Ssssssss

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BigKahuna

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Here's a rough mix of a demo I'm doing for a band (I'm playing bass on it, though). I didn't use a pop screen on the vocal mic. I think I avoided the pops ok ... but there's a good amount of sibilence in the track (there's lots of Ssss in this tune ... Ssee, Sstarss, Ssun, Sshine ... etc ...). This is my best shot at EQing it out ... what do you think ... ok? or unnatural? I can't really decide.
I think we should probably just retake the vocal. Due to my set up, I can't really apply a de-esser or even rig a compressor to do it. These are the times when digital can bite me. :)
I think the singer wants to do it over, anyway.
Please let me know what you think of the overall mix, too.
Thanks!

BTW ... I think this singer is really good. She's never sang with a full band before ... she's been doing flute/voice at wedding gigs for years .... but still feels uncomfortable with a band. And even more uncomfortable in the studio. Beautiful voice, though. I need to work with her again.
 
Sorry Big K... if it was my track I wouldn't be able to live with it - WAAAAAY too much sssssssssssssssssss'ing going on.... you could easily save it with de-essing... but if the talent is going to redo it anyways...
Did you EQ while you were tracking?? (If so, why?)

Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound
 
No I didn't EQ during tracking. I don't know why I didn't just take care of this before I recorded it. Maybe was tired and just didn't hear it. This was near the end of the day. Believe me ... I'm kicking myself now.
You're right Bruce ... this is not acceptable. We will redo it.

Another question for you guys ...
The voice here was recorded with an Oktava MK219 (NSR) ... not the best mic ... but really the best I have right now.

I have access to a AT4050, but it has a slight noise problem ... very low freq rumble sound ... very quiet, though.

Would you use the 4050 over the MK219 even though it has this problem?
No time to get it fixed before the session ...
 
the singer is very good,and i LOVE the song.if you wanted to keep the track,i would suggest pulling a notch out at about 5khz or so and see what happens......good luck
 
I've never tried tracking a female vocalist. That sssss shit scares me sssshitless! I didn't find it as annoying as you did but I noticed it. Let me know if you find any cures.

The tune sounded great. The recording clean.
You're right about the singer...
 
hmmmmmmm...

I don't hear it as being too sibilent at all. I just hear a overly hyped reverb that is picking up on the 6-8KHz region of the voice. Actually, I could stand to hear a little more definition on the voice.

Try using a high cut filter on the reverb that is set to no higher then 3KHz, and possibly as low as 1.6KHz and you will have a verb that sounds pro! :) Also, you may want to increase your predelay time a bit to give a little more space for the real voice to come through before the reverb starts mucking things up.

I am assuming that this is a push mix, so I will not comment on the instrument sounds because it really just sounds like a push mix.

Ed
 
BigKahuna said:
I have access to a AT4050, but it has a slight noise problem ... very low freq rumble sound ... very quiet, though.
Click to expand...

Try it with a lo cut (rumble) filter? Unless I'm dealing with an a cappella group where I want some deep low vocal rumble from the bass man, I almost always use my low-cut on vocals.

Sonusman could have a point... or it could be that he just has kleenex stuffed in his NS-10s again! ;)

*just kidding Ed*
:)

Bruce
 
NS-10's?!?!?!?!

Who the hell uses those old monsters anymore? When I actually have a pair in the studio, it is for publicity shots, and track sheet paper weights! :)

I have a very nice pair of Event 20/20's with a Hafler P-3000 amp. All my wire in the monitor path is Monster Studio Pro 1000.

I use the Kleenex to clean up the drools clients have when they hear this monitoring system.....:)

Oh, I also listen to all my music through my Lynx One card. These are very very high quality D/A chipsets that are in league with anything Apogee has ever put out.....:)

Overly hyped reverb is very common in the mp3's I download. I have mixes from years ago that have the same thing. I can assure you that following my suggestions about the reverb will make this vocal part far more dull sounding then it is. That is why I made the comment about wanting to hear more clarity in the voice. It doesn't seem very clear, and then you have the overly hyped high end reverb happening. Both need to change to really give the voice presence and clarity.

Just my thoughts.....not worth much these days....:)

Ed
 
I know your list Ed - I saw your site -- quite respectable... I was just pokin' a bit 'o fun at ya!!
;)

...but wasn't that an NS-10 I saw holding the control room door open in one of your pics??

:) :)


Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound
 
Well actually...

No. Those were Alesis Monitor 1's holding the door open. I have more respect for Nasty 10's then that! :)

But they make a great table for my Lexicon MRC! :D

Ed
 
Hey Big K,

How ya doing!! Slow reply due to dirty plug on phone box outside, computer wouldn't go, live and learn.

Anyway mix sounded very good to me. I probably wouldn't have notice sibilence problem if you hadn't pointed it out. Seems minor to me.

I would say that part of the problem could be your speakers. Could be the tweeter volume set to high for reality. Never let the factory specs fool you. Tweeters are set hot to sell speakers.

You may want to put variable resistors on your tweeters to balance them out, especially on axis. Remember speakers aren't perfect, no matter what they tell you. Hope this helps.

Your friend

GT
 
Hey Big K,

How ya doing!! Slow reply due to dirty plug on phone box outside, computer wouldn't go, live and learn.

Anyway mix sounded very good to me. I probably wouldn't have notice sibilence problem if you hadn't pointed it out. Seems minor to me.

I would say that part of the problem could be your speakers. Could be the tweeter volume set to high for reality. Never let the factory specs fool you. Tweeters are set hot to sell speakers.

You may want to put variable resistors on your tweeters to balance them out, especially on axis. Remember speakers aren't perfect, no matter what they tell you. Hope this helps.


GT
 
Hey there GT ... nope I checked the back of my 20/20s and both highs and lows are set at 0dB. I don't think I should go messing with that stuff anyway ... 0dB should be 0dB, right?

Ed, you were right (again ... :) ) ... I had a shelving EQ engaged on the returns of the reverb. About +3dB starting at around 1k. I don't know when I set that ... but there it was. Damn digital boards ... you can't see if that EQ is on unless you dig deep through some menus. Thanks for making me look at my board for once! :)
After I took the EQ off, I still heard some ssss in the track, but less pronounced. We re-recorded it with the 4050 anyway, because she wasn't happy with her singing. Man, what a sweet mic that is. I'm not giving it back! ;)
I'm going to try and set the EQ like you advise, Ed ... I'll also set the predelay a little longer too. Good advice.

Anyway, thanks for listening everyone! I apprecate it.



[Edited by BigKahuna on 10-23-2000 at 22:34]
 
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