Is it my lack of talent? my mic? or my processing?

[davelivinstone]

Hi all. I have been lurking in this forum for the past 2 and a half months. First off, thanks for all the valuable information that everyone has posted. I am not sure if this is more of a microphone question or a recording question.

My vocal track seems like it's pumping. Is it too much compression? or did I set the de-esser in CEP2.0 wrong? or is it my mic? the mic seems to have an awful lot of high-end, but I don't know if the mic is the ultimate cause of the pumping ---I mean because I have to adjust for the high-end ---- or is it that I don't know what I'm doing with dynamics processing tools in Cool Edit?

The song is at

www.nowhereradio.com/davetestarea/singles

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[neirbo]

Pumping is a common effect you can get from a compressor. I'm no expert at this, but I know it has to do with your attack and release settings. Try decreasing your attack and increasing your release times.

 

[Seanmorse79]

I think the vocal compression needs a bit of work. I don't think there's too much, I think it's not doing it's job correctly. In fact, if I had to guess, I think it's not compressing enough. The pulsing may be a function of your voice that's not being compensated for.

I'm not familiar with CoolEdit's compressor, so it's difficult to comment on where to go with it, other than making adjustments to the threshold and ratio, previewing in an area where the pulsing is evident so it's easier to hear what it's doing.

I doubt that the mic has anything to do with the pulsing, it seems to be more the way your voice works due to the nature and phrasing of your song (don't feel bad, mine does that too).

What mic are you using?

 

[davelivinstone]

Thanks Neirbo and SeanMorse79. I'll try both of your suggestions. I might even try re-singing and see if I can't control the dynamics a bit myself.

(meekly) I have a pair of Behringer B2s (no not a matched pair --who knew you had to have that???). I purchased them before I found this board. I know you guys don't really like them. I think they sound pretty good on the drums. But I have to agree with the general sentiment that they have a lot of high-end. I have quite a few other mics, but the B2s seem the easiest for me to use. (Other mics -1 SM58, 2 SM57s, 2 EV dynamics - I don't remember the model --sort of old brought back in late 80s, etc). Most of my other mics date back to when I played in a local band.

I am a true hobbyist ---no professional or semi-pro, so I don't see me getting a new mic soon. However any tips on how to work with what I got sure helps!