gear for warmer vocals?

  • Thread starter Thread starter maryslittlesecret
  • Start date Start date
M

maryslittlesecret

New member
Howdy, all. I'm recording my vox with an Akai C3000 into a dbx 286A right now. I'm getting a very clean, crisp signal, but digital recording (using Cakewalk on my PC) is getting the best of me -- there's no warmth to my vocals (which is only partially due to my voice) :-)>

Does anyone have any suggestions for either a better mic preamp or any gear to warm the vox up in the mix stage -- my only 'mixing' gear is an old ART DR-X? Ideally in the $300-$500 price range (though I can certainly sepnd less...). Thanks!

J

http://www.mp3.com/30SoS/

P.S. I'm a rookie when it comes to EQ and effects (which frequencies to boost/cut, best compressor settings, etc), so any tips and tricks to warm up the vox with the gear/plug-ins I already have are appreciated as well.
 
my vox channel cost $800 and it has not dissapointed.

I have heard that the AKG c3000 is not a very warm sounding mic, so you might want to sell it and invest in a different mic.

The marshall v67 has been compared to a neumann m147 and 149, and I know for fact that those are VERY warm pres.

It will only set you back $179 with shock mount. I am in the process of getting one myself.

The mic I have now is an akg c414b, that I got used for about $400. You can find them now and then on ebay for about $500, and it is worth every penny. Coupled with a joemeek, I think I have a formidable combo.

I have heard the at4033, and I must say that I love it.

As far as pres go, The cheapest I can recommend will be the mackie xdr pres on the mixers. I really like their sound on vox.

-------------------------
akg c414 into joemeek. with $10 cable nonetheless

www.nowhereradio.com/artists/rockpop/jaguarslogic.

"god in your eyes".


sm58 into mackie 1604 pres.

www.mp3.com/spilling poetry
 
someone told me recently that my vox sounded 'warm' using the solid state pres on the mackie board... i am coming to the conclusion that its not the state or the pre (to a certain extent behringer and lesser thens) but how you use them. gain structure, mic choice, mic pattern. i gotta tell you, cardiod sucks. my crown cm700s just dont cut it for acoustic guitars. my akg 414 rock arse. the crowns are really only good at overheads.. but this is comparing to a mic 4 times the price :) i guess you get what you pay for. im my opinion, omni pattern condensors record the best at the applications ive done so far. but i like that 'roomy' 'the instruments are processed' sound right now, which omnis are great at replicating.
 
The secret to "warm-sounding" vocals are tube mic stands.

Bruce

:)
 
erogijwiuh

Tube patch cables are only about $30 each, and they make a nice addition to the tube mic stand. The tube in the mic stand picks up any outside vibrations and creates an exact cancellation of that vibration so that it doesnt make it to the microphone. Be sure you have the proper voltage for the mic stand, or you might get some phase cancellation also.
Try a tube pre-amp. Those tend to warm everything up, but they get a little noise sometimes too.
As you can see, anything tube is better ;)
Dont forget you can run your binary stream out your com 1 port, into a tube-warmth/binary-reconverter and back into your com 2 port to warm up your digital signal too. Set ratio to about 3:1, and thermostat to about 350.
Seriously, get a better mic, and a better preamp. Tube preamps are classically "warmer". Check out the Rode NTK for a one shot solution.
Peace,
Paul
 
rergerge

Remember, anything tube is better. Hence... TubeDude.
I'm better. :)
 
The m147 and 149 are not pre-amps as I previously mistyped, but microphones.
 
If you cant afford any tube mic pree or microphones try getting a better analog to digital converter. The quality of the converter plays a big role in the warmth of the sound. If you have a better converter you con get a wormier sound. Then from your converter go digitally into you computer. Usaly external converters sound a lot better than regular sound cards.
Andy
 
Re: rergerge

tubedude said:
Remember, anything tube is better. Hence... TubeDude.
I'm better. :)
Click to expand...

I can't wait to hear anyone record a song using all tube equipments.
incl tube preamp, tube amplifier, tube microphone and tube eq.

I bet it's going to be one hell of a mud! .... and please please don't
let tubedude be the engineer ! ... :-)
 
Gee... My expierence is recording a good expierenced vocalist first,

then play with the toys.

Remember, garbage in garbage out.

TGA
 
maryslittlesecret said:
there's no warmth to my vocals (which is only partially due to my voice) :-)>
Click to expand...

Great song... you sound like a less pretentious Dave Mustaine. Go with it, man!!!
 
settings dbx286 a

maryslittlesecret

What setting do you use? ie what is the number each knob is turned to, left to right? I do narration, and I'm still playing around with this. I know every voice is different, but I'd still like to know what works for you. Thanks so much.
 
CyanJaguar said:
my vox channel cost $800 and it has not dissapointed.

I have heard that the AKG c3000 is not a very warm sounding mic, so you might want to sell it and invest in a different mic.
Click to expand...


Oh yes! Oh yes!
Cold, very cold.

I'll put it this way, if all you have are dynamic mics and you want a vocal mic that offers more presence, then the C3000 is alright. Marshall makes a decent vocal mic (still on the cold side, but not as much as the C3000). I've mixed vocal tracks cut with both mics and the Marshalls definitely sound the more natural of the two.

Not sure which Marshall. I wasn't the person who tracked them.
 
The C3000 is pretty harsh. At least mine is.

Check out an NT-2 or better yet an NTV. The Jenson transformer in the NTV power supply costs more than the capsule of an NTK!
 
That was pretty damn funnny. I was fooled as well until I realized I hadn't seen some of these names for a year or so... Kristian.... etc.....
 
CyanJaguar said:
The m147 and 149 are not pre-amps as I previously mistyped, but microphones.
Click to expand...

You also previously mistyped that the V67 compares to a Neumann.

It's OK, we all make mistakes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top