Mic Compression (etc)

[theperiscope]

Hey everyone, I'm new here, so go easy if i say something stupid! Although you seem to be a pretty nice bunch of people.

Right now I'm in an "experimental hardcore" band, which is just kind of a newer age of hardcore punk... anyway, it doesn't really matter.

Right now I'm running Reaper, which I don't know how you guys feel about, but I love it. I use Guitar Rig 3 for all my guitar/bass, and I'm running EZDrummer.
At the moment I only have the M-Audio fast track, but my NI Kontrol is on the way. And, I'm trying to upgrade to Superior Drummer 2.0 while it's still on sale.

ANYWAY

I'm really interested in getting my vocal recordings sounding better. I'm satisfied with the insturmentals right now.
I record the vocals (which are basically just yelling, not much screaming to it) with a Shure Beta 58, which isn't awful, but I feel like i could make better.

I know virtually nothing about hardware Pre-amps and hardware compressors for mics. If you could lend me any tips about something in a pretty cheap price range, or just some info about them in general I would be super appreciative.

If you have any interest in hearing what I'm recording now, all my bands recordings are on myspace.com/chestkick, and my other projects are on myspace.com/theperiscope

Thanks so much!

 

[vijsolo]

Hi there,

Well SM58 is good for live performances, but for recording it would be better to have a condencer mike. For those who are on a budget following models can be of interest

Rode NT1A Studio Condenser Microphone

Audio Technica AT2020 Studio Microphone

Audio Technica [url=https://en.audiofanzine.com/condenser-microphone/audio-technica/AT4040/user_reviews/]AT4040 Cardioid Condenser Microphone[/URL]

AT4040 is a super mice of budget ones

Than for preamp and compression I would recomend combined "channel strip" devices for those who are on the budget

Joemeek OneQ Studio Channel Strip

Cheerz!!

 

[RAMI]

Before buying a mic....what's your room like??? Is there any treatment???? Where in the room are you singing??? Do you understand what "gain staging" is??? What is your signal chain when you record???

You don't actually have to answer these questions for me. But before deciding that you need a new mic, you have to take all those things in consideration. Although it might not be your best choice for a studio vocal mic, you should be able to get a decent vocal recording with a 58.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Unless you are willing to spend $1000 per channel don't worry about hardware compressors. The RNC hardware stuff is pretty cool for cheap but you can get great results using software limiters and compressors. One of my favorites on vocals for use in Reaper is the Horizon+ limiter from Stilwell Audio. Their Vibe EQ is also great.

http://www.stillwellaudio.com/

 

[theperiscope]

Awesome. Thank you. This is exactly what I needed. Can't wait to try it!

 

[KillahKane860]

As mentioned, the Shure 58 is a very common and excellent mic for live performance, not really for studio use. For recording vocals, definately should use a condensor mic with a decent preamp. I use a Blue Baby Bottle mic with a Focusrite Voicemaster Preamp and the sound is incredible.

 

[KillahKane860]

Unless you are willing to spend $1000 per channel don't worry about hardware compressors. The RNC hardware stuff is pretty cool for cheap but you can get great results using software limiters and compressors. One of my favorites on vocals for use in Reaper is the Horizon+ limiter from Stilwell Audio. Their Vibe EQ is also great.

http://www.stillwellaudio.com/

I agree to stay away from the majority of hardware compressors. Although on my Focusrite Voicemaster mic preamp, I do have some compression set but its not much, just enough to keep the voices from redlining when they are screaming in my mic. For the majority of my work, I use all RTAS effects in Pro Tools including compression which do not destruct the vocals. If you use an outboard compressor between the vocals and your recorder, then once the vocals are recorded you are stuck with the sound. On another note, I do use one multiband compressor as part of my rackgear. Its the TC Finalizer Express and it does an excellent job of adding multiband compression and it adds a polished and "finalized" sound to my tracks.