Needs Some Ideas - Need a vocal to sound like it is coming from Radio/TV

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DM60

DM60

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I am working on a song. It has no lyrics per se', not in the traditional sense. I am using the lyrics more as a narration to move the song along. So, music foreground, vocals background. I need the vocals to sound like a TV in the background. I was able to get the vocals to sound like a high quality narrator, but that didn't work for the piece. So, I thought if I could get it to sound like a TV documentary in the background. I need it to be clear, but still in the back.

Crazy sounding I know, but I like trying new things. Any ideas/thoughts/tips/tricks?
 
cut out the low frequencies and high frequencies with filters, adjust the EQ for more 'boxiness'.
 
Maybe make a sample of a documentary on tv, since the actual words aren't of a concern for you? Just be careful about copyrighted material. :)
 
Morodiene said:
Maybe make a sample of a documentary on tv, since the actual words aren't of a concern for you? Just be careful about copyrighted material. :)
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Actual words are a concern. They are a part of the lyrics, but they are presented in narration form.
 
mjbphotos said:
cut out the low frequencies and high frequencies with filters, adjust the EQ for more 'boxiness'.
Click to expand...

Once I have that, wouldn't a reverb of some sort to put some distance it it? To sound like a room. In case it wasn't clear, I recorded the vocals, super dry.
 
Roll off everything above 3Khz and below 200hz. Compress with a very low threshold, fast attack & slow release (so the compressor is always working), ratio at least 4:1. Add a small room reverb, or very fast slap-back delay (or both), but not too much.

Or just play back the voice through computer speakers, and record it with a condenser mike across the room.
 
DigitMus said:
Roll off everything above 3Khz and below 200hz. Compress with a very low threshold, fast attack & slow release (so the compressor is always working), ratio at least 4:1. Add a small room reverb, or very fast slap-back delay (or both), but not too much.

Or just play back the voice through computer speakers, and record it with a condenser mike across the room.
Click to expand...

Or both - you definitely want to EQ it to give it some of that lo fi flavor (using a downsampling function in an audio editor may help too), but then you could try recording it in your room with another mic. IT could make an interesting effect.
 
I assume you want something similar to the 'telly in the background' heard on various songs on Pink Floyd's The Wall.
 
Why don't you just route the vocal to a television and Mic it?
 
mjbphotos said:
I assume you want something similar to the 'telly in the background' heard on various songs on Pink Floyd's The Wall.
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Yes, that is the idea that somehow stuck in my head.

I am working on this song that traditional sung lyrics didn't fit. Then in another thread, there was some talk about voice over work or DJ voice. I thought, hey that would work. So I tried that, but it was too good. Then the Pink Floyd idea kind of came in my head and that was what stuck.

@Digitmus and Drew - I like your all's idea. Record it, play it through speakers and record it with another mic. I will have to try that.

@Farview - looks like the simplest is the easiest ;) Sometime real world may still be the best.


Thanks everyone.
 
I think you got the sound right, but the speaking needs to be more professional sounding. The words are slightly slurred and sometimes spoken a bit too fast in "also known as.." Perhaps try reading the spoken words to someone as if you are giving a speech and have them give you feedback on how to make it sound more comfortable. I think an important way of doing this is to know ahead of time what word in each sentence or phrase gets the emphasis and then working toward inflecting that and letting other parts be less inflected. If you're not sure, try saying a sentence or phrase and inflect only one word. The inflection changes the meaning, and while you're probably not going so much for meaning, if you are imitating a documentary, they would be trying to convey meaning.

For example: Say your sentence is "I went to the store." You can inflect the first word, "I went to the store," (implying that you want to take credit for doing that). Or the second word, "I went to the store," (emphasizing that this was something already done in the past), "I went to the store, " I went to the store," and, "I went to the store," all each have their slightly different meanings. But most importantly for your project, this is how your words can sound more communicative. Sorry is this is stuff you already know.
 
Morodiene said:
I think you got the sound right, but the speaking needs to be more professional sounding. The words are slightly slurred and sometimes spoken a bit too fast in "also known as.." Perhaps try reading the spoken words to someone as if you are giving a speech and have them give you feedback on how to make it sound more comfortable. I think an important way of doing this is to know ahead of time what word in each sentence or phrase gets the emphasis and then working toward inflecting that and letting other parts be less inflected. If you're not sure, try saying a sentence or phrase and inflect only one word. The inflection changes the meaning, and while you're probably not going so much for meaning, if you are imitating a documentary, they would be trying to convey meaning.

For example: Say your sentence is "I went to the store." You can inflect the first word, "I went to the store," (implying that you want to take credit for doing that). Or the second word, "I went to the store," (emphasizing that this was something already done in the past), "I went to the store, " I went to the store," and, "I went to the store," all each have their slightly different meanings. But most importantly for your project, this is how your words can sound more communicative. Sorry is this is stuff you already know.
Click to expand...

Na, I appreciate the feedback. Your right, I really don't care about the words, but I do and you make a good point. To pull if off, it has to sound real. I was focusing on keeping mu southern accent out of it. Now I have a general idea on the sound, I can take another crack at improving the performance. Not sure I can get it, but worth a try.

Thanks for the feedback.
 
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