Help Wanted: Do you know how this was done?

[bajanboi]

Can someone please listen to this acapella and give insight on how they think the recording setup was done to get the overall sound/effect. I like the level of compression and the overall level of the vocal and how clear it is with no background noise. I can't seem to get my vocals to sound anywhere near this good (my opinion).

What kind of settings would the compressor and amp have to be set at to get a vocal to sound like this. Is it even possible with my setup. This is a well known reggae artist so it may just be the million dollar studio effect.

My chain is a gefell 930 --->M Audio 610 --->dbx 160A --->Sonar

Anyone have ideas?

Vocal here

http://s42.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2E6SQCWKNTIVF10KB1SUBWCB0E

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

It sounds pretty raw to me - if there is compression, it's pretty light.... it also clips in spots, so that makes it even more likely there's no compression being used.

There's also slightly ess'ing problem - mic choice/placement would cover that off.... and there's little noise likely because of the quality of the signal chain being used, as well as it probably being recorded in a quiet booth.

You're not going to be able to get that sound yourself, unless the noise floor of your recording area and signal chain is as quiet as the one used for that recording.

One of the first mistakes novices often make is beleiving the gear gives the sound -- the sound happens way before the gear. The sound's got to be there BEFORE the mic (ie, the room, the artist, etc...) THEN a good signal chain that can properly capture all the nuances of the sound source (including the room).

 

[analogelectric]

I actually hear a lot of gating, compression, and EQ. There's some inherent noise in-between the singing/gate and I don't know where that's coming from. The tone really reminds me of an SM57 with 900Hz to 1kHz subtraction EQ through some heavy compression and gating.

-- Adam Lazlo

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I actually hear a lot of gating, compression, and EQ.

If so then I have to wonder why they bothered, because it still sounds very raw............. I didn't notice a gate closing - mind you, I didn't listen all that closely either.......... and if they had compression, why did they clip in several spots?

 

[analogelectric]

If so then I have to wonder why they bothered, because it still sounds very raw............. I didn't notice a gate closing - mind you, I didn't listen all that closely either.......... and if they had compression, why did they clip in several spots?

It sounds like (considering the background noise) that the vocal is going from mic pre to compressor to gate to a different compressor (that's why - when I listen with headphones - there's a component noise floor). A gate will pick up on frequency spikes if used as an over all vocal track as opposed to a mix 'tweaked-per-part' mute track, there's a compressor being used both pre and post (in-between the gate). Listen a little more closely, I could be wrong but I've heard the same results before from things I've done in the past.

With compression on vocal it could be something where there was a fast attack with a low ratio that exhibits the same characteristics as raunchy sibilance (nasty breath attack).

And you're right to ask "why they bothered". I would think the high-end s'plosives would be noticeable within the final mixdown.

-- Adam Lazlo

 

[chessrock]

There's definitely some heavy noise-gating going on.

And it's set pretty poorly, because it has that annoying effect of opening at the very end of the inhale of every breath. The compression isn't bad; it seems to achieve a nice, even level, and helps place the voice upfront.

If you want that effect, just track in a dead room and gate it heavily. Make sure to run hot so you clip somewhere along your signal chain once in a while. Compress generously, and you should be set.

 

[analogelectric]

There's definitely some heavy noise-gating going on.

And it's set pretty poorly, because it has that annoying effect of opening at the very end of the inhale of every breath. The compression isn't bad; it seems to achieve a nice, even level, and helps place the voice upfront.

If you want that effect, just track in a dead room and gate it heavily. Make sure to run hot so you clip somewhere along your signal chain once in a while. Compress generously, and you should be set.

Yeah, the compression isn't that bad but does it seem like it's being compressed then gated and compressed again? If you listen closely to the 'dead-spots' it sounds like there's some component still there.... like a post compressor.... with a noise floor.

Maybe? Am I the only one that hears that? Or the only way I could recreate that performance is if I compressed, then gated, then compressed again? Or would it be a simple gate then compressed? It could be the latter as well, I suppose.

-- Adam Lazlo

 

[bajanboi]

As if i wasn't confused before....

I know i need to work on padding my room to make it dead..so that should help, but i don't have a gate and will not be buying anytime soon....

thanks all for the info