Recording vocals

[CharlieLACA]

I picked up an Audio Technica 4033 vocal mic. I am running through an Aardvark Q10 with phantom power on my pc using CUBASE VST 35. Its a great mic and I have been playing with my vocals on cubase, but i cant get that compressed powerful sound. What I loved about recording vocals is that I could scream into the mic and then at playback it sounded nice and compressed. I am having a hard time getting that same thing here. Is it a gear issue?
How do you guys do it? any suggestions?

 

[H2oskiphil]

Don't scream...

 

[CharlieLACA]

Scream

In many recording situations at professional studios, I have been able to "scream" and get alot out of the vocals and still have the compressed sound. But when i do it on mine, I go into the reds and I can hear the peaking in the playback. What are they doing in the big studios that i am not?

 

[jitteringjim]

What I loved about recording vocals is that I could scream into the mic and then at playback it sounded nice and compressed.

Hey Charlie, you're running from the Aardvark breakout box directly into the computer, right? I'm not totally familiar with the Q10 setup.
Dude, it's going to sound like I'm being a real smartass here, but I'm not trying to, really - you probably need an outboard compressor. If you have some kind of insert on the Q10, you can just patch it in and go from there.

 

[CharlieLACA]

Hey Charlie, you're running from the Aardvark breakout box directly into the computer, right? I'm not totally familiar with the Q10 setup.
Dude, it's going to sound like I'm being a real smartass here, but I'm not trying to, really - you probably need an outboard compressor. Ifyou have some kind of insert on the Q10, you can just patch it in and go from there.


OK THANKS!

WHAT KIND OF OUTBOARD COMPRESSOR DO YOU RECOMMEND? THIS IS HARDWARE RIGHT? WHAT DOES IT GO FOR?

THANKS!

CHARLIE

 

[jitteringjim]

Some people around here really like these.

And yep, the Q10 has inserts - so just plug that puppy in and scream away.

 

[CharlieLACA]

So what outboard compressor do you recommend?

 

[jitteringjim]

Just follow the link in my previous post to the RNC (Really Nice Compressor.)

 

[Leeking]

For screaming compressed sound, you'll need a good compressor and a preamp with lotsa headroom.

RNC would be a good choice, I would also suggest of of those Joemeek channel strip - awesome preamps and compression.

Rock on!

 

[CharlieLACA]

Gotcha Jim thanks!

Whats the joemeek channel strip?

 

[Leeking]

Gotcha Jim thanks!

Whats the joemeek channel strip?

it's a preamp with compressor and EQ. Great stuffs, I have the VC3Q... check them out at www.joemeek.net

 

[octoruss]

A less expensive alternative to the RNC is the dbx 266XL. Although I haven't tried the RNC, many people rave about it. Me, I'm quite happy with what the dbx has done for me.

 

[chessparov]

Rock + roll=Meek!

Be careful with your voice though, may rock singers have developed nodes
on their vocal cords due to "screaming"-burn the guitar, not your voice!

Chris