Rap Vocals & Mic Placement

[countrylac]

When recording rap vocals with a large condensor mic like the mxl V67 or Rode NT1 what is good distance from the mic and should the mic be level with the mouth of the rapper? Also would it be better to point mic at an upward or downward angle or to just leave it flat?

 

[scottboyher]

I know this is prolly not what you wanna hear but you are going to have to experiment. There is no exact way to do this. Try diffrenent locations, angles and distances to get what you want it to sound like. Or how you want it to fit in the mix.

 

[reshp1]

Yeah, ditto to that.

Start off with the mic hanging upside down, capsule about nose level but pointed slightly downwared toward the mouth. Have him/her direct the voice "under" the top of the mic (i.e. not directly into the capsule). You'll probably have to use a pop filter on a rapper, but experiment with distance and placement.