sync
-use three part harmony for the chorus
-sing countermelodies for parts of the chorus (usually I sing in falsetto, and double track or triple track this)
Steenamaroo
...
I think there are yays and nays in there, as follows.
-don't hold the notes long, have a sort of conversational understated delivery
It'd be better to work on your strength than to avoid showing weakness, but yes; This can help if you're stuck.
-compensate for this with lush instrumentation
Read : Hide the voice. This isn't likely to work in my experience/opinion.
-double track
Fair play. Again, it shouldn't be because you have to, but it can help.
-a little auto tune to get the double tracking to sound more in sync
Negative. The point of double tracking is the juxtaposition of subtle differences in performance.
Amplitude, frequency and timing. Autotune eliminates one of those subtle differences.
Of course it depends how much your using autotune, but generally I wont do that.
-use three part harmony for the chorus
Everybody can enjoy that.
-sing countermelodies for parts of the chorus
and that.
The bottom line is that some things can help, but a weak voice is a weak voice.
If you want to fix it 'properly', strengthen your voice.
A pal of mine isn't always confident with pitching awkward melodies etc.
I tell him to play the song half speed (sounds ridiculous) and sing it in such a way that every note has the same strength from start to finish.
No emotion - no shying away at the tails. Just every single note as strong as can be (don't read as loud).
Do this dor a few minutes then try to sing it properly. Every feels slightly more accessible, right?
This can be a great warm up or confidence builder.
If you don't hit a note head on first time, don't bail. That defeats the purpose.
The point is that you get to each note eventually and sing it with reasonable strength.
If possible, swell each note a little as your confidence builds.
Hope that's useful
PS: Congrats on the 9 year necro-thread.
Go back to sleep my friend!
-don't hold the notes long, have a sort of conversational understated delivery
It'd be better to work on your strength than to avoid showing weakness, but yes; This can help if you're stuck.
-compensate for this with lush instrumentation
Read : Hide the voice. This isn't likely to work in my experience/opinion.
-double track
Fair play. Again, it shouldn't be because you have to, but it can help.
-a little auto tune to get the double tracking to sound more in sync
Negative. The point of double tracking is the juxtaposition of subtle differences in performance.
Amplitude, frequency and timing. Autotune eliminates one of those subtle differences.
Of course it depends how much your using autotune, but generally I wont do that.
-use three part harmony for the chorus
Everybody can enjoy that.
-sing countermelodies for parts of the chorus
and that.
The bottom line is that some things can help, but a weak voice is a weak voice.
If you want to fix it 'properly', strengthen your voice.
A pal of mine isn't always confident with pitching awkward melodies etc.
I tell him to play the song half speed (sounds ridiculous) and sing it in such a way that every note has the same strength from start to finish.
No emotion - no shying away at the tails. Just every single note as strong as can be (don't read as loud).
Do this dor a few minutes then try to sing it properly. Every feels slightly more accessible, right?
This can be a great warm up or confidence builder.
If you don't hit a note head on first time, don't bail. That defeats the purpose.
The point is that you get to each note eventually and sing it with reasonable strength.
If possible, swell each note a little as your confidence builds.
Hope that's useful
PS: Congrats on the 9 year necro-thread.
Go back to sleep my friend!
RawDepth
New member
What are you calling "shaky"? Unintentional vibrato when holding notes?
Although the software I'm about to suggest didn't exist when this thread was started, the OP may have benefited from it.
I use Melodyne to correct the "nervous sounding" vibrato on some voices. Check it out here...
mjbphotos
Moderator
How do people find these 8+ year-old threads, anyway?! 
JG96
Active member
Using the search function. Gotta give em credit for that at least!
GONZO-X
Well-known member
THE VERY BEST THING YOU CAN DO..
is to make the singer rehearse the song until they can sell it to satan.
honestly, there are no shortcuts for doing it right.
even if the vocal is TERRIBLE.... but is fully put out there, that's the best you can do.
multi tracking multiple takes, and blending them, has helped out lots of folks (robert plant comes to mind)