vocal compression

[six]

i really thought for a long time that you should use a moderate ratio (say 1:2.5 to 1:4 or something) of compression for lead vocals but the other day I recorded a cover of bonjovi's runaway - just for fun and the (my) vocals didn't sound right until I compressed them at about 1:9... (besides tweaking the eq).
is this just the way it is with "80's-perm-radio-pop-metal" or should I compress my vocals a 'bit' more anyhow cause I still use a dynamic mic?

 

[Gidge]

six,

compression is not a "have to do" element...while it can be used as an effect, its main use is a tool...before you use compression, ask yourself why you are using it and what do you hope to achieve.....if squashing it made it sound right, then thats the right thing to do....if it sounds good without compression, then no compression is the right thing to do.....

also, try adjusting your vocal technique, such as backing off for louder passages and coming in for softer ones......

BTW, id love to hear that cover...big Bon Jovi fan here.....

 

[crosstudio]

also, where is your theshold set? if you are only compressing at 1.4 or so and your dynamic range on the vocal is very wide, then your threshold has got to be low. i've heard that on pop vocals using low compression rates with low a threshold is 1 of the tricks of the trade.

 

[six]

gidge: without the vocals you might like it...
by the way - don't you think jbj is always a bit hard compressed? his "studio-vocals" always sound so harsh but not in a bad way... like a huuuuuuge low-cut but it's not it.
(damn, why don't I like music I CAN sing... compared to jbj I always sound bad. i'll do some def leppard covers in the future )

crosstudio: I already thought about that threshold thing... but saying "low" what do you mean (I mean we're below minus). more like -30db or -3db?
I think at the moment I work with -30.

and what do you think about the use of a dynamic mic (I know it's basically crap for recording) - but does it affect on the use of compression?

 

[six]

Hey gidge (if you happen to have a look in here again):

being a bj-fan you've sure been to some bj-shows, right? would you agree that jon has QUITE a different singing-style live than on the records? I mean you definitely hear it's the same voice but on the records it sounds a lot more "chesty"... what do you think (maybe he's already a bit burned out when he arrives in europe? )?

 

[Gidge]

Yeah Ive caught them a few times....first time was when they opened up for Ratt.....

I think his voice is very hard to capture live...he has a very dynamic voice with great range and I think the differences you may be hearing if the difference of a Neuman U87 thru a great board in a nice studio and a Peavey dynamic (not sure what they currently use, but he used 'em at one point)running around the stage the way he does...and depending on how far into the tour, his voice could have shown signs of fatigue....

non-the-less, although I take serious shit here for being a fan, h has one of the best voices in rock music ...he has the tone, range, dynamics....

btw, id still like to hear that cover....way back, me and some guys did a version of that Buckwheat style (OOOhhhh, Tee A Midda Mun-a-may)......

 

[six]

"non-the-less, although I take serious shit here for being a fan, h has one of the best voices in rock music ...he has the tone, range, dynamics.... "

I totally agree in every point. It seems to be un-cool to be a bj-fan.
It still makes me grin thinking back when I guy I know said to me that jbj was just "hunting for p*ssies and doing commercial mainstream-shit"... listening to lenny kravitz himself.

"btw, id still like to hear that cover....way back, me and some guys did a version of that Buckwheat style (OOOhhhh, Tee A Midda Mun-a-may)...... "

naaaaa, my voice's just too weak for a bj-cover (but I always do them for fun because I like 'em so much). It's almost blasphemy...

If I'll ever do a acceptable one you'll be the first one to hear it!