recording vocals

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i was just wondering how people normaly record vocals and how people here record vocals. (do they sing while listening to the track in headphones, how loud, etc) and things along that line.
 
Oh..I thought you said how many. :o

Use a condenser mic and a fairly decnent mic pre. I use only one side of the headphones and keep the other ear open (it helps with pitch.) I record dry then compress/eq later on.
 
do you have both the track and the live vocals go through the one earphone or just the track you're recording to?

this is kind of like a poll...but with too many questions haha. im just trying to get a feel for what different people are doing.
 
Listen to whatever playback signal that will keep you on time and key, while recording the voxs on a separate track. Somtimes for its easier to record vocals with the orchestration down for example. I tend to notice pitch problems singing with a very "wet mix". And by the way, is this a serious question? If isnt, Good one! :)
 
Not sure exactly what you're asking. It's pretty cut and dried. Decent mic that fits the vocalist's voice timber be it a condensor or a dynamic mic (Out of my mic locker the usual suspects are Shure 545, SM-58, Sennheiser MD-441 on the dynamic side, Octava MK-319, AT4033, At4047, AKG C-3000, GT AM-52 for condensors). Always in headphones at whatever level/mix the singer feels most comfortable with and that ranges all over the dial.
 
What hes asking is when recording vocals (if you're the singer) do you listen to the
backing tracks and your vocal track (whats being recording) and at what level of volume etc. note: i think

I know when i record vocalists, alot of them dont like their voice "dry" so i put reverb
on their vocals only in their headphones, (so the reverb isnt recorded onto the track).
Level wise, as track said whatever the singer feels comfortable at.
 
Rode NTK -> RNP -> RNC -> Delta 66 into DAW

I usually compress vox on the way in, but use a high threshold at 2:1 just incase I come close to clipping. I rarely monitor the incoming signal, as I feel it makes me self conscious hearing my own voice while singing. It may also bring in latency issues, which can throw off a vocal performance.
 
the point of this question was like a poll...to see different people's preferences in recording vocals. like who listens at what level volume, what headphones, signal chain, etc. so yeh most of you caught on.
 
riznich said:
i was just wondering how people normaly record vocals and how people here record vocals.
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Well, generally, I'll set a microphone on a mic stand, plug it in, and point it at the singer's mouth. When they tell me they're ready, I'll start tracking. And they sing in to the mic.

... until the song is done. They we'll stop.
 
I generally don't like to hear the backing track while I'm recording vocals. I usually mute everything but the vocal track. you have to really be familiar with the song for this to work.
 
FALKEN said:
you have to really be familiar with the song for this to work.
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Yes, indeed.

Sometimes, just for a challenge, I'll play the backing tracks to an entirely different song ... just to keep things interesting.
 
chessrock said:
Yes, indeed.

Sometimes, just for a challenge, I'll play the backing tracks to an entirely different song ... just to keep things interesting.
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Did you engineer any of Yoko's..... er..... ah..... "tunes"?
 
Track Rat said:
Did you engineer any of Yoko's..... er..... ah..... "tunes"?
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No, but that would certainly explain a few things, wouldn't it? ? :D
 
I'm sure there's SOME reasonable explaination. Surely she didn't do any of that on purpose. :eek:
 
I've done headphones (usually with only one ear cup on) or singing along with playback from the monitors. Keep in mind that too loud of a headphone tends to make people sing off key (flat usually), and same with too much reverb.
 
Usually headphones, but I have recorded vocals with the monitors running on occasion. Who's afraid of a little bleed? :rolleyes:

Generally I mute everything but the rhythm guitar unless there are necessary cues on another track. 'Course, sometimes that's all I have recorded anyway.
 
riznich said:
i was just wondering how people normaly record vocals and how people here record vocals. (do they sing while listening to the track in headphones, how loud, etc) and things along that line.
Click to expand...

well I think one of the most over looked things in recording is the cue system (how you let the artist hear themselves).


Mostly, if not always, you're obviously going to be using head phones for tracking. I've heard of n-ear monitors for tracking, but that to me is not an option.

I've learned that different volumes in a head phone mix will bring out different performances. That's why you have to get in the habit of doing one sole thing:


Ask the artist how they hear the mix. Simple.


That could make the difference between a good performance and a great one. I found that alot of people are obessed with saying "LOUDER....LOUDER" and you have to be able to comply. Help them out by turning up key things in the mix, like a guitar track or piano, etc.


So there's no "normal" way to record, but you usually pick a good preamp, perhaps a good compressor, match it up to a good mic and then start experimenting from there.

Examine the benefits of tube micing on vocals. However, tube mics are usually expensive.

Those three things are the most important pieces of gear you're gonna need for tayloring good vocal sounds.

Mic placement is crucial as well. I've come in the habit of placing vocal mics about 45 degrees right of the mouth (on axis) and that eliminates the need for a pop filter, plus it gives me a natural sound.


A great combination is something like a U87 running through an Avalon AD2022 preamp, but that's not always availible.


Also remember that different pre's give different feels. Some give edge while others give smoothness. Some are good on vocals and others aren't.


So with all that said, once you start recording vocals start the levels off at a reasonable volume, if they want more, then give them more. Watch out not to get too much bleed through from the head phones.




And one more thing (you might wanna hear this):

If you decide to double track your vocals, go one more and triple track. I'll tell you why. Single tracking is fine on amazing singers, but to intensify your choruses, you need some kind of change, right? Musically, vocally...SOMETHING.

So for that reason, you can try triple tracking cause when you double, you can still decifer the differences between takes; whereas, 3 or more layers tend to blend together and create a really interesting effect, plus it makes the singer happy cause they sound "BIGGER" and more "chorused".

I learned that from a producer by the name of John Seda.
 
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chessrock said:
Well, generally, I'll set a microphone on a mic stand, plug it in, and point it at the singer's mouth. When they tell me they're ready, I'll start tracking. And they sing in to the mic.

... until the song is done. They we'll stop.
Click to expand...

you're good at not reading the whole message smarbutt :p .
 
My friend, there is no one answer. But as close as I can get to one would be as follows.
Most folks use headphones on the singer as opposed to speakers in the room to avoid leakage of the program material being re-recorded back on to the vocal track. Not that speakers are never used, they just can create problems so I avoid that method. Headphones provide that isolation. What level? As much or as little as the vocalist asks for. One ear or both?? Vocalist's call there too. Sometimes they request that certain instruments be turned up in their headphone mix or turned down or eliminated altogether while they track. Whatever they want.
 
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