Recording Hip Hop Vocals

[Creepy Crawlies]

I have been reading on what Microphones to use for Hip Hop. The AT4040 as popped up many times, I have been told AT have very good Microphones all around. Then I discovered the AT4050, and I have finally decided that I will be going with the AT4050 or AT4040 the AT4040 or maybe get one of each eventually.

I have one question: Is it worth the extra money to get the AT4050 rather then AT4040 the AT4040. As in the UK, the money difference is a lot larger then it is in the US.

Anyways, I was wondering what else do I need. I know I need a Audio Interface, with pre-amps or maybe additional pre-amps that get plugged into the Interface. I am recording Vocals only, and I am also recording on a PC.

Can someone suggest me a Audio Interface that is perfect for AT4040 / AT4050 Microphones? The budget I am looking at is up to £600, I may go higher if there will be a large difference. I am looking for something that will give me top notch quality.

As I have read the quality comes with a better Interface rather then a better Microphone.

And anything else I need? Please give me some advice on this guys.

Thanks in Advance,
Creepy Crawlies.

 

[PhilGood]

The first thing I would offer is: Drop the idea of a mic for hip hop vocals. Certain mics work with certain vocal timbres, not genres. No one asks "What's a good mic for rock vocals?" or "What's a good mic for country vocals?" or "What's a good mic for celtic vocals?". You match the mic to the voice, not the music style.

The 4040 is a good all around mic, so you might be OK there. You haven't specified male, female, bright, dark or anything like that, so we won't know for sure.

The other thing: How do you quantify the perfect interface for a specific mic? They don't sit around and match interfaces to mics. You have to decide what quality you want. The interface does the analog to digital conversion, Preamps increase the signal and can add to or detract from the vocal character. Preamps are probably more important than the interface, but again, what tone are you looking for? The idea that better quality comes from the interface is a bit incorrect. You can't take a crappy sounding mic and plug it into a great preamp and have it suddenly sound wonderful. You start with the source sounding good, then a good mic, then a good pre. That's the only way to top notch quality.

 

[stealth_prod]

Also you will need a decent set of monitors. I agree with phil in that there is no perfect combos of anything. That is why most pro studios (and a large portion of home studios) have a library of mics to choose from. If your going looking for good mic I suggest looking into the Shure Sm7b. Used it a while back and it worked wonders for the application.

 

[Creepy Crawlies]

The first thing I would offer is: Drop the idea of a mic for hip hop vocals. Certain mics work with certain vocal timbres, not genres. No one asks "What's a good mic for rock vocals?" or "What's a good mic for country vocals?" or "What's a good mic for celtic vocals?". You match the mic to the voice, not the music style.

The 4040 is a good all around mic, so you might be OK there. You haven't specified male, female, bright, dark or anything like that, so we won't know for sure.

The other thing: How do you quantify the perfect interface for a specific mic? They don't sit around and match interfaces to mics. You have to decide what quality you want. The interface does the analog to digital conversion, Preamps increase the signal and can add to or detract from the vocal character. Preamps are probably more important than the interface, but again, what tone are you looking for? The idea that better quality comes from the interface is a bit incorrect. You can't take a crappy sounding mic and plug it into a great preamp and have it suddenly sound wonderful. You start with the source sounding good, then a good mic, then a good pre. That's the only way to top notch quality.

I wasn't suggesting that the AT4040 was good for Hip Hop vocals, I meant as a Microphone in general. I have read many reviews on the Microphone, and have also been suggested it by people who have used it themselves.

As for matching a Interface with a Microphone, I thought maybe some Microphones work better with certain Interfaces.

See I have been told many times that the original Mbox is a good choice as it as better pre-amps prepared to the Mbox 2. However I am a newbie, and I would like to just get the best quality I possibly can.

For the Vocals, I would say they are smooth / soft (I ain't got a deep voice) and I am also Male.

 

[PhilGood]

I wasn't suggesting that the AT4040 was good for Hip Hop vocals, I meant as a Microphone in general. I have read many reviews on the Microphone, and have also been suggested it by people who have used it themselves.

As for matching a Interface with a Microphone, I thought maybe some Microphones work better with certain Interfaces.

See I have been told many times that the original Mbox is a good choice as it as better pre-amps prepared to the Mbox 2. However I am a newbie, and I would like to just get the best quality I possibly can.

For the Vocals, I would say they are smooth / soft (I ain't got a deep voice) and I am also Male.

I think the 4040 or 4050 would be a good choice then. I don't have much experience with the Mbox, but its the basic package used for Pro Tools, so I imagine its pretty good. I would start with that and then think about possibly adding a fairly good preamp at a later stage. A good pre is going to run you at least $450 and higher, so you might just see how it goes with the AT and Mbox.

 

[Creepy Crawlies]

I think the 4040 or 4050 would be a good choice then. I don't have much experience with the Mbox, but its the basic package used for Pro Tools, so I imagine its pretty good. I would start with that and then think about possibly adding a fairly good preamp at a later stage. A good pre is going to run you at least $450 and higher, so you might just see how it goes with the AT and Mbox.

Yeah that's what I was thinking. The AT4040 or AT4050 with the Mbox 2 Pro, the also add a pre-amp to it rather then use the ones built in.

Anyone else got any suggestions?

 

[BobbyBalow]

Get a True P-Solo preamp. They are AMAZING for the price...

 

[Creepy Crawlies]

Get a True P-Solo preamp. They are AMAZING for the price...

This one?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/closeup/PSolo--img_rear.jpg

 

[BobbyBalow]

Yep. Thats the one. Very clean. Very quiet. If you can, make sure to try everything out before you make any final decisions. Everyones voice is different.

 

[ObiAudio.com]

I'd recommend the SM7B for recording spoken word (Like hip-hop) but it is also a beast at just about everything in a studio. Kick, guitar, percussion, vocals its a great mic that will last you a long time are you will not outgrow. As for the pre amp the True is a great choice, I also recommend the Black Lion Audio Auteur which is just under 500 for two channels. I have a shoot on my site with it against the RNP and a Great River with downloadable waves you should check it out, its a great pre for a great price. Also the 4050 is a very neutral mic which works great at a lot of things. For the price you can't go wrong with the 4040, 4050 or even a shure ksm 32 or even a Kel HM7u. All great peices!

 

[aimpark]

I know for a fact that the old MBox has better pre-amps, a friend told me actually the used focusrite stuff, but the new Mbox 2, I wouldn't use that as a pre-amp, it's alright thou as a audio interface.

 

[hiphop24360]

Okay I can help a little bit, most if not all mainstream hiphop is compressed MORE THAN ONCE.

Make sure the beat your spitting over is tracked out, not just an mp3 with a beat on it, surefire way to get crap....Another surefire way to get crap is to record/mix in an untreated room. Read up on acoustics hint OC703.

ALMOST always use a compressor during tracking for hip hop, and be a little more liberal with it than most genre's. But still only light compression on the way in. No more than 7 db gain reduction tracking, just a rule of thumb.

Than compress again in the mix.

if your mastering yourself throw a limiter on at the end, maybe even a lil compression on the master fader depending on what comp's your using.

You want a compressor thats fast for rap, because rap is aggressive, fast compressors tend to not have the "color", "thickness", "Depth" of their slightly slower usually tube driven counterparts.

Classic hip hop vocal set up, Mic---Preamp----UA1176 used for compression during tracking, than something warmer and fatter like the LA2A for compression in the mix. ONLY COMPRESS LIGHTLY ON THE WAY IN.

Mic- Check out the forum favorites, I use a Rode K2, great for the pricepoint and has variable polar patterns, is a tube mic

(I say for hip hop get all the warmth you can before it gets cloudy, starting at the mic, plus Omni Picks up incredible depth on vocals with no proximity effect which allows the rapper to be more dynamic around the stand, but if your room isn't treated VERY WELL, you will hear every fault in your studio loud and clear, than go to cardioid. (The majority of vocal mic's are Cardioid).

Ive used an AT4047, it was a very nice mic as well, a little cleaner but less character, could be much better for alot, in fact most uses. (accurate representation is what to aim for, than from there aim for what works best on your voice or for the beat your on.
The AT5050 Im sure is great as well, they make solid mics for the pricepoint, just make sure its suited for you...I can't remember but I think the 5050 is a tube mic, which will add more character.

SURE SM7B, A favorite of rappers and home recordists everywhere always. Really picks up the low end/bass in your voice, sounds great on aggressive shit, pretty sure wu-tang used one, if your on a budget this is your girl. A measly 350.....ADDED BONUS, THIS MIC HIDES YOUR ROOMS PROBLEMS LIKE NO OTHER, you may literally save a thousand dollars on accoustic treatment by choosing this mic. (accoustic treatment is EXPENSIVE and HARD WORK)...I should mention I am looking at picking one up, most my buddies sound better on the SM7B than the K2 (at double the price)...plus my room has issues, still..... no lie.

If your rich check out the U87, the Peluso 22 4? LE, the Sony C-800.....and anything else you see is expensive and read is good.

You need a good preamp, not the one on your interface,

the GAP PRE 73 is all the rage in the world right now, its an 1176 "Clone" thats upgradable...they have shootouts against the 1176, its not bad.

Groove Tube Brick - Very solid preamp, Cheap, another tube product...more warmth...great DI incase your into beats

BLA Auteur- Thats the one I picked, Great depth on the low ends and a nice crystally but not sibilant sheen on the high end. (Some of the high end may be slightly lost IME, just my ears, works great for my voice which is slightly more nasally than I would choose.)

Converter The Behringer one works fine, The BLA converter/clock that can go with the auteur looks pretty cool though.

If you can go to a hybrid studio where you bounce to tape and back at somepoint.... I've found that a decent improvement as well.

Automate vocals, don't leave them at the same volume through the whole take. FADER RIDE IT.

Ok, thats good enough for now...Had to explain the current sound of rap (other than in the sense of drums, keys) etc.... isentence I would say the character of the tracks are (Overcompression, Analog(esque) at least, Tube equipment)

Its a shame everyone does it like that because it's so easy to replicate, than we see talentless fools sounding damn similar to Icons, but its great on the other hand cuz we all can be heard now. Double edge sword bro.