Stuffy vocals.

[Wookiefoot]

Maybe its my voice but my vocals always sound like I have a cold. Ive been using a computer mic or an SM57, but I figured that they would yield decent results. I just ordered an ADK Vienna, but Im hoping it wont make my stuffyness sound worse. Any suggestions?

 

[demto]

Just a thought. Make sure you are not holding the mic too close to your mouth as this will boost the low frequencies and your voice will sound heavy, full, and bassy. Try holding the mic about 18 inches away and try again. if this doesnt do the trick i cant offer anything else.

good luck

 

[omtayslick]

What kind of sound card and preamp are you using?

 

[rayc]

Don't HOLD the mic.
Do you have a cold? A deviated septum? Coke or speed burn through?
record you voice on a portable cassette player or someone else's gear & listen to it. It may be you. If it isn't then experiment with mics, distances, soundcards, & EQ.

 

[orksnork]

could just be your voice too

 

[zorf]

Eliminate wheat and dairy from your diet.

Or, move to liverpool.

 

[scrubs]

The SM57 is a midrangey mic that will probably emphasize an already nasal voice. If your nose is stopped-up, try those breathe-right nasal strips that you see atheletes wearing. They tend to open up the nasal passages a bit.

Also, work on mic positioning. Put the diaphragm of the mic about eye level, angled down toward your mouth. This will force you to open up your throat a little and may minimize the nasally-ness.

For occasional use only, you might try one of those vicks inhalers. I'd avoid Dristan and the like, and only use the vicks periodically (no more than a couple of times a day for 2-3 days, maximum), as they can lead to physiologic dependence, actually worsening your problem.

 

[antispatula]

eqing it out. My vocals always sound too flat and muffly so I ALWAYS boost the high end quite a lot to get the crisp bright sound I want. You have a pc setup right? It's hard trying to boost eq with tape especially the hi freqs since it just accentuates the tape hiss, but it sounds like you have a pc setup and you need to cut some freqs not boost them.

 

[Wookiefoot]

Yeah its mostly closed mouth sounds like M and N. The vowels sound decent, but it still lacks umpf. Maybe Ill post a clip soon.