If you sing directly into the front of the mic, you're singing at 0 degrees. At the side is 90 degrees etc. It's a rotation thing. Nothing about tilting the mic.
That's correct philbagg take about a half step to one side of the microphone or 30 degrees to one side of the microphone and give that a try and report your findings back here after listening to your recording. Just give it a few takes to find the sweet spot.
Then you ARE using a preamp. It's the one built in to the 2480. Probably marginally adequate, but a far cry from some boutiquey API, Neve or John Hardy unit.
Find a good Neve clone preamp and you'll get amazing warmth/depth.