Less than average vocals

  • Thread starter Thread starter MarshallLaw6278
  • Start date Start date
M

MarshallLaw6278

New member
So I've been recording a hardcore style metal band recently who I have seen play quite a few gigs in the area. The music is simple, but they sound good for what they're doing, the vocals on the other hand, to be polite, are unlike anything I've ever experienced (and not in a good way). Really "Throaty", almost alot of simultaneous talking/yelling. I know thats not the greatest description but I honestly don't know what else to say. Long story short, I have everything but the vox recording and its time to get going on them. I'm honestly lost as to what kinds of techniques I can use to get his voice to sound decent at least. I thought of adding a bit of overdrive/distortion in post to "mask" the sound of his voice. I also have a feeling that my large diaphragm condenser is going to make the "not so pleasant" parts about his voice really stand out (which I don't want). He uses a Beta58A as a his live mic, so I also considered running him through his PA and using my condenser to mic the PA speakers. I'm one for trying to make the band sound as close to they're sound as possible in recordings, but we've got such a good foundation the rest of the mix that I dont want it to be ruined by the not so hot vocals. I don't know what else I can do, if anyone has any ideas or has run into a similar situation PLEASE, add some insight. Thanks in advance guys!!:confused:
 
Hey man i have had a lot of experience with vocals like screaming/yelling-ish. You're fine using the LDC i use my AT2020 all the time with them. My best recommendation is to double track wide, then compress both equally if he really changes in his dynamics. then through on some reverb and some delay like normal to taste. It's pretty much like singing just a different style. also you can add some filters if you want depending on the style of the heavy song. i've used distortion on them before and gotten some cool effects.
 
James21 said:
It's pretty much like singing
Click to expand...

For some reason this bit really stands out to me.

To the OP ; what do the band think of their vocalist ? Are they happy with his voice ? do they view the way he sings as integral to their music ?
 
@James21 I have plenty of experience with recording scream/yelling vocals. I scream and sing in my band along with my lead vocalist. the problem is he is not very good at it, it literally sounds like he's yelling at someone he's arguing with. @Grimtraveller I'm not sure on the bands thoughts about their vocalist. I never really brought it up as I know it can be a touchy subject sometimes. I know a couple of the guys in the band, I would assume there are some mixed feelings about it. I know he is a good friend of theirs and in the original version of the band he was the drummer(believe it or not the 1st singer was worse haha). All they really said to me was "Make it sound as good and as heavy as possible". Of course my response was "well no shit".
 
MarshallLaw6278 said:
...I'm not sure on the bands thoughts about their vocalist. ... I would assume there are some mixed feelings about it. .. All they really said to me was "Make it sound as good and as heavy as possible"..
Click to expand...
Maybe a dedicated test run session. Pick a song (or two), with a condensor and your best compressor, a pass with moderate compression, one with lots for the effect, then maybe the same with a hand held (and foam filter if it starts to sound like too much close mouth noise.
Explore those with or w/o more effects in a mix, see where it leads.

I don't know how many time it happens, band comes in does their tracks.. Then everyone starts to see these clearer pictures of how they might or should of done them.
 
MarshallLaw6278 said:
I'm not sure on the bands thoughts about their vocalist. I never really brought it up as I know it can be a touchy subject sometimes. I know a couple of the guys in the band, I would assume there are some mixed feelings about it. I know he is a good friend of theirs and in the original version of the band he was the drummer(believe it or not the 1st singer was worse haha). All they really said to me was "Make it sound as good and as heavy as possible". Of course my response was "well no shit".
Click to expand...
It's interesting how some bands see their vocalists. In the singing forum a few months back, this guy posted a thread in which he asked people for opinions on his band's singer. They'd just recorded an album and this guy wasn't satisfied. He felt the singer lacked 'rock' balls and was too precise and hit the notes perfectly {! ! } and I felt he was quite savage in a passive aggressive kind of way. It felt like he wanted all responders to agree and say "yeah, he's a stackwad of cissy manure....". But for the most part, the opposite happened. Whether people liked the actual songs or not, most responders liked the singer's voice. The general consensus was that for the folk rocky songs, the voice was perfect.
Perhaps this band you're recording like their vocalist's voice the way it is. But even if it's just to satisfy your curiosity {OK, ours ! :D}, you should find out if you can without stepping on too many toes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top