...please dont laugh at me.

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funky1

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hello everybody,
i'm pretty new to this whole home recording thing... i recently bought myself an audiophile and a mixer and i'm just jamming around...

i record and mix using cubase and i'm ashamed to say i have no fucking clue on how a "correct" vocal eq is supposed to look like ( or sound ). i mean it sounds clean and all, but it doesnt sound like anything you'll here on a c.d. more like a live concert sound.

anyway i was wondering if one of you would be kind enough to show me how i should set up my cubase to get the best vocal sound.

thank you.
 
funky1 said:
hello everybody,
i'm pretty new to this whole home recording thing... i recently bought myself an audiophile and a mixer and i'm just jamming around...

i record and mix using cubase and i'm ashamed to say i have no fucking clue on how a "correct" vocal eq is supposed to look like ( or sound ). i mean it sounds clean and all, but it doesnt sound like anything you'll here on a c.d. more like a live concert sound.

anyway i was wondering if one of you would be kind enough to show me how i should set up my cubase to get the best vocal sound.

thank you.
Click to expand...

The plain and simple way out of this problem is to simply replace your computer (the one with cubase in it) with a RADAR or Pro-tools top of the line system. Then, you will need better mics, better pre-amps, compressors and decent EQs. The last thing you will need will be about 5 years experience in pro-recording studios and you should be all set.

But, if you cannot do the above, then learn to use the tools you have. EQ is generally not the tool to "fix" a bad sounding track. Work on getting the sound you want upfront. Vocals on CDs are very processed using compressors, expanders, EQs, mics and pre-amps that cost many thousands of $$$. They also have acoustically correct rooms and really expensive recording systems (digital or analog or both). There is no simple "fix" or answer other than the one above. You can get great vocals with practice, but you will never approach the pro-CD level.
 
First off, there aren't set eq' fixes, and even more important, unless you know it's needed, and how much, where, it could be just another degradation to the health to your tracks.
A good place to begin would be to just get your tracks in there as cleanly (or not if you're going for an effect), and as close to your best estimate of what you think might be the target sound. Use and experiment with your mic choices and placement first to get to that point for now, as until you have some experience behind you, you and no one who isn't there will be able to tell which way to tweak it. If it looks like you need to add the eq in during tracking to get where you want it, then go ahead.
It will be easier to hear what's needed from there once you hear it in context of the mix. Each time you do it, the tracking choices will get closer to being dead on'. :D
Wayne
 
thanx for the quick reply...

i guess what i should of asked is " is there a "defualt" setting that would compliment vocals in recording, as i said before, the sound i am getting is quite smooth and clean. and of-course i can generate different sounds experimenting with the mic and effects but i was wondering how to set the eq of the channel.
 
Honestly, I take that question as being the same as the first.
"..i have no fucking clue on how a "correct" vocal eq is supposed to look like ( or sound )."
It's the mic that gets you as close as possible. Everything else is a complete variable (unless you want to get into 'we always roll off the low end' cookie cutter-paint by numbers charts).

"Smooth" could mean compression/limiting. But half the time even if someone is talking 'eq', smooth means 'nice' instead of flat...:p
"Clean"?

'Tell me how to fly to Las Vegas'
Really, once you get familiar with what eq does what, you're good to go. That IMHO is the short route.

You're probably going to want some compression on the vocals. It's definitely part of the equation. If you can do the compression after you track, when it's setting in the mix, follow with some eq if it's needed. (And the compression can/will also alter the tone.) You can do the same while tracking, but if you miss, you least don't have to re-track.
 
Last edited:
funky1 said:
hello everybody,
i'm pretty new to this whole home recording thing... i recently bought myself an audiophile and a mixer and i'm just jamming around...

i record and mix using cubase and i'm ashamed to say i have no fucking clue on how a "correct" vocal eq is supposed to look like ( or sound ). i mean it sounds clean and all, but it doesnt sound like anything you'll here on a c.d. more like a live concert sound.

anyway i was wondering if one of you would be kind enough to show me how i should set up my cubase to get the best vocal sound.

thank you.
Click to expand...

I'm a fair newbie, myself, but here's something I've heard suggested and have found that works nicely to thicken up and smooth out the vocal: use more than one track.

Try to sing it as exactly the same as possible for a few takes, and then use the two or three best tracks and mix those. That's just a starting point, we then apply some compression, even chorusing and some EQ, but we're getting a much better sound by using multiple tracks. You have to sing different tracks instead of just cloning the same one, because the slight differences are what really thicken it up differently than just chorus effect.

When I know my part really well, the multiple takes are not separately discernible but boy it sure improves the sound. They're all the same voice and that makes a difference in their blending, too.
 
Comp the vocal track--have them record 5-6 takes and then splice the best parts together as a master vocal track. Then hit it with the compression, EQ and reverb. They should sound a lot better (if you know how to set the fx that is, and the singer is decent).
 
funky1 said:
i'm ashamed to say i have no fucking clue on how a "correct" vocal eq is supposed to look like ( or sound ). i mean it sounds clean and all, but it doesnt sound like anything you'll here on a c.d. more like a live concert sound.
anyway i was wondering if one of you would be kind enough to show me how i should set up my cubase to get the best vocal sound.
QUOTE]

You should not need much EQ on a vocal, but that really depends on the mic you use. But if it sounds a little cloudy try dipping a little bit around 250 Hz. If you want it to cut through a mix a little better try adding a little bit around 10k. Be really sparing with your vocal EQ. Its really easy to over do EQ.

Most of the vocals you hear on commercial CDs have been compressed, quite a bit if its pop or rock stuff, but not many cheap compressors are that good for vox compression. Also keep in mind that a big part of getting a great vocal sound is EQing the other instruments instead of the vocal. You sort of carve out a space for the vocal.
Click to expand...
 
Microphone!

No-one seems to have given much mention to microphones yet. If you're new to recording, then I imagine it's safe to assume that you're not using the right mic for the job (but if you are, please accept my apologies).

If you're a bedroom producer on a budget, one of the best investments you'll ever make is a compressor mic. You can pick up a good one for under a hundred and apply them to pretty much any kind of recording - vocals, guitar, etc.
 
thembuzz said:
No-one seems to have given much mention to microphones yet. If you're new to recording, then I imagine it's safe to assume that you're not using the right mic for the job (but if you are, please accept my apologies).

If you're a bedroom producer on a budget, one of the best investments you'll ever make is a compressor mic. You can pick up a good one for under a hundred and apply them to pretty much any kind of recording - vocals, guitar, etc.
Click to expand...

Thembuzz, welcome. After reading your post I'm thinking you oughta give these two threads a pretty thorough read. Your idea is correct, but your terminolgy and budget are a bit off.

Microphone FAQ

The Big Mic Thread, or how mics work and what they are called
 
thembuzz said:
No-one seems to have given much mention to microphones yet. If you're new to recording, then I imagine it's safe to assume that you're not using the right mic for the job (but if you are, please accept my apologies).

If you're a bedroom producer on a budget, one of the best investments you'll ever make is a compressor mic. You can pick up a good one for under a hundred and apply them to pretty much any kind of recording - vocals, guitar, etc.
Click to expand...

GAH! It's nearly 5am here - I'm sorry. That should read 'CONDENSOR' mic. Compressor mic... mutter...
 
thembuzz said:
No-one seems to have given much mention to microphones yet. If you're new to recording, then I imagine it's safe to assume that you're not using the right mic for the job (but if you are, please accept my apologies).

If you're a bedroom producer on a budget, one of the best investments you'll ever make is a compressor mic. You can pick up a good one for under a hundred and apply them to pretty much any kind of recording - vocals, guitar, etc.
Click to expand...

GAH! It's nearly 5am here - I'm sorry. That should read 'CONDENSOR' mic. Compressor mic... mutter...
 
thembuzz said:
No-one seems to have given much mention to microphones yet. If you're new to recording, then I imagine it's safe to assume that you're not using the right mic for the job (but if you are, please accept my apologies).

If you're a bedroom producer on a budget, one of the best investments you'll ever make is a compressor mic. You can pick up a good one for under a hundred and apply them to pretty much any kind of recording - vocals, guitar, etc.
Click to expand...

GAH! It's nearly 5am here - I'm sorry. That should read 'CONDENSOR' mic. Compressor mic... mutter...
 
Mistake

boingoman said:
Thembuzz, welcome. After reading your post I'm thinking you oughta give these two threads a pretty thorough read. Your idea is correct, but your terminolgy and budget are a bit off.

Microphone FAQ

The Big Mic Thread, or how mics work and what they are called
Click to expand...

Full marks on the terminology thing (and I kind of messed up on the follow-up post as well - sorry for the triplicate), but the budget definitely isn't. I just recently bought myself a Samson condensor for £55. Even taking into account exchange rates, would a US equivalent really be over the $100 mark?
 
Hee Hee :D Got the old server is busy threepeat on that one, huh? Seriously, if you get a chance read those threads. The Big Mic thread is by a veteran/legend in the audio world, and contains some information you could spend a lifetime figuring out. And a lot you never would. It is one of the best things I've ever read, and has been posted in it's entirety on other recording sites.
 
thembuzz said:
Full marks on the terminology thing (and I kind of messed up on the follow-up post as well - sorry for the triplicate), but the budget definitely isn't. I just recently bought myself a Samson condensor for £55. Even taking into account exchange rates, would a US equivalent really be over the $100 mark?
Click to expand...

Wellll....I may be being a bit snobby, but you are right. There are OK mics you can get for that price.

And you made a good call, nobody asked what he is using for gear, or asked about his recording technique, or where he was recording. All huge factors, before eq or compression, or any of that. He, too, would probably benefit from reading the mic threads.
 
Thanks for the tip - I'll definitely check out those threads. Always room for more learnin'.
 
thanx

wow.... emm thanx everyone for the replies...[sniff][sniff] i love you guys...

anyway about the gear, im using an audiophile, a mackey mixer.. and a samson mike... its not a condensor...i know i know... but it's still quite good ( excuse me but im not near the thing now and i can't remember the exact model type ) it did cost me about 70 bucks ( not that it means anything...).

is there anyway i can upload stuff i did here and you guys can take a listen...

i wanted to know when i compress if a want to compress the whole "audio mix-down" how do i do it, do export it and then import it to cubase or is there a way i can compress multiple channels at once.

thanx alot.
 
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