Mics Handling Loud Noises. Know Any?

[hottsauce_21]

I have a Focusrite Voice master Pro and a Rode Nt1A Mic, And when i record i have to record far away like 2 feet depending on how loud im rappin. I can't seem to rap 2 loud becuz the mic can't handle it, my vocals just sound distorted or what. Does anyone know of mic that can handle REALLY loud noises. I saw this mic on ZZounds. Blue Berry Cardioid Condenser Mic and it says i can be as close to the mic as i want and the quality is still good. Does anyone know about this mic? Or any other mic that i can be really loud on and the quality is still amazing?

 

[In Tune Audio]

I highly doubt that the NT1 is the problem. I used to record lots of rap with the NT1 and there was never a problem.

Whats in the rest of your signal chain. Is the voice master going into a mixer, a soundcard or what?

It sounds like you have the gain cranked to high on something. Because the NT1 can handle fairly loud noises, and rapping would not be considered loud. Give us a little more information, and hopefully we can help

 

[Big Kenny]

The VMP has a lot of bells and whistles and if you use too many of them or too much of one they can sound "overdriven" Especially the compressor and vintage harmonics. Try setting the comp at threshold -20, fast attack, slow release, make up gain at 2 or 3.....no vintage harmonics or tube warmth (for now...you can put some on little by little later) all the eq settings at 12 'o' clock and the pre amp high pass filter "in"
Keep the mic at least 6" away if you can and let us know the results

There are better mics for rappin but you should be able to get usable results from the rode

 

[hookiefree]

I had the same problem last night with a singer and an NTK. It distorted on the high screaming notes. I went NTK=>Dbx 266=>Digi 002 then Behringer B2=>002 and got the same thing. Even tried an SM57 with the same results.

 

[hottsauce_21]

lets hope

Thanks i'll try the settings, Its been like this for awhile i mean, I don't KNOW what any of these BUttons ON this preamp mean. i had it for about 5 months now, I'm Learnin, BUT not quick enough. You said 6 inches, HAHa, i was like 3 feet and still be distorted. Its weird, the Input Gain for the mic ain't Really High either. Ill tell u the results though thanks. I have all my settings on, like i said i really don't know what they mean, All my knobs are turned to different things, I have my VMP connected to a Sound Blaster Audigy 2. So if u think its not the mic or preamp. Can u help me with the settings on my preamp and My computer if the settings i was givin don't work.

 

[Big Kenny]

Turn 'em off and introduce them one at a time so you have an idea of the impact they are having
-the expander takes room noise out when input is low
-vintage harmonics is an "80s" kinda high end compressor thing
-compressor is your friend, use sparingly
-tube warmth adds a tubey thing you will like on guitars and some vocals , save for later
-eq. all straight up, no buttons pushed
-de esser, leave off for now as it is another compressor (narrow band)
if you have a problem with loud p's and t's try a pop filter 1st
-latency free monitoring- just that, no wait for signal

 

[chessrock]

Yo Hottsauce,

I am of the opinion that your vocals are just . . . um . . . how do you say this . . . TOO HOT for the input of your mic pre.

Know what 'm sayin?'

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH ! ! ! Hottsaucy is back!

I crack myself up. Me funny man.

 

[Big Kenny]

incorrigible.... yup, incorrigible

 

[hottsauce_21]

Thanks

Yeah Really HOTT. ANyways, I'll Do That kenny, Ill Give u the results tomorrow, Maybe SmallROCK is right, Im just to hot. Hahaha, I CRACK MYSELF UP. not really.

 

[hottsauce_21]

thank

i guess it will work, i guess im expectin to much from my little studio haha, but my songs lately arent comin out like one of my songs that i though i didn't the cleanest, well the hook and my verse.

siccness of hip hop


could someone please listen to that and tell me what it sounds like i did hen i recorded that 1st verse and hook.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/4/siccrydasmusic.htm

 

[H2oskiphil]

I have a Focusrite Voice master Pro and a Rode Nt1A Mic, And when i record i have to record far away like 2 feet depending on how loud im rappin. I can't seem to rap 2 loud becuz the mic can't handle it, my vocals just sound distorted or what. Does anyone know of mic that can handle REALLY loud noises. I saw this mic on ZZounds. Blue Berry Cardioid Condenser Mic and it says i can be as close to the mic as i want and the quality is still good. Does anyone know about this mic? Or any other mic that i can be really loud on and the quality is still amazing?

You mean you finally bought some equipment?

 

[paranoid]

My nt-1a also has an extremely hot output (way too hot IMO) I end up inserting a pad (device that cuts down signal level) between the mic and the preamp. The mic IS NOT your problem, it can handle up to like 150dB. The only problems with that mic other than ridiculously-high output, is that it really catches the high end and sibilance too much for alot of vocalists.

BTW- the reason the output on the Rode is so high, is too accomodate for super quiet sources (distant miking) while avoiding having too crank up your pre; ultimately enabling you to get a cleaner, more dynamic signal. However, if you like the character of you pre, I'd use a mic w/ a lower output, like a sm57 or MD-421...Ya follow?

 

[hottsauce_21]

huh

not really, i mean are u sayin my preamp is too much 4 the mic or what?

 

[manning1]

hottsauce i have a suspicion of the cause of this problem. in
WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL RECORDING DIALOGUE check the fader level of line in into the audigy that its not too high.
also a common error is to plug into the MIC in of consumer sound cards.
maybe you ARE plugged into line in, but i would check.
before recording, in the multitrack software i use i check the LEVEL coming into the system. question - do you have a way of doing this ?
in your multitrack software. ??
if the input metering in the multitrack software shows in the red overload , pull back the fader on the windows line in (in the windows dialog)
or the output from the preamp.
just trying to help. but it seems to me that the level going into the sound card a to d is too high . ive seen this many times. and the root cause is often improper setting of line in level in windows volume control.
NOTE - there are TWO SECTIONS to windows volume control.
recording dialogue and playback dialog. also in playback dialogue check the level of WAVE OUT. if its very high try pulling the fader on WAVE OUT back,
and see if that helps. ive a feeling your problem can be narrowed down to either the preamp pumping out too much level into the pc OR improper settings in windows volume comtrol.(double click on speaker icon on task bar to make adjustments).
peace.

 

[paranoid]

yup

The pre amp isn't too much for mic, the mic is just so hot that at little to no gain boost, the pre and or computer input is clipping. I'd either buy a preamp that has a "pad" button on it. If your pre has one, use it! OR...I think Shure sells inline pads which you would put in between the mic and the pre. If u must buy a new pre, I'd recommend the PreSonus Tube pre, it has a pad, a high-pass filter(very useful in rap, hip-hop), looks cool, and is under a bill....
www.shure.com
www.presonus.com

 

[paranoid]

hope...

Went to focusrite.com to look at your preamp's specs. It has no pad. What I would do is record with your microphone gain at zero....Hearing distortion? Then try this (still with no gain added at mic pre knob)....turn down the "output fader" located at top right of front panel, this is now further reducing the signal level and acting as your "pad". If you still have problems, something must be broken.....OR adjust the computer's input settings/output settings to be lower. GOOD LUCK my AZ friend! BTW- who are u affiliated with?

 

[hottsauce_21]

thanks.

Thats crazy, i didnt know u were from arizona until u said that. tight. Yeah, ill try that with the fader though. All my settings are cool, not to high but not low either ya know. AND also my preamp is hooked up to alittle preamp that came with the soundcard so i know its hooked to the mic in cuz is says mic in, but before i hooked it to that i had it hooked to the back of the soundcard and it was in the right one to. About the mic pre's, do u think buying that TUbepre would really help me out. I mean, $130 pre Vs $600 Focusrite. I mean what about the quality to. affiliated? do you mean my group?

 

[hottsauce_21]

Hahahaha!!!!!!!

Im a GOOfy motha fucka!!!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!! THIS WHOLE time i was doin everything wrong, i made like 40 songs doin it wrong oh my god, im s happy, MY SHIT is tight now, i had the BYpass BUTTon ON and it wasnt suppose to be, SO nothin on my preamp was workin, just the mic, none of the Eq, compressor, TUbe. NOTHIN!!!!!! OH my god, 6 months and i was bullshitin, THANKS everyone. IM SO goofy!!!!! EVERYthing works tight, i hear my voice now and oh shit, MY SHIT is tight. Effects and Mic can take loud noises. OH MY GOD, YES!!!!!!!!!!!! time to make me a album shit. HAHA

 

[Big Kenny]

God's speed.

 

[In Tune Audio]

Yes, God's Speed