Recording Vocals - NEED HELP

[hoodslider]

Hey everybody, I need help recording some vocals... I've recently purchased an apex 435 condenser mic and a behringer UB1002 mixer. Both are cheap in their respective classes, but it's good enough for what I need to do. I've managed to get great acoustic guitar sounds, but I really want to get a GOOD vocal sound.

I'm running the mic into the mixer, which has a built in mic preamp. This runs into the line in of the soundcard. I'm using Logic 5.5 as my sequencer.

Here's the problem: I've got a big strong voice (a bit like Toby Keith) and I sing with alot of dynamics. I've found the only answer to my problem is being FAR from the mic, otherwise it distorts... I bring the gain down, and it still distorts. Problem is that the farther away I go, it sounds more thin, not as nice, and I find I lose the nice warmth that the mic has when I sing closer.

ALL TIPS ARE WELCOME!!! I can use all the help anybody is willing to give me.

I'll try to get some clips up soon.
THANKS EVERYBODY

 

[Rokket]

Try singing as far as you need to away from the mic, and add compression to your track when you mix it down. Also give singing "off axis" a try: aim the mic between your upper lip and your nose, or at your chin. That might help a bit.

 

[Leeking]

Here's the problem: I've got a big strong voice (a bit like Toby Keith) and I sing with alot of dynamics. I've found the only answer to my problem is being FAR from the mic, otherwise it distorts... I bring the gain down, and it still distorts. Problem is that the farther away I go, it sounds more thin, not as nice, and I find I lose the nice warmth that the mic has when I sing closer.

Sounds like you are not using a pop filter.

get a pop filter first... then we'll talk.

 

[RD423]

Not only that u might want to add a outboard compressor to your gear and compress it on the way coming in

 

[hoodslider]

I do have a pop filter... but that doesn't alow me to get much closer, cause I sing with alot of dynamics.

What would you recommend as an incoming compressor? I am on a limited budget, so I need VALUE VALUE VALUE!!!!


Thanks again

 

[radioliver]

FMR RNC on the way in with supernice mode just to catch the peaks. This should help a lot for 175$ (eBay).

 

[ecktronic]

Learn to sing with less dynamics. Im not saying dynamics aint good, as they are good especially for singing emotional intense stuff like muse. Just set up the mic input with a hard compressor at around -2dB or so (just a rough guess) and set your level to when you sing at your loudest. Check the input level by singing along to the part of the song that you sing loudest in making sure you are using the same monitor mix and monitor level you will be singing with when recording. If you still cant get it right, practice singing with less dynamics more.

 

[SilverSurfer]

FMR RNC on the way in with supernice mode just to catch the peaks. This should help a lot for 175$ (eBay).

+1

Love my RNC and am just now getting to see how sweet this thing is. It sounds like this is what you need to solve your problem!

 

[hoodslider]

Before I go out and dish another 200$, what's the difference between compressing on the way in, rather than after it's recorded, with plugins?

I know, I'm ignorant, but you gotta learn somehow.

 

[rapedbyape]

Compressing on the way in should stop the clipping and hence distortion that you get.

 

[Marciano]

i don´t like to record to far away from the mic...seems like your mic can't andle to mutch distortion...try, first of all to buy a decent mic.An Audio tecnica from 4033 to 4060 are excelent choices to record loud. It hads an natural compression and it´s very well balanced mic.I´ve never used any kind of compression on this mic while recording.
you can´t make a cake without egg.
The more low bodget material you put in your audiochain, the less quality you´ll gonna get.

 

[NolensVolens]

Learning a good microphone technique would probably help you.

 

[Fire Dome]

i don't know much about all your gear but how about recording at a lower level and then using an audio editor to gain the wav file till you get a decent level that you are happy with (without any distortion) and then compress. Just an idea.

Dave

 

[pkmusic]

Why don't you try a dynamic mic? Maybe a Shure SM57?

i don't know much about all your gear but how about recording at a lower level and then using an audio editor to gain the wav file till you get a decent level that you are happy with (without any distortion) and then compress. Just an idea.

Dave

 

[dkelley]

i don´t like to record to far away from the mic...seems like your mic can't andle to mutch distortion...try, first of all to buy a decent mic.An Audio tecnica from 4033 to 4060 are excelent choices to record loud. It hads an natural compression and it´s very well balanced mic.I´ve never used any kind of compression on this mic while recording.
you can´t make a cake without egg.
The more low bodget material you put in your audiochain, the less quality you´ll gonna get.

It's not the mic, it's your soundcard's inputs. That mic can handle very high levels, I use one too with the same mixer actually (well a UB802). your soundcard has very limited input levels, so you do need to compress on the way in. OR you might have a problem with a cable or something. or a bad soundcard possibly.

 

[bad news]

i had the same problem, but wit rapping...record 'off axis' dont put the mic right in front of u, try positioning in different ways

 

[FALKEN]

Learning a good microphone technique would probably help you.

exactly.

learn to get closer to the mic when you sing quiet, and take a step back when you get louder. it is odd at first but after a few takes should be second nature.