Recording Vocals

[7string]

I was watching the stupid toob tonight and heard a song that started out with really soft, almost whispery vocals and then went into some really heavy vocals. I'm curious, which is incredibly dangerous for me. When you record a song that has soft and loud vocals do you split the vocals into two tracks? Do you use 2 different mics? Which mic's for which situation? Thanks!

 

[bcains]

Theres two ways,

E.G It starts of as more melodic "soft" vocals and than in chorus or whatever it's screaming vocals.

a) Split them onto two tracks, firstly get them to sing the melodic vocals first all the way through and if they need to talk the other vocals thats fine, with the usual condenser mic. Than get them to sing well scream the other parts using a dynamic mic (most popular one is the SM58). Obviously put the other track into their headphones, so they know what they are up tp.

or

b) Use one track, with a condenser mic and when it comes to the screaming they can move further back away from the mic.

 

[jonnyc]

do two tracks, track the soft part seperately from the loud parts. Most people don't get the concept of moving forward and back or "working the mic". And you may wanna bring out different freqs on the loud that you don't want on the soft.

 

[Zed10R]

There is no need to use anything other than a good condenser. What you are curious about is very close to what I do. Like johnnyc said and bcains mentions in point b) - just work the mic. Closer for lower volume stuff if you want it to be clear and defined, farther away for louder stuff if you want it to be kinda "on top" of the music. When you begin to practice this, you will get a feel for what to do. Most of the time, you do not want to be eating the mic while screaming unless the screaming vocal is the one you want to emphasize, and the lower volume vocal is what you want on top.

Could I BE anymore wordy.....close to the mic = dominant vocal farther from the mic = not so dominant. Apply this as you see fit.

 

[ROblows]

There is no need to use anything other than a good condenser.

Unless, of course, a good dynamic works better, which it often does for screamy rock vocals.

...just work the mic. Closer for lower volume stuff if you want it to be clear and defined, farther away for louder stuff if you want it to be kinda "on top" of the music. When you begin to practice this, you will get a feel for what to do.

"just work the mic" is often easier said than done. Training an inexperienced rock singer to work the mic is somewhat like training a dog to crochet. It can be done, but its not easy. It'll usually be faster, with far less headache for both you and the band, to use 2 tracks, possibly with 2 different mics.

 

[Dogman]

I use fairly heavy compression when I do this. -10 and 6:1 or so. It allows me to be close to the mic for the soft stuff, and move back a bit for loud stuff. You could probably do it any way that you want....2 tracks, one loud, and one soft.....2 different mics.....whatever seems to work. Probably all experimentation, just because each situation is different.
Ed

 

[Zed10R]

Unless, of course, a good dynamic works better, which it often does for screamy rock vocals..........It'll usually be faster, with far less headache for both you and the band, to use 2 tracks, possibly with 2 different mics.

Of course there are times when one tool works better than another...BUT....how do you compensate for the inevitable differences in sound quality? IMO, the sound characteristics between a condeser and a dynamic will be very clear and not in a good way. I know there are ways to do it, like spending a LOT of time on the EQ, but that seems like more work than simply (?) learing how to work the mic.....and dog will NEVER crochet....

 

[KonradG]

I use fairly heavy compression when I do this. -10 and 6:1 or so. It allows me to be close to the mic for the soft stuff, and move back a bit for loud stuff. You could probably do it any way that you want....2 tracks, one loud, and one soft.....2 different mics.....whatever seems to work. Probably all experimentation, just because each situation is different.
Ed

id have to agree on the compression. with a little help from this forum a few months ago, i learned that this is the method in which chino (deftones) gets such a great vocal sound. his whispers are nearly as loud as his screams, which is a signature style for the deftones, but i think this is how most screamer/whisperers balance their volumes.

 

[ROblows]

...how do you compensate for the inevitable differences in sound quality? IMO, the sound characteristics between a condeser and a dynamic will be very clear and not in a good way...

The difference between screaming and whispering will be much bigger than the difference between mics. If chosen carefully, different mics can actually compliment the differences in singing styles. It's no different than using a clean guitar with a condensor in the verses and a distorted guitar in the choruses with a dynamic. They will obviously sound different, but hopefully in a good way.

I'll give you the crocheting part. I once saw a dog do needlepoint, though.

 

[Zed10R]

The difference between screaming and whispering will be much bigger than the difference between mics. If chosen carefully, different mics can actually compliment those differences.

I'll give you the crocheting part. I once saw a dog do needlepoint, though.

Well....my mic collection is far from vast, so I'll concede that point.

Smart Dog.....

 

[TFunkadelic]

Couldn't you use a gate so that when the screaming came in the mic that wasfurther away, or had greater SPL handling abilities kicked in?

 

[7string]

I would have responded to you all earlier but I had to try on this sweater that my cat knitted for me.

Great discussion here and just what I was hoping for. DETAILS!!! Some great ideas as usual. Keep it going!

Gotta go. The canary wants to show me her etchings...

 

[Han]

You're talking about very dynamic vocals, this is what I do: I use a LDC in omni to avoid proximity and I record to two tracks, the one a lot softer than the other. So when the vocalist hits the red lights there's a second track without any overs.

 

[ismael]

great topic - i was running into this today as i was recording a new(ish) song of mine. my problem (outside of the fact that i'm a crap singer) is when i apply compression, i get a "squashed" sound on the higher db parts - i can't think of any other way to explain it, but i think most of you know what i mean : )

anyway, fwiw, i'm not using software compression and i'm wondering if a good hw compressor (any recomendations for $100-150?) would help this any......

thanks

j