Recording vocals, which plug-ins?

  • Thread starter Thread starter C-SLIKK
  • Start date Start date
C

C-SLIKK

New member
I've tried searching for a thread similar to this and couldn't find one. I apologize ahead of time if I missed it.

I'm recording hip-hop vocals, and I just recently purchased a RODE NT1-a microphone with a M-Audio Mbox interface, and also have a DIY version of Harlan Hogans Porta-booth ( Harlan Hogan - Voice overs Narrations Commercials Promos ) setup for acoustics.

As far as recording straight from the microphone through the interface to the PC, the quality and vocals sound great. I was just wondering if there's any plug-ins or certain techniques I should be using to get them to sound as professional as possible through the mic i've purchased.

Even though I believe my vocals sound clear, should I still be using equalizers? Compression? Reverbs? things of that nature, and if so, is there any tutorials out there that recommend a basic standard setup of each plug-in?

Is there any 3rd party vocal plug-ins you guys would recommend?

I'm recording hip-hop vocals. I'm using Reaper as my DAW.


Thank you.
 
Last edited:
Google - Ambience Smartelectronix it's an excellent reverb / gate plugin, one of the best I've ever found that should help your vocals shine! I use it in reaper! :)

Muzza
 
Thanks Muzza.

Anybody else have any other suggestions?
 
You pick a tool to solve a problem, not to just hang it on there...
And there is no such thing as a 'standard setup' because every recording equipment chain and room space is different
(otherwise everyone would have a platinum record and sound exactly the same....)
 
It's my fault, I didn't specify what I meant by "standard setup."

What I mean is "A, B, and C are the settings I use, but adjust to your personal preference," type of deal. Not one generic setting everybody uses and sounds golden because of it.
 
C-SLIKK said:
It's my fault, I didn't specify what I meant by "standard setup."

What I mean is "A, B, and C are the settings I use, but adjust to your personal preference," type of deal. Not one generic setting everybody uses and sounds golden because of it.
Click to expand...

What Tim said still applies. There are no magic plugins or settings that automatically result in good sound. If I insert compressors on five vocal tracks in a project they will all have different settings. The settings are arrived at by listening, adjusting, listening, adjusting until it is right. You have to have a vision of the end result and a grasp on how to get there. Pre-fab solutions don't work with unique and varied problems.
 
What Tim and BoulderGuy said. It all depends on the voice, the microphone, the room and what you actually want the vocals to sound like.

Personally, for me, I usually prefer to use no plugs on vocals; vocals are an acoustic instrument, like piano or acoustic guitar, and all of those usually sound best by not screwing with them.

I do like recording vocals through the Pro VLA hardware compressor, but there's not a plug I've found that even comes close to that sound. And sometimes the vocals get a little ambience through either the QuadraVerb 4 (hardware) or through the Magnus Ambience plug.

G.
 
well, i agree with everyone.. there is no 1 particular setup or group of plugins..

for my setup, i usually just use a simple compressor AFTER the audio interface (if you record it compressed, and it clips, but the take was perfect, you are screwed), and bump up the sound a bit, but leave LOTS of overhead for clipping.. alot of MCs will like to have a tiny bit of reverb to give their voice some depth.. you will find that a lil bit of compression and a small amount of reverb with a short decay will actually make the MC give a better performance in the studio, simply because it will make them sound better in the mic.. its all preference on the MC..

again, and i cant stress this enough, watch your levels.. keep the mcs mouth a good distance away from the mics "pickup zone" with a pop-filter.. make sure you have PLENTY of room to NOT clip.. Its always always always better to record too soft, than to record too loud.. clipping cannot be undone, but if its too quiet, you can always boost up that gain or pump it with a compressor.. :D

hope this helps
 
I must admit, I do beleive C-SLIKK was looking for plugin suggestions, not "A Magic plugin"

???? is that not the case!

Nothing wrong with suggesting a few plugins to get the guy started! :)

Muzza
 
Muzzaman said:
I must admit, I do beleive C-SLIKK was looking for plugin suggestions, not "A Magic plugin"

???? is that not the case!

Nothing wrong with suggesting a few plugins to get the guy started! :)

Muzza
Click to expand...

for sure.. we can do that.. lol

MDA VSTs are some good, simple plugins for fx.. they are actually a mainstay in my toolkit..

ummm.. i cant think of any other ones off the top of my head.. lol.. check out kvraudio.com.. there are plenty of vsts there.. you can use a bunch of different ones and find what you like..
 
DJYoshaBYD said:
for sure.. we can do that.. lol

MDA VSTs are some good, simple plugins for fx.. they are actually a mainstay in my toolkit..

ummm.. i cant think of any other ones off the top of my head.. lol.. check out kvraudio.com.. there are plenty of vsts there.. you can use a bunch of different ones and find what you like..
Click to expand...

+1 on the kvraudio stuff some of it I use too :)

Muzza
 
RAMI said:
OK, how about: PLUG IN the mic into your recorder and press RECORD?

:D
Click to expand...

hahahaha

for reals

kvr is dope.. i use pretty much every vst i have for random stuff.. i love lots of electronic, so fm8 and massive sound fantastic on those tracks, but then for mastering, i usually will use T-Racks or something like that.. its just useful to have hella tools, cause not every vst is going to do the trick for every type of music..

but if you are just doing one type of music, you wont need such a plethora of plugins, either.. haha..
 
DJYoshaBYD said:
well, i agree with everyone.. there is no 1 particular setup or group of plugins..

for my setup, i usually just use a simple compressor AFTER the audio interface (if you record it compressed, and it clips, but the take was perfect, you are screwed), and bump up the sound a bit, but leave LOTS of overhead for clipping.. alot of MCs will like to have a tiny bit of reverb to give their voice some depth.. you will find that a lil bit of compression and a small amount of reverb with a short decay will actually make the MC give a better performance in the studio, simply because it will make them sound better in the mic.. its all preference on the MC..

again, and i cant stress this enough, watch your levels.. keep the mcs mouth a good distance away from the mics "pickup zone" with a pop-filter.. make sure you have PLENTY of room to NOT clip.. Its always always always better to record too soft, than to record too loud.. clipping cannot be undone, but if its too quiet, you can always boost up that gain or pump it with a compressor.. :D

hope this helps
Click to expand...

Perfect answer. Just what I was looking for.

You said a lot of MCs will have a tiny bit of reverb with a short decay to give their voice some depth. You're not telling me USE THIS MUCH REVERB AND YOULL SOUND GOLDEN, you're sharing very general suggestions and pointing me in the right direction of a plugin to use and what knobs to turn, and the rest is my personal preference.

Thank you very much.
 
C-SLIKK said:
Perfect answer. Just what I was looking for.

You said a lot of MCs will have a tiny bit of reverb with a short decay to give their voice some depth. You're not telling me USE THIS MUCH REVERB AND YOULL SOUND GOLDEN, you're sharing very general suggestions and pointing me in the right direction of a plugin to use and what knobs to turn, and the rest is my personal preference.

Thank you very much.
Click to expand...

no problem.. thats all it is, is personal preference.. its not always about how the sound is going to end up after plugins.. like i said. some MCs like to hear a lil effect on their voice when recording, as it helps them get in to it more.. they tend to be more creative.. idunno.. it just happens..

noticeably, with any vocalist, they will have good and bad days.. its crazy.. they tend to be kind of fickle somtimes when it comes to recording.. its always nice to give the vocalist (and everyone else) a good, comfy environment to record in, as it makes the sound that much better.. awwww yeah..

but yeah.. there is no "one important thing" to recording a vocalist.. its all about how you do it.. and, at the end of the recording, when the track is done, it has your, well, flavor added to it.. and thats always good eats.. hahaha
 
Muzzaman said:
I must admit, I do beleive C-SLIKK was looking for plugin suggestions, not "A Magic plugin"

???? is that not the case!

Nothing wrong with suggesting a few plugins to get the guy started! :)
Click to expand...
There's also nothing wrong with steering him in the right direction and letting him know that he probably wants to use as few plugins as possible on his vocals, since that's what he actually asked about.

G.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
There's also nothing wrong with steering him in the right direction and letting him know that he probably wants to use as few plugins as possible on his vocals, since that's what he actually asked about.

G.
Click to expand...

giggity :D
 
DJYoshaBYD said:
well, i agree with everyone.. there is no 1 particular setup or group of plugins..

for my setup, i usually just use a simple compressor AFTER the audio interface (if you record it compressed, and it clips, but the take was perfect, you are screwed), and bump up the sound a bit, but leave LOTS of overhead for clipping.. alot of MCs will like to have a tiny bit of reverb to give their voice some depth.. you will find that a lil bit of compression and a small amount of reverb with a short decay will actually make the MC give a better performance in the studio, simply because it will make them sound better in the mic.. its all preference on the MC..

again, and i cant stress this enough, watch your levels.. keep the mcs mouth a good distance away from the mics "pickup zone" with a pop-filter.. make sure you have PLENTY of room to NOT clip.. Its always always always better to record too soft, than to record too loud.. clipping cannot be undone, but if its too quiet, you can always boost up that gain or pump it with a compressor.. :D

hope this helps
Click to expand...

and just to clarify this is mostly done using a plug-in when monitoring the vocals & using headphones while tracking.Most software doesn't record the sound of the actual plug-in while tracking.It lets you hear the processed sound.A little bit of compression maybe but i wouldn't suggest recording with reverb since you can't undo it after it's been recorded.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
There's also nothing wrong with steering him in the right direction and letting him know that he probably wants to use as few plugins as possible on his vocals, since that's what he actually asked about.

G.
Click to expand...

^ +1 good point! :)

Muzza
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top