Mic placement help..............

  • Thread starter Thread starter Trumpspade
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Trumpspade

Trumpspade

I'M BLESSED.......
I know this has been asked before, but what is the best way to track two vocals that are complete opposite in terms of texture and sound. One voice is smooth, can hit all the notes, way better voice control, can stand right on top of the mic and can tone down his vocals without taking away from his song.....
The other one has a loud, scratchy type voice, he can't tone it down or he won't hit his notes, he has to belt out everything, but it's a rare sound that doesn't sound that bad. I tried to have him stand back from the mic, but there's an obvious unbalance and he sounds like he's off the mic. I am new to tracking vocals so I am looking for guidance...........
 
Hopefully you mean to track them seperately.

So many variables....
What type of song? What is the mood?

If you want an intimate sound, the mic place has to be fairly close (using a good pop filter) if more a shouting match or background vocals back them off a bit maybe a foot or so and still use the pop filter.

You'll probably need a good compressor for the vocalist that needs to belt.
I know the type of voice. It can be so cool when tracked right. You got to get a compressor or possibly put several layers of pop filters between him and the mike. Once you back them off their voice thins out to much.

Tom
 
Yeah I do mean tracking them seperately, tracking them together definitley won't work. I wouldn't even attempt that ! I'm glad you understood what I was trying to say, because when I back him off the mic, it is too faint. So I should just let him do his thing and then compress the vocals? I have the input levels down enough that there is no clipping, so distortion shouldn't be an issue.....It peaks at 0db............

Thanks again!
 
I'd put him on the best dynamic mic you have. It'll handle bad mic technique better than a condensor.
 
When I get a vocalist that is too loud, I will often have them sing just barely to the side of the mic. Instead of straight at it, about 15 degrees off center.
 
Making him stand to the side...........Would there be an obvious change as far as sound direction? The two vocals I am trying to blend is just complete opposites. When I have tracked them individually on their own projects I have no problem because their singing techniques are consistent. But we are experimenting on a callabo project and the vocals are like night and day. They compliment each other because of their distinctive sound, but I want a consistent sound collectively. When I track them, I bring his levels down a bit and add more effects to try and smooth it out, but then it sounds too distant.
Believe me, I was trying to mix his vocals for 4 hours last night. I couldn't wait to log in the BBS and ask for guidance............He thinks it sounds good, but I know better. I don't want to be linked to half-ass products...
I'm starting to think this is a case of "Vocals just not sounding well together" because I know all vocals, regardless of singing ability, does not always blend well with others...........Thanks Guys!
 
TrackRat and Xstatic both have some good advice as well.

Dynamics are a really great choice for really loud vocalists. It tends to "automatically" compress things to a certain degree. Singining slighltly off axis can help if there is a lot of wind involved, it lets the jet of the airstream not hit head on to the diaphram of the mic. All good sugestions.

I do all that and then still put something like a RNC (compressor) in line to limit the peaks maybe 3 or 4 db max on tracking, and then compress as needed when mixing.

I have mixed some stuff before with 2 really distinct voices that really sounded great because the 2 voices complimented each other tonally. One was gravelly and the other more pop. Worked great.

There are times like you said though... It just dont happen!

Tom
 
There is truth to the fact that if you want a consistent sound collectively, you have to strat with sounds that are collectively consistent. Sometimes ideas that seem good at first don't always pan out:(
 
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