Teach me how to use a mic

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shana
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Shana

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I'm having a very hard time recording my vocals and i think it basically boils down to the fact that i have no idea how to use a mic. Do I sing UP our DOWN into it? Do I sing close up and make the input on my (digital multitrack) lower or do i sing further away and make the input higher? Do I move back when singing louder? How do I avoid the horrible pops? I made a pop filter that does me no good,, (i think i should buy a proper one) I have a AKG dynamic. Please give me some pointers how to use the mic. I've been recording for a couple of monthes now and the mic generally gives me the most problems. Thanx
Shana
 
AKG should be good. Is it a side address or like a stage mic, hand held? This makes a difference on how you sing into it.If you turn your head a little on the loud or popy sounds this will attenuate them. Are you tracking with a compressor? Most of the time you need a compressor to tame the levels of you mic to bring it under control.
 
If you don't have a good microphone technique then a compressor might come in handy as Ears said. But what I'd do first is try and learn how to sing into a microphone - sounds kinda funny, but that's exactly what I'm trying to do at the moment so I know what you are going through.

The other thing was I just recently bought a Rode NT1 and it sounds SO much better even with my crappy technique than my old dynamic ever did...

Good Luck
 
Hi, Shana. Yeah, these guys are right. Two things help a lot - learning how to work the mic or mics you've got, and a compressor when you're recording, which will take care of sudden volume peaks and stop it from distorting. I spent all of January and February and some of March learning how to sing into (well, sort of toward but just past, actually) the mics I use to get a sound I thought was okay. Experiment. You'll get it.
 
The hardest part to learn is controlling the "plosives"--the "P" sounds. You don't want to pop these directly into the mic or else you are sending it a blast of air that will give it that popping sound. Also, you can learn to control your lip movement on this sound--try practicing "Peter Piper etc." into a mic without popping. Once you got it it will be automatic.
 
I think this will help with the pops:
If you want to know why there are pops when you say a word beggining with the letter "P" its because your producing a gust of air. Try this:
put your hand in front of your mouth (about 1 inch away) and start saying the alphebet one by one. You will feel each of the air that your lips produce on the letter. But when you get to "P", the air is a lot stronger. thats why it messes up the mic. There are two solutions that usually work with me in this situiation:
1. use a pop filter
2. (The most effective and what i think is the best) turn up the voume of your mic a little, and when you sing, dont put the mic directly in front of your mouth, keep it close to the corner of your lip, this stops the gush of air that would go to the mic. and the reason you turn up the volume a little is because singing from the corner is not as loud. But turning up the voume will work fine.
Hope I helped
 
It's like buying any new instument. Practice makes perfect. Percevierence is the key. The older it gets and the more you make it your own the easier it becomes to use-well that's what I believe anyway!!
 
Ok ,, it looks like i'll have to keep practising. Thanx for the tips. They're all well considered.
Shana
 
Whats the deal with the foam covers ive seen over mics? Do they do any good?

And why cant I cover the mike with a cotton sock? Will that give me a muffled sound?
 
What I usually do is singing above the microphone.
The microphone stands slightly tilted towards me, but at the height of my neck.I let the air float over the mike and not in it. I hardly ever get pops like that. I hope this solved your actual problem. A compressor will not solve this problem. You must avoid pops completly. Put the music at a lower level, so you can hear more details in your singing. I did not say a compressor is useless,but it is for a pop sound
 
K,
First of all, when Shana said she had problems with recording her vocal, the pops would be a result of trying what she thought may work. I never said use compression to get rid of pops. Compression WILL even out her vocals so that she can get a detailed up front not hot cold track. I've been singing for 20 years into studio microphones and I use a compressor still. It's not taboo, it's used to make up for differences in amplitude. If we try to control our output when we sing, then you have a boring take. With the compressor in use you have the freedom to experiment with all the feel you want without watching your meters and being mechanical.
As far as Pops. I generally aim the capsule of the mic at the singers nose. That way the blast goes under the mic and the vocal is captured only. If that doesn't work then I try a popper stopper.If you look at my earlier post I asked if Shana was using a side address or hand held unit. This will dictate where to place it. Glad I said my piece. I just think that people should read properly before they comment on what works or doesn't work. Shana never said "hey how do I get rid of pops" Right? The compressor will even your levels, 0db max digital don't forget, and not directly or to close is a good start for no pops. Sorry guys and gals,but I'm just being honest.

[This message has been edited by Ears (edited 06-23-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Ears (edited 06-23-2000).]
 
Shanna another thing you could try is to setup a dummy mike that you sing to and have your real mike set back a little and pointing up at your mouth. Direct all your vocals at the dummy mike. You can't be expected not to sing P's etc. normally a pop shield should work. If you are usung a computer based record system you can EQ out the pops. Ears is right in suggesting a compressor. when is a sound card company going to come up with an input that allows real-time effects such as compressors??
 
Ok, here I get cheesy...listen to Barbra Streisand's "People", or just start singing "people, people who need people" over and over and over again...you'll see that she has practiced enough to get a popless "P"....if you do it out loud enough, you'll see that she doesn't entirely close her lips together pronounce her "P's" with a pop.....if you do it long enough, you'll get a sound that's akin to "ee-ul"....do it some more til you get the popless "P", and the word will be "People", but popless....no kidding....it's all lip work on the "P's"...on hissy "S's", it's the placement of the tongue and the movement of the lower jaw to get rid of the sibilance....keep at it, you'll get it....gibs
 
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