Fattening a Vocal Track

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dachay2tnr

dachay2tnr

One Hit Wonder
I recently recorded a vocal track which I'm generally please with, except my voice sounds "thin". I tried using a chorus effect on it, but it came out sounding like Shelly Faberes singing Johnny Angel (anyone remember that one?? :) )

Any other suggestions for fattening it up a bit?
 
Best thing to do is record it again, I guess...
Experiment with mic positioning, proximity effect might fatten it up a little. Also, look at your gain structure, maybe try other mics and a better mic pre or a voice channel... (I used to have the same problem, with my AKGC3000B. Recording louder helped a little, and adding a voice channel to the signal chain did wonders. Still could be better, but this comes close to good enough...)

How did you record it? (signal chain?)

Tricks you can try: doubling it, by singing it twice, or adding a short delay on it, add low mids maybe, I don't know.
Chorus, flanging, phasing etc will not come over as very natural...
 
I guess the problem is indeed distance. Try to sing closer to the mic. If you're not able to record the same performance again try to eq some bottom into it. A reverb with a big density and no cut-out lows can do the trick also.
 
I had that problem with one song of mine.

I've found that chorus can work well when applied subtly as a send effect - note that this is a tip I got from a magazine, so I guess it is a standard technique. I also copied the vocal to a new track - I assume this is "doubling". Between the two methods, I found that the vocal was much thicker. You may have to reduce the volume on the two vocal tracks however.
 
Sorry guys, no cigar. It was recorded very close to the mic. The problem is my voice - it's naturally thin to begin with.

It was recorded from a C1, going to a Mackie mixer feeding into a Delta 1010. I'm pretty sure there is no problem in the recording set-up. A different mic might help - but my choices are pretty limited - C1 or Shure SM58.

I will try your thoughts about adding some bottom eq. Are we talking around 200-300 Hz??

adding a voice channel to the signal chain did wonders
Click to expand...

Don't quite understand this, Roel. Can you elaborate.
 
A voice channel is a device that goes in your signal chain... Mainly consists of a mic pre, de-esser, compressor, eq, and output stage... I bought a used Symetrix 528e. The main difference for me is probably the better mic pre (I recorded directly in my VS1880 before that), and the ability to apply compression before going to the VS, and thus being able to record at a higher level. (less peaks...)

Bottom eq is indeed 200-300Hz, maybe up to 400Hz. (depending on the range of your voice.)

And singing lessons could help. Let your chest and the different holes in your head resonate when singing... Can't tell you all that much, I'm not a singer, just had a few singing lessons out of curiosity.
 
Did you try compression? Even after the fact (plugins) compression can help fatten up a vocal track.

Also try this:

If you double the track by copying it, you can skooch the doubled track a few milliseconds (adding delay without CPU usage), you can then pan each track slightly off center. Be careful not to cause phase cancellation when skooching, or your vocal will actually become thinner!! (Zoom way in to see if your wavs are out of phase, but you'll probably hear it.)

Queue
 
Thanks to all for your prompt replies and helpful suggestions. I will try some of this tonight when I get home and see where it gets me.

Roel, I'm no singer either - no do I pretend to be. However, I've been told by several people that this particular song needed to be sung by the writer (me, unfortunately :) So I'm giving it a stab).

BTW, I was in Oevel a few years back. I wouldn't recommend it to others, though. From a guy who lives in NJ :).
 
Watch out for the 400Hz range, it tends to make voices sound muddy.
 
I don't usually post songs at this stage of the game, as this is a work in (early) progress; however they say a picture is worth a thousand words (or in this case an audio file).

The song is called Ann Marie and can be downloaded at:
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/easylistening/dachay2tnr/

I took your suggestions and added a low eq boost (a Waves Q10 preset that boosts from 60-250 Hz). Like to get your opinions on anything and everything, but particularly the vocal. Is it still thin? Does it sit in the mix OK? Does it need something else (what??)

Thanks. I'll probably post in the clinic as well, so forgive the double post.
 
If you don't feel like re-recording it, the only suggestion that I can make is to find out what range the voice is in, and then slowly take away that frequency range out of some of the other instruments. Mainly the guitar.

If you might want to re-record the thing, here are a few things to try:

- put your thumb and your index finger on the bridge of your nose (thumb over left/right bridge... index finger on opposite) and press down very gently. Sing "eeeohh... eeeohh... eeeohh" trying to make the most nasal sound you can. Then, try to do it without making it sound nasal. Now try singing using that voice. Try recording re-recording your vocals using that voice.

- I have a C1 as well. I started recording it to VHS tape and really saturating the tape. Of course, I wish I had a better means of recording things analog, but it does add some bass (and mud which I just got done cleaning up... nothing beats getting experience).

I hope that this helps.
 
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