newbie recording

[cpc]

alright, well ive seemed to fix most of my initial recording problems...however i still have a major problem in the mixing stage.

when i record i usually already have a track with the music...and im just recording my vocals to my computer to mix with the music track. my problem is ..even when i get the volumes about the same, my vocals still stick out and dont blend in with the track. it sounds like you can just picture me sitting next to my computer recording my vocals. how would one go about blending vocals in with the rest of the music track?

 

[HapiCmpur]

alright, well ive seemed to fix most of my initial recording problems...however i still have a major problem in the mixing stage.

when i record i usually already have a track with the music...and im just recording my vocals to my computer to mix with the music track. my problem is ..even when i get the volumes about the same, my vocals still stick out and dont blend in with the track. it sounds like you can just picture me sitting next to my computer recording my vocals. how would one go about blending vocals in with the rest of the music track?

I'd recommend picking up a copy of The Mixing Engineer's Handbook. It's a great resource for learning how to use EQ, effects, panning, etc, to get tracks to sit in the mix the way you want. Just follow the link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...002-1989754-2984003?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

 

[DonF]

If the music track sounds complete by itself, it may be that you haven't left any space in the mix for the vocal to sit in. Then, in order to hear the vocal, you have to push the level way above where it should be, so it sticks out.

A little compression on the mix might help, but that's really just a band-aid.

What you really need to do is mix the instruments around the vocals, instead of mixing the instruments and then adding the vocals to the instrumental mix.

Take a look at http://www.bluebearsound.com/articles/mixing101.htm for some excellent mixing tips.

Don

 

[cpc]

thanks alot...well, how my band does it is they come up with the music in practice and then i start adding vocals to them in practice like im sure alot of bands do...willl recording ALL of the music (band and vocals) together at the same time help fix my problem instead of recording the band...and then adding my vocals???

 

[jonnyc]

No a lot of people record instruments and vox seperate. You probably just need to learn to mix a little better. I've done vocals the same way you described and it turned out fine. You just need to do some eqing to get the vocals in the right space then create your master track eq compress and you'll be on your way. But like I said you just really need to learn to mix better, you'll get it eventually.

 

[cpc]

will recording everything at the same time sound better initialy though instead of adding vocals to a mixed down track later? because im not good with mixing yet and i just want the best gelled blended together sound i can initially get.