Problem with Vocals on my SP B1...help?

[GhostOfMe]

(I guess this is the more appropriate place to ask this)...

Alright, here's the situation...

I spent the day yesterday trying to get a good sound out of my Studio Projects B1 on vocals and I couldn't get anywhere close. We recorded acoustic guitar blending the mic signal and a line in signal and it sounds wonderful (even the mic signal on it's own was great). It's balanced, full, and sounds just how we want it.

The problem came when we moved to vocals. The high end on the recording was extremely harsh, the vocals came through very thin, and it just was unpleasant to listen to.

A large problem, I believe, is the room...because we're recording in a (finished) basement. There is carpeting, but the walls around the mic are "fo-wood" walls (about a 6' by 6' square). Basically thin layers of plywood with nothing behind them except another room. I tried hanging blankets to deaden the small space.

I also tried lowering the B1 below the mouth line and taking down the highs, which made it sound a tiny bit better - but muddier, and I don't understand how the guitar could sound so balanced and the voice suffer on a mic that seems to always be reccomended for vocals over guitar.

Any ideas? suggestions? Let me know if you need any more info to help out.

I'm also running the B1 into a Behringer 602A mixer...if that helps.

Thanks,

Nolan

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Nolan:|

Try this: Run your mic into an RNC and out into your recorder. Push the "real nice compressor" button on the RNC and adjust the gain dial so your signal is nice and full but not clipping.

The RNC runs around 175 pezzutos and is a good piece of gear, as well as many other compressors I'm sure. The RNC has two ins/outs.

I've been recording stuff for a few years but that RNC really gave me some rich sounds.

Green Hornet [No, I don't own the company.]

 

[Big Kenny]

Do you know what the ratio, attack and release are for the "RNC button"?

 

[AGCurry]

Ghost -
Without spending money on a compressor, here are my suggestions:

1. Get closer to the mic. When you say it sounds thin, I'm thinking you're too distant from the mic;

2. Use a foam condom on the mic. This will help cut down on plosives and sibilance, as well as attenuate high freqs a bit;

3. You didn't say where you hung the blankets. Hang them OFF of the wall(s), as a room's squareness can contribute to standing waves. In other words, use your blankets to create a room that's not square.

 

[grinder]

I use the foam windscreen with my C1, to attenuate the high end, when required. Certain voices require it, others don't and some voices just don't work with certain mics, no matter what you do. Could be the the mic just doesn't suit your voice and you need to get something else.