recording difficult vocals

[Danner]

I have a project recording a musical theater vocalist and her piano...simple enough, right? The vocalist wants a small, intimate setting with lots of warmth and presence on her voice, rather than doing the recording on a stage (which would be my preference). Therefore, we ended up in my home studio, which is a fairly dead space. My problem is that her voice is all over the place from nearly silent passages to sp's rivaling screaming metal bands. I try to ride the gain, which helps control the recording level, but she's actually distorting the mic on loud passages. She won't accept tracking 12" - 18" away from the mic - it loses warmth. She backs off somewhat from the mic on loud passages, but still distorts when I least expect it. Yes, I have good condensers, pre's and compressors. This is just a different animal than I'm used to. Suggestions?

 

[DM1]

Can you break the recording up into quiet parts and loud parts, and record them separately? Or do multiple takes, with the gain at different levels, and scrap the parts that get distorted?

Also, if you're in a 24-bit environment with decent pres, you should be able to get away with tracking it low (low enough that her screaming never distorts,) and evening things out after the fact with compression and automation.

One other thought: could you get her to back up, then fake the proximity effect with EQ or a tube sim or warmer, or what have you?

 

[scrubs]

Are you sure you're distorting the mic and not the pre? Does your mic have a built in pad? If so, engage it. That should prevent overload of the mic circuitry. Like DM1 said, do multiple takes, or even place multiple mics (one close, one further back) and blend them (watch out for phase problems). Beyond that, fader riding and/or compression are about your only options if she cannot learn to work the mic properly.

 

[Danner]

difficult vocals

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I never thought of using the -10 pad,. but I think that just might do it, and bring levels back up later.

Just a sidebar, but with all the voice training these kids get at school, they should be taught the simple mechanics of using a microphone. They think it's totally the engineer's job to compensate for whatever they do.

 

[KonradG]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I never thought of using the -10 pad,. but I think that just might do it, and bring levels back up later.

Just a sidebar, but with all the voice training these kids get at school, they should be taught the simple mechanics of using a microphone. They think it's totally the engineer's job to compensate for whatever they do.

sounds like she knows how to use a dynamic mic by the way you described her back away for the loud parts, because the dynamic doesnt distort as easily in my experiences (of screaming deftone covers with the mic touching my mouth, still pretty clear sound).

In my opinion (and, yes... im obviously a musician) but the condenser mic is on your turf buddy

My money would be on lowering the volume low enough to not distort, then compressing the lows all the way back up. maybe some swift automation as well? good luck!
conrad

 

[mrface2112]

They think it's totally the engineer's job to compensate for whatever they do.

and you think it's not?

it's your job to record them and do an excellent job at it, regardless of their shortcomings.

along with training them in how to work the mic better (in a tactful sort of way that i explain as "helping them help me get a better recording of their immense talent"), i'd be backing their ass up from the mic and slapping a limiter on that vocal chain along with riding the fader/gain on the way in.

at the end of the day, it IS your job as the engineer to make the person sound better than they are and to compensate for their weaknesses. dealing with difficult to record people is one of the joys of our job. if they were all easy to record, had great training, excellent instruments and fantastic musicianship, they'd be going to "real" studios with "professional", "full-time" engineers, no?


cheers,
wade

 

[Danner]

difficult vocals

Okay, Wade...

I stand corrected. Your points are valid, and I suppose I was venting my frustration at being bested for the moment...but I'm obviously on this BB because I want to do it better, as do we all...

Danner