Tips on hiphop vocals, anyone?

  • Thread starter Thread starter amillabar
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amillabar

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What up fellas, I'm working on recording a couple of tracks, and I have to say being a straight new jack to recording, the most chalenging part thus far is mixing the vocals to get that nice warm hot sound that artist like nas, mobb and cnn get with there vocals.

Any one have any good tips on mixing vocals etc.I dont have the greatist equipment but I'm getting great quality from what I have just seems like I need to tweek it out. Just to let you know I'm using sound forge and sonar. oh, please be specific

GOODLOOKIN!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I'm the Bosslady from Texas and i needs some basic advices... I'm trying to set up a studio in my garage...

Could you please tell me what kind of acquirement I may need.... to begin.... (Rapping/Freestyle)
 
Amill,

It is going to depend on many variables; ie- Mics used, surroundings, and a big important factor- the pre-amp used.
I have used a small condensor mic-a regular vocal mic-and a large diaphram condensor mic/(which an ART pre-amp).
The first time I used the true studio mic, my results were not that good, and so I stopped using it because I didn't have a "dedicated studio setup".
I simply used the small condensor (without a pre-amp). Just went into my Delta 66 audio card.
The vocals were very clean, but not very warm. I mean it really sounds good for what I am willing to pay.
I would suggest a sure SM58 mic, and work with stand alone manual EQ or Compressor. The Sure mic is very responsive and warm compared to others in it's class.
Once in the computer you can double the vocal tracks to make it fuller.
If you do a search in here on vocal doubling you will find some interesting posts.

I-AM
 
amillabar,

I record vocals for these rappers that are on my independent label, and when I record them I use 4 different mics all around each other,..I use a condenser and 3 vocal mics,....that's alot but when they alll come together when these guys rap, it sounds nice,......but make sure if you use more than one mic or even just one mic that you got a pretty soundproof or acoustic area.

thats all i can tell ya,....the mixing EQ that you do is just up to how that person who is rapping sounds,...


peace
-J
 
4 mics?why
here at my home studio i use a tlm 103 and a se5000(depending on the rapper/singers voice) not all my artist like doing stacks, they just do a lead with a adlib but most of my southern artist record a lead vocal and 1-2 stacks and a adlib... then when i mix it, the mixes come out real clean. i record with a delta 1010 and nuendo. at my joint studio i use a u87 and avalon preamp/compressor/eq.
 
C9,
I use 4 mics just out of personal preference of sound,.. nothing more than that,..but if you get a nice condenser than your all good,..

peace
-J
 
Also.........

List all of your equipment and your computers specifications. ;)
 
Bosslady said:
I'm the Bosslady from Texas and i needs some basic advices... I'm trying to set up a studio in my garage...

Could you please tell me what kind of acquirement I may need.... to begin.... (Rapping/Freestyle)
Click to expand...

How much money do you have budgeted for some new or used equipment?

Let us know. ;)
 
What up Spinster,

What I have for equipment right now is a IBM netvista 750 mgh, 512 ram, 12 gig hard drive and a project sound card (Steinberg Project pack). For Software, Sonar 2.0 and Sound Forge XL. Now this is where it gets grimmey, all I have is a MPC 2000XL a sony receiver that everythings conected to and a Marshall MXL V93.
I have no clue as to what else to get to sharpen my vocal sounds. I thought getting a better mike aside from my radio shack one would've helped my vocals out but that didnt work. Infact, it sounds a little worse now because of every sound the mic picks up. Yo, I appreciate the help..

By the way, what's a Condenser,who make a nice afordable one and how would that help?
I have about 500 bucks I can spend on new eq but I want to choose what I buy wisely. HEEEELLLLPPPPPP!!!

ONE LOVE..
 
Hello Amill,

The reason why a lot of high end studio condensor mics don't work that well, is because they are designed for high end studio set-ups.
Now that doesn't mean you can't get a good sound from it for your application, but it will take some practice to see what yields the greatest sound.
Although I didn't use my large diaphram condnesor that much, I have been able to get a good sound from it. (by starting with it at first-get pissed at the sound-then start with regular mics and work my way back up :D ) .
Getting a good sound is a mixture of both art and science. It all comes down to Trial and Error.
I would suggest this.... Get a blank sheet of paper and make a diagram of the levels of all pieces of equipment that you use. Specifically, whenever you are recording vocals mark what levels they where at when you started to record. If it sounds bad, at least you won't try those levels again. And if it sounds good, then you know you are headed in the right direction.
At this point in your recording career, "in my own opinion", I think that it doesn't matter what mic you use, the experience is what is important. Once you have the experience under your belt, you will be able to go into a music store and say wow, what I could do with that $3000 mic that all the real pros talk about on this bulletin board. ;)

I-AM
 
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WHats up, amillabar?

What kind of pre-amp do you have?

WHere do you set your mic up?
 
my mic goes through a phantom power box and straight to my sound card. It sucks cause I dont have much control of the mic level so I throw a hoodie over the mic. Should I get a pre-amp? What exactly does it do?and how will I benifit from it?

Let me know...
 
Wattup amil

You definitively need a mic pre amp. The reason you are not getting good sound is because you need to adjust the Db (decibal level) and lower the volume of the mic. All of this is possible with the use of a pre-amp. You could find one just as cheap as you bought your phantom power supply for.
 
Anti,

Now, with a mic pre amp would I still need the phantom power?
 
I dont think the choice of mic is even a factor in great hip-hop vocals.

IMHO, the best rap/hip-hop vocals are the ones that have a perfect vocal level in relation to the mix, and have a silky ambience to them

rap used to have a low level in the mix, but I think its better now that its coming more to the front.

Miss-e
Ludacris

these two have the best vocals I've ever heard. It sound loud and like their in a nice room.

puff had a horrible overcompressed vocal in "bad boy for life"


I think the most important thing is the ambience though. Those vocals that sound like their performing at you from a bedroom dont cut it. The best ones are the ones that sound like they are either in your face or in a nice sounding room. That's how come nas manages to sound good on "one mic" even though his vocal is not too in-your-face.

The performance is also cannot be overlooked. For rap to sound nice to us, you have to make the talent "overperform" into the mic.
 
Hey cyan I was wondering what typr of pre-amp for under $200 you would recommend for rap vocals. I will be using a behringer b2 as my mic, and as far as pre-amps, I'm eyeing the art tube pac and the joe meek mq3.

one...Re-iLL

p.s.
I like the way Nas' vocals come out. Some people say i sound a little similiar to him (atleast flow wise), so if you have any tips on compression and eq, please help.
 
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