Recording Vocals with Analog Board

[mm7600]

Hi Guys, I have a ton of complete songs all lacking vocal tracks. I sing like crap so got a TC Helicon Voice Tone Synth a few years back. The thing is gathering dust.
It has no off/on switch and often locks up making huge beeps in my song. Thinking of using it like a DI box just for the preamp.

Next issue: I'd like to use my Alesis 3630 for vocals. Any suggestions as to how I should set up the vocal mic? I'd like some effects but don't want to over process.

Is there any signal loss if I patch it through my patch bay for simplicity purposes?
Should I use a "Y" cord insert off the board channel?

 

[bouldersoundguy]

What board? Why a mixer at all? What interface?

I would ditch the TC voice thingy and the Alesis 3630 and go straight into the interface. The typical stock compressor plugin is better in practically every way than the 3630.

 

[Roozter]

Hi Guys, I have a ton of complete songs all lacking vocal tracks. I sing like crap so got a TC Helicon Voice Tone Synth a few years back. The thing is gathering dust.
It has no off/on switch and often locks up making huge beeps in my song. Thinking of using it like a DI box just for the preamp.

Next issue: I'd like to use my Alesis 3630 for vocals. Any suggestions as to how I should set up the vocal mic? I'd like some effects but don't want to over process.

Is there any signal loss if I patch it through my patch bay for simplicity purposes?
Should I use a "Y" cord insert off the board channel?

If you have it going in to any kind of DAW why not just stack tracks and pick the winners out of each section of the song? Basically just a giant seamless collage. Once you get that right, try double tracking.

Then theres always the option of getting an extremely flattering pre + a mic that was made almost solely for vocals (that is also flattering). After that find yourself a nice flattering space and go at it. If you really need to, drench it in reverb and try to make it work in the mix.

But the main issue here is not your equipment. Its your singing. Even if all those ideas work, you still need to abide by the golden rule of trash in, trash out. First get the room right, then get the source right, then get the mic right, then get the levels right. After that you can pretty much only over-process.

A nice LDC through a good pre in to my M30 mixer can make a fart sound good, but even then I can still sing well, and Im willing to do as many tracks as needed to get it right. The latter is what seperates great mixes from just good enough.