My voice sounds different recorded

[Minuk21]

Is there a reason why my singing sounds bad when it is recorded. I have gotten compliments from friends and family that my voice was amazing...but when i went to record, my voice sounded really bad. Is it just natural that i sound amazing to them and horrible to myself and i just have to accept that or will i get used to it later on?

 

[brother rat]

Everyone says the same thing.
What you hear recorded, is what everyone else hears. Friends and family have a tendency to flatter us.
Your voice sounds much different to you than it does to everyone else. The recorded sound is the truer sound.

 

[Track Rat]

The reason? It's called reality.

 

[Clam Soup]

Is there a reason why my singing sounds bad when it is recorded. I have gotten compliments from friends and family that my voice was amazing...but when i went to record, my voice sounded really bad. Is it just natural that i sound amazing to them and horrible to myself and i just have to accept that or will i get used to it later on?

It felt creepy to hear my voice outside of my own head the first time. Over time you get used to it. If your voice is genuinely good, you'll hear it eventually, and might even improve upon it through the process. Don't be too quick to judge yourself based on something you're hearing for the first time.

I've grown to really enjoy my voice, and that took a long time to happen - and even longer to admit because I can't really accept any credit for it.

 

[Steenamaroo]

It's true, it's a natural thing.

Most of it is in your head (literally), because when you hear the voice from the speakers, it's not how it sounds when you sing,

But i think part of it is down to recording and the room as well. A bad recording of a good singer still sounds kinda bad.


I kinda like my own voice now, but that's taken about twelve years and lotta money on mics and junk! lol.

 

[grimtraveller]

My voice sounds different recorded.

You know, so many people say this. I used to say it myself, for years. But it isn't true. Regardless of the speed I record my voice at, it sounds like me. Whether on replay I sound like a chipmunk or so deep that the fish at the bottom of the ocean can hear it, whether I disguise it or sing in deliberately phony accents, it sounds like me. Because that's who it is !

Is there a reason why my singing sounds bad when it is recorded.

What do you actually mean by this ? It's easy to assume I know what you mean......but in truth, I haven't a clue. What sounds bad to you ? Is the voice struggling for breath and can't hold notes ? Is it out of tune ? Do you think it's too high or too low or lifeless ? Doesn't it sound like the heroes you want to emulate ? What do you actually mean ?

I have gotten compliments from friends and family that my voice was amazing...but when i went to record, my voice sounded really bad. Is it just natural that i sound amazing to them and horrible to myself and i just have to accept that or will i get used to it later on?

It is one of the standard myths that friends and family will tell you your voice is amazing, in my opinion. Those that issue the statement seem to not consider that one's friends and family might actually think the voice in question is amazing. Amazing to them.
Test this. Name a clutch of professional singers from the last 50 years and ask for opinions on them. And look at the diverse range of replies. Some people think so and so can't sing, others think they're a great singer.
So the fact that those close to you think you have an amazing voice doesn't mean for a minute that they are deaf, liars or wrong {although of course, they might be. But that's a different issue}.

will i get used to it later on?

Your voice ? Onye ma echi ?*













*Who knows tomorrow ?

 

[Bristol Posse]

The way each of us hears our own voice is a complex interaction of the voice itself as well as reverberation in the throat, skull, sinuses etc none of which are heard or felt by our listeners

What they hear is closer to what a recording sounds like. most people are freaked out the first few times they hear themselves recorded because they are hearing their voice for the first time without all that complex interaction within their head and its not what we were expecting ourselves to sound like


It's wierd for sure

 

[moresound]

Just don't try and make your voice sound like you hear it in your head. You'll be messing around in your DAW for a very long time.

 

[Bobbsy]

Just a bit of physiology here, when you hear you own voice naturally, a high percentage of the sound you get reaches your ear via vibrations in your bones. Only some of it is what everybody else hears via sound waves in the air.

When you hear yourself recorded, it's far closer to what the rest of the world hears.

And, yeah, I can't think of anybody who likes their own voice the first time they hear it.

 

[brother rat]

I've been singing (poorly) for a number of years now. At this point I'm comfortable hearing my recorded speaking voice, by my recorded singing voice still creeps me out.

 

[Steenamaroo]

I was forced to record 40 odd minutes of story narrative (my voice) for my degree course last year.

The original went all wrong, and long story short I didn't have a lot of choice.

Now, ordinarily I'd never put my speaking voice (or accent!) to tape, but I remember half convincing myself that it would be ok in the end.

The final feedback went into considerable detail about why they loved the narrative! lol.
I think a wee confidence boost like that helps. Mommy and Daddy can say you sound great, but if a tutor you don't know, or someone on a forum agrees I think it helps you along your way.

 

[VomitHatSteve]

The way each of us hears our own voice is a complex interaction of the voice itself as well as reverberation in the throat, skull, sinuses etc none of which are heard or felt by our listeners

What they hear is closer to what a recording sounds like. most people are freaked out the first few times they hear themselves recorded because they are hearing their voice for the first time without all that complex interaction within their head and its not what we were expecting ourselves to sound like


It's wierd for sure

This ^

The sound data your ears receive when something originates inside your head is vastly different than when it starts outside. That's not even considering the all the filtering your brain must do to your own voice when you talk/sing!

As grim implied, the more you record and listen to yourself, the more you'll generally start to identify with it. I don't even notice the difference between my recorded and natural voice unless I'm off pitch in the recording.

Of course, it's worth considering: if your recording isn't good, your voice may sound different. I'd get a neutral third party to assess your recordings until you get used to what your recorded voice sounds like.

 

[Farview]

The only way to judge if you have an amazing voice or not is to count the number of strangers that will drive somewhere and pay a fee to listen to you sing.

Like everyone said, you always sound different outside your head than you do inside it.

 

[Bristol Posse]

The only way to judge if you have an amazing voice or not is to count the number of strangers that will drive somewhere and pay a fee to listen to you sing.

Strangers will pay money and driver far, far away from me to avoid having to hear me sing

 

[AL P]

before I first heard my voice recorded, I felt pretty dang good about my singing....then when I heard it recorded, I about puked.....that was many many years ago..since then, it has only gotten worse..LOL...

that said, it can be quite a shock when you first hear your recorded voice.., and if you do think it`s bad, you may be just your own worst critic....don`t be discuraged...keep on keep`in on..

 

[brother rat]

I think there is also another factor at work here. Human ears were designed by God, or evolved (whichever version you believe) to be acutely tuned to human voices. Think of how quickly we can tell a woman's voice from a man's voice, a child from an adult, sick from healthy. Most of us have a much harder time distinguishing between two different acoustic guitars, or something recorded with two different microphones unless we can hear them immediately side by side.
So when recording vocals, a microphone is NOT a human ear and a speaker is NOT a human throat. So it's common, even with great equipment, for vocals to sound a little bit off. Getting a satisfactory vocal sound can take a lot of practice, from any vocalist - not just yourself.

 

[grimtraveller]

Like everyone said,

Everyone didn't said !

The only way to judge if you have an amazing voice or not is to count the number of strangers that will drive somewhere and pay a fee to listen to you sing.

So does it not count if the 5000 take the bus and sneak in ?

I think there is also another factor at work here. Human ears were designed by God, or evolved (whichever version you believe) to be acutely tuned to human voices. Think of how quickly we can tell a woman's voice from a man's voice, a child from an adult, sick from healthy.

That's an interesting point. The other day I was telling my son that the person who voiced the part of the son, Andy, in "God, the Devil and Bob" was a woman and the woman who voiced the part of his sister Megan is the same person that voiced Bart Simpson. He was shocked. I was merely surprized !

 

[Emerson Maningo]

You did not give more details. Does the recording sound clean in the first place? Of course, even a good voice will sound bad if the recording is full of hiss or noise. Make sure you have a very clean vocal recording in the first place and use appropriate microphones for vocal recording. My two cents.

 

[CrowsofFritz]

"God, the Devil and Bob"

Great show!

 

[Chili]

Is there a reason why my singing sounds bad when it is recorded.

You recorded it poorly.

I have gotten compliments from friends and family that my voice was amazing...

Friends and family lie.

but when i went to record, my voice sounded really bad.

It is bad recording with a bad mic in a bad room and then mixed bad.

Is it just natural that i sound amazing to them and horrible to myself and i just have to accept that or will i get used to it later on?

Okay, I had some fun, but in all seriousness; friends and family will lie to you. If you're just starting out, which I can safely assume you are because you're asking this question, there are two things going on; 1) you're hearing your voice for the first time which means, 2) you're recording it for the first time.

So, the real answer is, You have to get used to hearing your own voice AND you have to learn how to get a good recording of your voice. The first part is harder to do, but the second part takes a much longer time. There is mic selection, room treatment, mic technique, singing abilities, mixing and processing, monitors, and the listening environment to consider. There are so many aspects that affect the quality of your recorded voice that you have to learn about before you can really assess whether you voice sucks or not.

And if you want unbiased opinions or advice, post up a clip and let us hear. We'll tell ya straight up if you do or you don't.

One last thing, if your voice does sound horrible, it's not the end of the road. My singing was wretched when I first started and I feel it's come a long way. Takes lots of practice, but I think most anyone can sing and capture a good recording of their singing.

Good luck and have fun!!