STAT1STICK
Active member
First of all, let me just start off by saying that it's true what everyone says. . . Your sound should be as close to recorded quality before you even hit the record button. What I mean is. . . Try to get your instrument, or what ever it is you're recording, to the quality you want before you record (i.e. Tweaking the EQ on your mixer, blocking out unwanted noise, mic placement). This will save you TONS of hours of precious time.
NOTE: These suggestions are not for everyone and do not apply to all recording situations. If you're not sure what you're doing or if you're just curious, feel free to use these tips.
Lets start off with, probably, the hardest thing about recording. . . Vocals.
Vocals can be a tricky thing to work out. But, if you follow these steps, you could have an easier road ahead of you.
1. Use a Pop Filter.
You can buy one from a number of online retailers such as zZounds.com or MusiciansFriend.com. Or if you prefer a more hands on experience, take a trip to your nearest Guitar Center. They have tons of friendly employees who are more than willing to help you out.
Strapped for cash? Not to worry! Get a wire clothes hanger and a pair of the Ms. nylons. Bend the hanger into a round shape and then stretch one leg of the nylons over it. Cut off the excess and tie it off with a rubber band or something like that. Voila! Instant Pop Filter!
What exactly IS a Pop Filter? I'm glad you asked!
A Pop Filter eliminates the presence of overpowering letters like P, B, F, & S. It also cuts the ammount of air that reaches a microphone to a minimum.
2. Sing clearly.
A mispronounced word could ruin an entire song. One thing that I find that helps is to exagerate your mouth movements. Opening your mouth wider while you sing will make sure that you don't accedentally slip up on a word.
3. Be on key.
Nothing sounds worse than a vocal piece that is not the same tune as the song. Prevent this by practicing the song a few times (Duh!). Well, more than a few times. . . A LOT of times! You want to be sure that you know exactly what tune you're singing in. One thing that really helps is to practice along with a piano. Play out the notes that you're going to be singing and vocalize along with it. Don't have a piano? Use a guitar. . . Something other than your voice that has been finely tuned.
4. Layer your vocals.
Keep in mind that this technique does not apply for all music genres.
Once you have a perfect vocal track, record another exactly like it. And then another. What you'll want to do is leave your first track panned in the center. With your second track, pan it 50% to the left. Then take your third track and pan it 50% to the right. I know what you're thinking. . . "Why can't I just copy the first track two times and then pan those?" If you did that, there would be no difference at all. Using the above method will add a deeper dimension to your vocals (much like a chorus effect, but better).
Next, you're going to want to record your harmonies (if there are any). Your main vocal harmony pitch will usually range from a 4th to a 5th to a 7th of your main vocal. These harmonies will be quieter in the mix. They should not be louder than your main vocal. At most, they should be the same volume as the main vocal. Harmony vocals don't need to be panned. . . But they can be. Use your imagination.
You can also add numerous harmonies. Different pitches along the way will make for a fuller vocal sound. Just be sure not to over do it. If you do, your vocal track will sound crowded. . . Kind of like a football team singing your song.
5. Compression.
It's sometimes a good idea to use a compressor of some sort. How do you know if you need a compressor? If there are some parts of your vocal that are quieter than others. Maybe it's louder... Whatever the case. . . A compressor will even out the volume of your vocal so that it is more consistent. "What compressor should I use?" Good question! The one that I find myself using most often is the Classic Soft Knee. Here's where you can find it: Effects>Amplitude>Dynamics Processing>Classic Soft Knee.
As easy as that may have sounded. . . Compression is no laughing matter. Choosing the right compression is a task that should not be taken lightly. Do some experimenting and find out what works best for you.
6. Effects.
The only effects that you should ever use on vocals (unless it's for special FX purposes) are reverb, delay/echo, and maybe a light chorus.
Reverbs are a nifty tool when trying to liven up a vocal track. it also fills in unwanted silence. I can't tell you what reverb to use. . . It's all about preference. Again, do some experimenting and find what suits you.
Delay/echo effects should not be over used. It is a good idea to use a delay/echo that goes along with the tempo of your song. Whether it's in whole, half, quarter, eighths, sixteenths, or thirtyseconds. . . It doesn' really matter. Just make use that your echo doesn't run forever. This can be adjusted via the 'feedback' knob/dial/slider. If you're not sure what to set the delay time to, take a trip to www.analogx.com and download their Delay Calculator. It's very easy to use and it's FREE!
Chorus can be used if you want. . . Again, it's more of a preference thing. not sure what chorus to use? Well. . . The '5 Voices (Pro)' preset isn't all that bad. With the proper adjusting, it sounds pretty good. Here's something that I like to do with it: Adjust the dry signal to 90 and the wet signal to 10. That should give you a decent start. Remember!!! If you're using any chorus effect in CEP/AA, check the Highest Quality (but slow) box if it isn't checked already.
And before I sign off. . . I'll give you one last tip:
If you want a creepy effect for your vocals, reverse the track (so that it's playing backwards), add a generous amount of reverb and then reverse it again (so that it's playing frontwards). This will produce a "scary" sound effect that can be found in many horror movies and Ozzy Osbourne songs.
Happy recordings, everyone!
P.S.
If anyone wants to add their own pieces of advice or interesting tips, go right ahead!
NOTE: These suggestions are not for everyone and do not apply to all recording situations. If you're not sure what you're doing or if you're just curious, feel free to use these tips.
Lets start off with, probably, the hardest thing about recording. . . Vocals.
Vocals can be a tricky thing to work out. But, if you follow these steps, you could have an easier road ahead of you.
1. Use a Pop Filter.
You can buy one from a number of online retailers such as zZounds.com or MusiciansFriend.com. Or if you prefer a more hands on experience, take a trip to your nearest Guitar Center. They have tons of friendly employees who are more than willing to help you out.
Strapped for cash? Not to worry! Get a wire clothes hanger and a pair of the Ms. nylons. Bend the hanger into a round shape and then stretch one leg of the nylons over it. Cut off the excess and tie it off with a rubber band or something like that. Voila! Instant Pop Filter!
What exactly IS a Pop Filter? I'm glad you asked!
A Pop Filter eliminates the presence of overpowering letters like P, B, F, & S. It also cuts the ammount of air that reaches a microphone to a minimum.
2. Sing clearly.
A mispronounced word could ruin an entire song. One thing that I find that helps is to exagerate your mouth movements. Opening your mouth wider while you sing will make sure that you don't accedentally slip up on a word.
3. Be on key.
Nothing sounds worse than a vocal piece that is not the same tune as the song. Prevent this by practicing the song a few times (Duh!). Well, more than a few times. . . A LOT of times! You want to be sure that you know exactly what tune you're singing in. One thing that really helps is to practice along with a piano. Play out the notes that you're going to be singing and vocalize along with it. Don't have a piano? Use a guitar. . . Something other than your voice that has been finely tuned.
4. Layer your vocals.
Keep in mind that this technique does not apply for all music genres.
Once you have a perfect vocal track, record another exactly like it. And then another. What you'll want to do is leave your first track panned in the center. With your second track, pan it 50% to the left. Then take your third track and pan it 50% to the right. I know what you're thinking. . . "Why can't I just copy the first track two times and then pan those?" If you did that, there would be no difference at all. Using the above method will add a deeper dimension to your vocals (much like a chorus effect, but better).
Next, you're going to want to record your harmonies (if there are any). Your main vocal harmony pitch will usually range from a 4th to a 5th to a 7th of your main vocal. These harmonies will be quieter in the mix. They should not be louder than your main vocal. At most, they should be the same volume as the main vocal. Harmony vocals don't need to be panned. . . But they can be. Use your imagination.
You can also add numerous harmonies. Different pitches along the way will make for a fuller vocal sound. Just be sure not to over do it. If you do, your vocal track will sound crowded. . . Kind of like a football team singing your song.
5. Compression.
It's sometimes a good idea to use a compressor of some sort. How do you know if you need a compressor? If there are some parts of your vocal that are quieter than others. Maybe it's louder... Whatever the case. . . A compressor will even out the volume of your vocal so that it is more consistent. "What compressor should I use?" Good question! The one that I find myself using most often is the Classic Soft Knee. Here's where you can find it: Effects>Amplitude>Dynamics Processing>Classic Soft Knee.
As easy as that may have sounded. . . Compression is no laughing matter. Choosing the right compression is a task that should not be taken lightly. Do some experimenting and find out what works best for you.
6. Effects.
The only effects that you should ever use on vocals (unless it's for special FX purposes) are reverb, delay/echo, and maybe a light chorus.
Reverbs are a nifty tool when trying to liven up a vocal track. it also fills in unwanted silence. I can't tell you what reverb to use. . . It's all about preference. Again, do some experimenting and find what suits you.
Delay/echo effects should not be over used. It is a good idea to use a delay/echo that goes along with the tempo of your song. Whether it's in whole, half, quarter, eighths, sixteenths, or thirtyseconds. . . It doesn' really matter. Just make use that your echo doesn't run forever. This can be adjusted via the 'feedback' knob/dial/slider. If you're not sure what to set the delay time to, take a trip to www.analogx.com and download their Delay Calculator. It's very easy to use and it's FREE!
Chorus can be used if you want. . . Again, it's more of a preference thing. not sure what chorus to use? Well. . . The '5 Voices (Pro)' preset isn't all that bad. With the proper adjusting, it sounds pretty good. Here's something that I like to do with it: Adjust the dry signal to 90 and the wet signal to 10. That should give you a decent start. Remember!!! If you're using any chorus effect in CEP/AA, check the Highest Quality (but slow) box if it isn't checked already.
And before I sign off. . . I'll give you one last tip:
If you want a creepy effect for your vocals, reverse the track (so that it's playing backwards), add a generous amount of reverb and then reverse it again (so that it's playing frontwards). This will produce a "scary" sound effect that can be found in many horror movies and Ozzy Osbourne songs.
Happy recordings, everyone!
P.S.
If anyone wants to add their own pieces of advice or interesting tips, go right ahead!
