Do I need a new mic, or do I just SUCK???

  • Thread starter Thread starter cloudchamber
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cloudchamber

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I'm having trouble getting my vocal mix to sound the way I want it to. I was hoping you guys could help me trouble-shoot my sound.

If you have time, let me know:
1. Does it sound as bad as i think it does?
2. Is there a specific weak point I can fix without re-recording everything?
3. Do I need new hardware/software?

heres my vocal set-up:

Room:
Small bedroom with carpet and bare walls.

Hardware:
1. Oktava MC-319
2. M-audio Audio Buddy
3. M-audio Audiophile
plugins:
4. Noise Gate
5. Antares Mic Modeller
6. Sonic Foundry Graphic Dynamics (De-esser)
7. Sonic Foundry Wave Hammer (Compression)
8. Antares Auto-Tune
9. Sonic Foundry Reverb


here's the web page (pick "Mix 2"--should be the first one)

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/cloudchamber_music.htm

here's a direct link:
http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamM3U.m3u?ID=63314&q=Hi

Thanx.
 
Jeeezuz ther buddy, don't be so hard on your self. It sounds alright on my system. Probably just needs a little spit and polish. The vocal performance was very good. The recording also was good. You must be looking for a certian sound or something. This is some awesome stuff to come out af someones bedroom. Nice job, Charva
 
good stuff!

i gave it a listen....i thought it was very good! i have a powerful bass boost and the bass almost tore my shirt off but i think that was just my system!
sounding good
James
 
sounds really good to me..........what's wrong with it??
 
I find the vocal a bit artifical-sounding and slightly off-tune with that accentuated wavy warbling.... sounds like overuse of the "Boy Band" setting on the Autotune!

There also is some exaggerrated ambience on the whole vocal...

If I were you I'd get the vocal to sound good dry first, THEN bring in the Autotune and tweak it until there are no noticeable artifacts. When the vocal is good, then worry about the ambience effects.

The Autotune can be useful, but it's also easy to overuse - giving a very artficial sound to a track.

Bruce
 
SWEEEEEET basslines! Dig it!

The autotune is making it weird. If you GOTTA have the autotune, try doubling the vocals (or tripling) with the Autotune; this can thicken your individual vox lines while maintaining their unique characteristics.

Does that make sense?

Also, sounds like you boosted your high-end to individualize the vocals above the mix, when the vocals maybe ought to come up a bit (and double them, if they're still "thin").

Dig the tune. Very "BoysIIMen," I can dig it.
 
Thanks for all the compliments. I know it sounds *okay,* I just want to hold myself to a higher standard.

Blue Bear, I only actually used the auto tune on background vocals, but I will definitely take a "less is more" approach with it. Could you explain what you mean by "exaggerated ambience?" Are you simply saying I used too much reverb? How about the compression levels--okay or not okay?

Kelly, too much high end is a bad habit of mine. I already had to boost it less than I initially had it. I think my ears are just losing some of their high frequency response. ;) I will look into taking more of the edge off the EQ.

Thanks for the feedback. Keep it comin.
 
cloudchamber said:
Could you explain what you mean by "exaggerated ambience?" Are you simply saying I used too much reverb? How about the compression levels--okay or not okay?
Click to expand...
Yes... not simply too much reverb - but the reverb you chose was too obvious... it sounded like an effect rather than ambience.

Bruce
 
sonic foundry reverb is quite horrible. I suggest you stop using it immediately. I could never get a good lush sound from it.
 
i have a fancy timeworks reverb X, but it hogs the CPU so bad its virtually unusable. Any good plugin suggestions?
 
all the useable reverb plugins are cpu hogs.

an alternative would be to spend about $110 on a used lexicon lxp-1 . or if you have more, get a used tc m-one for about $280. Thats an amazing box.

the se-50 is also a good box. Will set you back about $120 used.

I listened to the vocals again .Did you redo them? They seem a bit better and a bit louder. The mic sounds good,actually very good . The main problem is the room. It sounds like a sonic foundry room. Like a real room, but a bit cheap.

It sounds like a demo only because the voice is off pitch in some places. This should be fixed if possible.

Also, I think you should separate the backing vox and the lead more. MAybe pan wider, so that it does not sound like all the singers are singing around one mic.

The processing on the lead vox is quite untraditional. It seems like there is a chorus or maybe a delay on it. Its more traditional to have the lead vocal bang in the center.

This is a song that I can hear on MTV. I dig the chorus and the instrumentation. I think the verses are weak, but you can work on that I hope.
 
Bob likes it! Really cool bass lines. I don't really care for the chorusy sound on the vocals. Is that the auto-tune in action? Almost sounds like a "bathroom" reverb. I'm really impressed with the tune though. The writing and singing are first rate. :)
 
The lead vocal IS bang in the center. I triple tracked the leads and panned the best one down the middle. The other two tracks were hard panned (L and R) and brought in and out just for emphasis. There is NO CHORUS OR DELAY used anywhere in the song. Would it sound better if the BGVs were turned down?

I guess that reverb HAS GOT TO GO.

CyanJag, you said the verses are weak. I was thinking the 1st verse was okay, but the second verse needed a serious redo. Honestly, do I need to re-record both verses?
I didnt re-record anything since the last time you heard this. I just remixed it.

I actually ordered a C1 in my frustration, so the next time you hear this song, it may be recorded over and have less shitty sounding reverb.

peace
 
I didn't hear autotune artifact stuff that really bugged me...just the 'room reverb' sound which was too heavy. I'd back it off quite a bit. However, I found some of the vocals off tune, though...correct?? maybe a little dominate on the bass sound too..

I'd also spread the vocals out as WIDE as possible. I know you said you hard panned some stuff...but I 'seems' like it could go even wider...somehow...

I hear more of a Stevie Wonder influence in this, more than anything else.

and...trim that dead space in your mp3 (like the end!):p
 
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