Recording Vocals With Dynamic Mics?

  • Thread starter Thread starter khushalbhadra
  • Start date Start date
K

khushalbhadra

Banned
Well Friends I own a latest Presonus Firestudio Mobile interface and I use FL studio 9 and Reaper to record my stuff.

I also own this cheap Indian make Dynamic Mic which I use to record vocals. The result is not at all good. Plus I dont even get the levels as I have to boost it manually using these software's. But end result is the that the vocal volume cracks.

The reason I am Not buying a condenser Mic because I stay right next to the main road where there are constant noises of Trucks and cars. So Condenser mic is out of option for me.

Now I am planning to buy Shure PG58(entry level for SM58) due to lack of budget, dynamic mic and wanted some techniques as in how should I get the right levels and any tricks to normalize the recording vocal volume using FL Studio or Reaper. Can we really record vocals using Dynamic Mic?
 
everything Ive recorded vocally so far has been through a dynamic mic due to living in a busy downtown apartment and most of the time all it takes quite a bit of EQing...a little delay, reverb, and a little chorus, that all thickens the vocals up a bit..


but with no idea how your voice sounds no one can tell you how to EQ....and the rest depends on the track as too how much or how little you use


dont sing directly into the mic as this can cause plosives and sibilance, try to use a stand and sing into it at an angle...experiment until you get it right
 
It's funny you mention the PG58. I've got one and it's great for what it was intended for. A cheap mic to use for "vocals". But not really the vocals you're looking for. It's useful as a mic that you'd put on a podium for announcements, or between gigs at a show or something like that. It doesn't sit well in a mix, and it's not really ever going to have the kind of warmth that you're looking for in a musical microphone. My FIRST suggestion would be to beg, borrow and steal (no...no...don't steal, that's just a saying) to get some more cash for a better vocal microphone.

My SECOND suggestion would be to post more information about how you'll be using this mic. If you're recording loud sounds, rock and roll singers, loud sources stuff like that, then a dynamic can work great. But if you're recording softer sources like acoustic guitar, softer singers, etc...then you're going to be hard pressed to get the kind of sound you want from a dynamic.

I know you said you live near a place with a lot of noise and that sucks...it's just some times unavoidable though...but the BEST option would be to find a time when there's less noise, or find a place where you can go to get away from the noise. Whether you're using a dynamic or a condenser the noise will always be an issue, just to differing degrees.

I know it's not quite what you wanted to hear, but them's the breaks sometimes. Gotta deal with the problems in the logical ways...and in this case the problem probably isn't the microphone, it's your recording space...

As for all the "volume" stuff you're asking about. What is it that makes you feel like you need the microphone to be louder? Can you record the vocals at a lower level and use the volume on your speakers to make it louder? What you're describing as "cracking" is likely what's called "clipping". When you record your vocals are the meters in Reaper/FL Studio going into the red?
 
How about Shure SM58 will that be good enough to record Vocals. Will have to wait and save some money. And yes I do intend to record heavy rock songs. plus all this time I haven't used a stand to record vocals.Probably I should get one.

As far as about recording vocals my problem is then whenever i record using that shitty mic I have its recorded in a very low level. I mean I can hardly hear anything until i increase or boost the gain.( and I do record very close to the mic like one has to do recording with dynamic mics.
 
yeah ive heard of alot of people recrding vocals with dynamic mics and using diffrent pre amps to bring out the high end brightness in it dynamics are made for lower end frequencies so a good preamp will come inhandy try the digimax08 from presonus thats good stuff for the price with 8 mic inputs and the famous xmax class A preamp itll give u a nice clear sound
 
Well can you recommend be better dynamic mics than the SM58 you were referring to.

And wilkins I already own a recording interface its the new one from the Presonus FireStudio Mobile. I suppose it will act as an preamp.
 
Well, I think the shure SM7b is probably the most popular dynamic mic for loud rock vocals. Maybe the Electro Voice RE20.
But those are waaaaay out of your budget if you're needing to save up for the sm58.
So do that. It's a significantly better mic than the PG series mics, and plenty of people have recorded great vocals with just a 58.
Now, that's no guarantee that it's gonna sound good on your vocals.
But you work with what you've got, right?
Good luck
 
Well it reaslly depends on your voice and the sound you are looking for. SM57/58 can be perfectly fine. Bono from U2 and Tom Petty, to name just a couple, have recorded vocals for several platinum selling records using them because the mic happened to work for what they wanted.

As far as levels go on a recorded vocal you should be aiming for levels of around -18dBFS RMS with peaks of around -6dBFS on your meters in Reaper or FL. At first that seems quiet, don't worry about it and don't try to make the vocal loud. bring everything else down so that the vocals sit in the right spot, mix the song and then bring the levels of the whole thing up
 
i will probably save some money and buy a SM58 and work around to record something.
Also guys is it necessary that I also get a mic stand and sing with it rather that holding the mic and recording. What do your suggest?

Those guys who might be curious why am I asking you'll so many questions can check one of the Sabbath covers I recorded. I have played Guitars and sung on the track. Used a Cheap Indian make Dynamic Mic to record vocals. I have just started out and I am still learning the recording process and learning techniques.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/71811389ed8ec6ec/
 
Go....go with a mic stand.
A boom mic stand at that! you will use it for life.



:cool:
 
yeah u should go wit that mic it all depends on what you like and the sound u want to capture well my suggestion on the mic stand is that u get one cus u dont want any of low end rumble bledding in threw the mic wen u hit it or move cords so go with the stand and pop filters will also be good to mask that low end
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top