Metallic Vocals: Anyway to Diminish?

[derekp]

I've been mixing this track for some time now that's been giving me trouble. The trouble is, the other MC's vocals are clean and clear, but mine sound metallic, more compressed, and less clear. I have the same effects applied, so it's obviously originating from my recording spot. I've been EQing constantly, change this and that. Any tips?

 

[Steenamaroo]

I have the same effects applied,

That's not necessarily a good thing.
Say you're setting up a PA for 5 bands with singers. There'll probably be a broad vocal eq that works well enough across the board in that venue, but when it comes to fine tuning it'll be per voice.

so it's obviously originating from my recording spot.

or voice.
I have a pal who will go out of his way to avoid sm58s because they just don't work well on his voice.
I thought he was full of $h1t until I heard him live using a little Sennheiser. It was miles better.

If one guy has a Barry white voice and you've got a joe pasquale voice, the same settings and/or mic probably wont work.

 

[derekp]

My vocal delivery on this particular song was more rambunctious, so it's part that and the room I'm recording in (not ideal by any means). Some times it works, some times it doesn't, just depends on the delivery. As for the other MC, he recorded elsewhere on on a different mic. The thing is, when I listen to either vocals raw, they sound comparable.

Here's what I'm going to do: later this evening, I'll post just the vocals in the Mp3 Mixing Clinic. The song with instrumentation can be heard here

https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...g-clinic/hip-hop-vocals-cuts-comments-352832/

Thanks for the comments

 

[Steenamaroo]

Oh, I see what you mean. I thought you were in the same venue at the same setup for some reason.


Ok, I listened to that clip. I don't know which one you are but the opening guy sounds fine.
Maybe the level's a little low, but there's a sort of hed pe thing going on. Works fine to me.

The second guy (1:28) sounds ok too. That recording's a little fuller but I think it works ok.

The only thing that takes me ear is when the two voices are together it sounds a little messy.
I think I'd be playing with the panning though and not much more.
That should help to separate the voices.

At a push I might HPF the second voice when both voices are together.
IDK, maybe the low end in the second voice is the difference you're hearing?
Something like that wouldn't necessarily stand out when solod, but it can certainly ruin how a voice sits in a mix.

Maybe it's the other way round and you're the first guy? (Since you said metallic)
If so you might wanna hear more low end to match the other guy.
Personally, I think it works as is.

Maybe someone else will add comments.

 

[derekp]

Lol at the Hed Pe reference.

And yes, I'm the opening and closing guy.

What do you mean by "two voices together?" Are you talking about the chorus with vocals and cuts/scratches (which are Beastie Boys and RATM samples)?

I'll add some more low end on my vocals...should I keep the mids as is, because that's where I'm thinking that metallic is coming from (i.e bouncing off the walls and electronics)?

Also, what do you mean by HPF?

And now that I think of it, I started to cut back on the lo end because it sounded a little muddy. How can I counteract that if raising the lo?

 

[Steenamaroo]

What do you mean by "two voices together?" Are you talking about the chorus with vocals and cuts/scratches (which are Beastie Boys and RATM samples)?

Didn't appreciate they were samples. The same advice may still apply though.

Also, what do you mean by HPF?

And now that I think of it, I started to cut back on the lo end because it sounded a little muddy. How can I counteract that if raising the lo?

HPF is high pass filter. That's the curve at the left hand side of a GUI eq that rolls off the low end.

From what you're saying and from the clip, it sounds like you've used a low cut or HPF, but just gone a little too far with it.
That would make vocals sound thin and I guess maybe metallic.

I'd recommend pulling the HPF back a little to let slightly more low end through.
If it's a notch you're using, narrow the Q slightly, or reduce the amount slightly.

Dialling in a little bit of midrange might help; It's hard to guess, but really just play with an eq and try to get the sound you want.
It sounds like it's within reach.

 

[derekp]

I use Adobe...I'll have to see what I'm dealing with because all I really grasp about EQ is the Hi, Mid & Lo simple tweaking of positives and negatives, haha. I have dynamics processing, hard limiting and reverb effecting the vocals. I know I've seen the language you used, I'll just have to find it. Thanks for the continuous suggestions

 

[Steenamaroo]

No probs. Like I say, it sounds like you're pretty close.

Just to give you a visual example of a high pass filter.......



Try resetting your eq to flat then put one of these in.
Move it from left to right slowly and you should hear the vocals getting thin. Go to the extremes to really hear what it's doing, then find a spot that you like.

Do all this whilst listening to the vocals IN the mix. Sometimes it's useful to solo a part, but most decisions should be made in context, IMO.

 

[derekp]

Thanks, messed with it last night. Still tweaking.

 

[warartistrecord]

I think that the reverb you're using might be contributing to the "metallic" sound you're hearing. Also, the other MC seems to sound much closer than you in the mix. If you want that, then cool, but other wise, you may want to pull back that reverb, or even eliminate it.

The other thing I'd suggest is pulling up a sharp peak on your EQ and pulling it around the band. That may help you find the frequency range that is giving you the vocal sound that is bothering you, and you could cut that as much as sounds right

I like your song, the samples are rad.