Getting vocals to stick out?

  • Thread starter Thread starter justwantyou2kno
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J

justwantyou2kno

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I have a pretty good mix of my band, but it is very busy. The guitar sound I got is huge and I have horns spread across the stereo spectrum. When I record vocals they just seem so weak and far off compared to everything. I know the first thing you'll say is "get a new singer" but when I'm recording these vocals I'm on the verge of a complete scream and I'm not feeling that on playback. I'm using a 57 into my Alesis mixer, and I've also tried my BlueTube with no avail. Are there any techniques I'm missing out of except to compress the track alot?
 
Take everything except the kick, snare, bass, and lead vocals out of the center. Leave the vocals bone dry.

Better yet, turn everything esle down and remix. You can only record your vocals so hot, you know? Remix the tune with the vocals already recorded and see how it falls. I often have this problem when I track the vocals last and try to use my working mix as a final mix. Just take all the faders down, bring the lead vocal up to unity, and rebuild your mix around it.

Or compress the snot out of it. :)

Chris
 
maybe the vocals aren't sitting well because of the mic. i use a 57 for background vocals, and it sounds great because they don't stand out front. for the lead vocals i usually use my NTK to give them their own space in the mix.

i also agree that remixing may be the ticket.
 
Chris Shaeffer said:
Or compress the snot out of it. :)

Chris
Click to expand...
There you go. :)

Aside from the compression, here is what I'd do:
Make a mix of only bass guitar, drums, and lead vocals. Get those three things sounding great. Everything nice and clear. Then add everything else one at a time. Every time you add something, listen very carefully to what it does to everything else already in the mix, especially the vocals. If it burrys something important, EQ the new instrument you just added (usually subtractive) untill it doesn't burry anything anymore. Even if you have 16 rythmn guitars, just add one at a time and listen very carefully with each addition. Work your way up to a full mix in this manner.
 
Chris Shaeffer said:
Better yet, turn everything esle down and remix. You can only record your vocals so hot, you know? Remix the tune with the vocals already recorded and see how it falls....rebuild your mix around it.
Click to expand...

Amen!

Peace...

PC

BTW: I was around yr neighborhood last sunday, Chris...on my way to Monterey and Carmel! I love driving down highway 1!!!!
 
Now that I'm using an NTK, I find myself having to turn the vocals DOWN a bit at times. What a change. And that's with no compression and cheap Soundcraft mixer pres. I'm just starting to realize what a good mic will do. In the MIX - that's where you can comprehend the difference between the good ones and the cheapos. I imagine I will find the same thing when I get a decent preamp.
 
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