recording vocals...mics, etc.

[dgr1966]

I am beginning to get my feet wet recording vocals on my digi001 for PC, but so far they are coming out like I'm singing from the bottom of a trashcan. I was used to doing most of the music tracking here and then going into a bigger Pro Tools TDM studio to track vocals and some live stuff, but now that I have the digi001 (and am watching the pocketbook)...anyway...i know the digi has a built in pre-amp but am I going to need a "better" one...? The vocal dynamics in most of my songs encompass light airy vocalisations to belting...
...I guess I need some basic advice...is it wrong to be recording vocals using a Beyerdynamic M88 or Sennheiser E855?
...my voice is very warm but it sounds very thin...it actually sounds better dry but there's just a lot missing when I compare it to the other stuff I have recorded in other studios and i've actually gone crazy with the knobs (audio suite on the digi)to see/hear the range of the effects and they don't seem to do too much...except turn things to mush...
...I am singing in a small 8X10 bedroom that has curtains on one wall...
...is there a basic digital recording book for recording vocals (and the other basics for digital recording)you might recommend?
...if I do get a pre-amp...is the Presonus 2-channel ACP-22 a good choice? Is it going to make that big of a difference?
...any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Kelly Holdridge]

Think TUBE. Gotta have a tube in the preamp, or don't bother.

ART makes some good pre-amps, apparently (never used one). Look into the ART MP (or DUAL MP), these are highly recommended around these parts.

Hope this helps!

 

[ametth]

Think TUBE. Gotta have a tube in the preamp, or don't bother.

ART makes some good pre-amps, apparently (never used one). Look into the ART MP (or DUAL MP), these are highly recommended around these parts.

Hope this helps!

Kelly, I like you..but thats just bad advice. Why does it have to be tube? Thats a careless statement. And to recommend the ART when you've never heard one? These are the noisiest preamps that dont have enough power or proper design to use a tube right.

dgr1966: Use your ears..take what ever mic you are using and go try some preamps. Pick the one that sounds the best for *your voice*.

 

[Roel]

However, there is some truth in what Kelly says... Tubes will give you a nice 'n tasty blend of upper harmonics compared to solid state. There is even a technical explanation for it. But I don't know about ART. (I know that I hate their guitar effects, and their midi-controller-floor boards are wonderfull...)

The mic pre is to get your signal to the right level. Think about it. Now why would you use an external preamp instead of the digi001 build-ins? Either to get a more transparant sound if you think the build-ins color your signal in a way you don't want it. Or to get the typical color of another preamp, that's where you would use tubes...

But first check mic positions, input gain etc... I had the same problem with my akgc3000b and the VS1880, singing closer to the mic allready helped alot. Puts more low freq in it. Try to get the most out of your stuff, and learn what you can do with it, before buying new stuff.

Actually, I wouldn't know. I really am a newbie, but this just sounded right.

 

[schwa]

I'm also a newbie, but have been fighting the "vocals sound like crap" thing for a year now. They're starting to come together, so I thought I might make a couple of suggestions.

While a better pre usually makes things better, are you having an issue with tone (sounds thin), or with level? If its tone, the pre would not be the first thing I looked at.

I see a lot of posts about using condensers, but they rarely explain why one would want to use them. When using a dynamic (like your beyer or heinie) I found that I was stuck with a choice of too boomy (if I was close) or too thin (if I backed off). How far away from the mic are you singing? If you're more than a few (6-8) inches away, I would expect the sound to be thin.

I don't have the digi, so I'm not sure if it has phantom, but a condensor mic will let you back off a bit. I have a KSM, but also have a beyer small diaphram that runs on a AA cell. Both mics let me get back off and still get a full sound. I prefer the large diaphram, but the other gives me much better results than any of my dynamics.

Considering the budget, I know that there are a number of performance oriented condenser mics available for $150-$250. Maybe these would help.

Of course there are exceptions, but in my (limited) experience, I have found that the condensor is a lot easier to work with. Better yet, borrow one if you can (maybe the studio you work with will rent you one), that way you'll know if that's the issue.

A second (less likely) candidate is dynamics. are you compressing the signal so it sits in the mix nicely?

 

[ricrac47]

Hi everybody,
Iv'e been following this thread...trying to get info on vocal processing. I have a Roland 1680...can't get good vocal sounds out of it. The reverb always seems to have a nasty aftersound...same with the delay. I'm using a AT 4033a, so I know the mic is not the problem. I finally resorted to using my old ART SGX T2 Fx processor. It doesn't sound bad...but it takes a LOT of tweaking. I also have a POD PRO. Can I use this for vocals??? I want somethinf that is SIMPLE to use!
I gues my question is this. I don't want heavily processed vocals...jusy a touch of reverb and/or delay. Does anybody make a unit that has both reverb and delay that is geared torward vocal applications? Anybody have any info on the Digitech VR (harmonizer)? I seems to have everything but the delay. How good is it??? SOMEONE must make a processor that can help me out. I'll stop now....hope to hear from some of you. Thanks in advance.
ricrac47

 

[Shailat]

I see a lot of posts about using condensers, but they rarely explain why one would want to use them.

[b/]


They tend to color vocals less and they respond more accurately to transients and attacks.
They capture a broader range of Freq's from a bigger distance so you don't have to eat the mic to get a full sound. It will also include some of the natural ambience of the room.

 

[Shailat]

I see a lot of posts about using condensers, but they rarely explain why one would want to use them.

They tend to color vocals less and they respond more accurately to transients and attacks.
They capture a broader range of Freq's from a bigger distance so you don't have to eat the mic to get a full sound. It will also include some of the natural ambience of the room.