Needing opinions on how to do these type vocals?

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LoneRider103

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I've been working on alot of electronic-ish type of stuff here lately, but find that I absolutely hate my vocals alongside with what I'm doing. I have a few samples of songs from other artists who I'd like to have my vocals sound more like. Any ideas or info I could be given to have them sound this way, I greatly appreciate it!

Washed Out "New Theory"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDniFWp3jPA

Washed Out "Feel It All Around"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DkslcOhytU
 
I didn't listen to the songs, I'll assume you mean you wanna sound like Sammy Hagar or Steve Perry. No problem. Well maybe just a little.

Start with EQ. There are a host of vocal "magic" programs out there, but tailoring your sound with EQ first lays the best foundation. Other effects like compression, chorus and phasing (itsy bitsy amounts) can fine tune from there.

Experiment and step back from it every couple hours to keep your perspective. Goof luck.
 
LoneRider103 said:
but find that I absolutely hate my vocals alongside with what I'm doing.
Click to expand...


Most everybody hates the sound of their own voice. You get used to it after a while. Just keep at it and practice singing. Eventually, you get to the point where you can tolerate listening to yourself.
 
I listened to the songs and to me they don't sound like Sammy Hagar or Steve Perry... or even Frank Sinatra.

Those tracks don't sound like they were done on cheap gear either.

You need to get tons of the same harmonic stacked on top of each other to get that thick a sound, plus some compression and a nice shiny reverb.

If you can, roll the bottom off of the reverb. An old trick is to have the reverb on a separate track and completely zap everything bellow 100Hz, if not 500 or higher, so it's all highs like the word "aaaahhhh".

You might try recording a vocal track and making two copies. Pan the original straight up the middle and take one of the two copies and pan one slightly to the left and the other slightly to the right. You might want to roll the bottom off of the copies so there's no bottom end build up. And take the copies and drag them slightly so one is slightly later than the original and the other is even later than that.

For the vocals I put it through an eq, crank the high end, and then compress it. I do that on every lead vox track to get a shine on the vocals.
 
Thanks Mr. Moore! I'm going to try it out. I appreciate the info.
 
EDIT: Never mind. Don't want to start a fight with someone I have nothing against.
 
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Chili said:
Most everybody hates the sound of their own voice. You get used to it after a while. Just keep at it and practice singing. Eventually, you get to the point where you can tolerate listening to yourself.
Click to expand...

+1

its the hardest thing to be objective about...but like any instrument you can improve with practise...and also like any instrument it sometimes takes the use of effects to help make it work within a song


I fight making every tune i do an instrumental and I can sing to a degree..just keep practising and look for a style that suits your tone and range rather than completely mimic someone else's style..you may surprise yourself

another good practise is to mix the instruments around your vocals...don't try and add them at the end or chances are they'll just sit out on their own and sound even worse to you


keep at it :)


here's a good link for recording vocals that may help

http://kimlajoie.wordpress.com/tag/vocals/
 
kcearl said:
+1

its the hardest thing to be objective about...but like any instrument you can improve with practise...
Click to expand...


From everyone else's post, I'm under the impression I answered a question he didn't ask. But thanks for the support anyways!!!! :p
 
kcearl said:
+1

another good practise is to mix the instruments around your vocals...don't try and add them at the end or chances are they'll just sit out on their own and sound even worse to you
Click to expand...

Definitely. I've seen people collect 6,7 good takes of different instruments but in the end they just don't sound good together. People starting off often overlook that.
 
practice is the main thing. try to lay down a few tracks with nobody in earshot of you. knowing no-one is listening has oftern helped me with laying down vocal tracks as i find i gain confidence and relax. Secondly, learn to use a compressor inside out- this is vital for studio vocals on any category of music. P.S. reverb will allways be your friend
 
Reminds me of Howard Jones from the 80s...I think there is a patch on the Line6 UX2 that will replicate that tone he is getting.
The Prog Rock Vocal setting seems to match that fairly well.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
Reminds me of Howard Jones from the 80s...I think there is a patch on the Line6 UX2 that will replicate that tone he is getting.
The Prog Rock Vocal setting seems to match that fairly well.
Click to expand...

80s gang vocals on Pod Farm?
 
i love the 2 songs you posted, i was just stressing about money, life & work problems(one great big negative hole), and just everything and starting to feel well destroyed by it all, and i listened to the songs you posted and its all gone now, i feel 100% myself again and i can face the rest of this day. i wish my life could dance to the music then i'd be happy all the time

the vocals sounded like a combination of the petshop boys and howard jones, they are in my personal top 20 favorite list:) i don't care for my voice most of the time either, but i wouldn't give up if i were you, i'm sure when you finish your songs you'll make somebody's day:D thanks & goodluck
 
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