Making vocals better?

[chestwick91]

Ok now, my band has damm near put out an ep that i am kind of proud of ( which is odd because i am my own biggest cridict) anyway, We have no vocalist. Right now it's me...i suck but i am better then the others...My problem is...with headphones Most of the time i can stay in key...but sometimes i just sound like crap, or i sound whinny. Is there any microphone or recording technique or any sort of software or editing, or mastering, that could make me sound better?

laugh first...then answer the question
PLEASE HELP

 

[Thunder33]

Ok now, my band has damm near put out an ep that i am kind of proud of ( which is odd because i am my own biggest cridict) anyway, We have no vocalist. Right now it's me...i suck but i am better then the others...My problem is...with headphones Most of the time i can stay in key...but sometimes i just sound like crap, or i sound whinny. Is there any microphone or recording technique or any sort of software or editing, or mastering, that could make me sound better?

laugh first...then answer the question
PLEASE HELP

Some will call me crazy for this....but....record them however you are the most comfortable singing. If that means pumping the mix through a floor monitor in front of you, then so be it. There is no way to edit bad vocals to be better. But the upside is this, look at Neil Young, Talking Heads, System of a Down, etc.....sometimes bad vocals don't matter. Just do it bad with style.

 

[dinorocker]

Is there any microphone or recording technique or any sort of software or editing, or mastering, that could make me sound better?

One word - reverb.

Make sure that while you are recording or singing live, you have plenty of reverb pumped into your monitor or 'phones. Many singers find reverb an excellent way to stay in tune.

When I record myself or others, I always add reverb to the mix I hear (though the vocals are *recorded* bare, without reverb.

 

[up-fiddler]

I would get out of the headphones if you have any other options. Try and sing/record with the monitors (Even if they are cheap ones.). Let your ears work with your voice, just like in real life. Reverb can also help to warm up and smooth out thin vocals as long as it isn't overdone. Dave.

 

[demensia]

Vocal Lessons.

 

[killdasoundboy]

.

lol, that might work

 

[jmorris]

reverb to taiste in headphone with one ear of the headphones off, or sign to monitors wired out of phase to cut down bleed into vocal mic.

 

[LemonTree]

One word - reverb.

Make sure that while you are recording or singing live, you have plenty of reverb pumped into your monitor or 'phones. Many singers find reverb an excellent way to stay in tune.

When I record myself or others, I always add reverb to the mix I hear (though the vocals are *recorded* bare, without reverb.

Utter Bollox!

If you can't sing in tune you can't sing in tune. Adding reverb to a vocal will only mask the mistakes you are making. If you absolutely have to add some short delay to the vocal in your monitors, earphones but don't record it.

If you have a whiney voice try looking at a mic with a richer bottom end. A condenser can sometimes be too flattering on singers so a couple of good dynamic mics to try would be the Electrovoice RE20 or the sure SM7.

Another good tip to try is to practice singing with headphones on to no backing music. That way there's no distraction and you'll hear EVERY note you don't hit.

A lot of people turn their noses up at vocal coaching but you'd be surprised what you'll learn about correct breathing and projection with just a few lessons.

 

[IronFlippy]

I have a pretty terrible voice, but I can usually hit notes pretty well. I noticed that after a while of trying the same vocal part, my voice sounds better. So when I record vocals, I always rehearse for a long time before hand. I think this is because I normally have a nasally voice when I talk, so it takes a while to adjust when I sing.