Vocal effects and cubase

[Minstrel999]

Hi folks!

Me and my band (thrash/death/melodic metal) are amidst our first homerecording sessions. We're trying to do everything on our own, just to gather as much experience and know how as possible, before entering a professional studio.

Anyways, soon it's going to be my turn with vocal recordings.
The vocal styles range from deep growling, to high screaming, to raspy rock singing, to melodic clean sung parts.

Okay, here's the first general question:

Just out of personal experience, what kinds of effects would YOU guys prefer or recommend for these vocal styles?

I know, the best way would be experimenting and trying it myself. But with some help and advise from you the learning process would be way more effective

Some details on our recordings:

We're using a Shure SM58 mic for vocal recordings.
We couldn't afford to buy a professional condenser microphone for our first recording sessions.
Is it still advisable to buy a pop filter? Or is that irrelevant, because we're using a SM 58 and not a delicate condenser mic? Is the difference remarkably huge (with / without filter)?

Here are two songs where I'd like to know, if you guys can hear what special kinds of effects or techniques have been used on the voice:
(sorry, couldn't post URLs properly cause this is my first post)

1. Mercenary - Redefine Me
w.youtube.com/watch?v=H92gFplUF4w
I'm especially curious about the effects on the clean vers parts.

2. Serenity - Velatum
w.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxt9iv1fyRI

Multi voiced harmony recordings:
When doing this, is each and every vocal track separately edited with effects, or are all the vocal tracks combined into one and afterwards edited?

Cubase:

We're using Cubase for recording.
Where or how do I find effects like chorus, delay, reverb, etc.. in the program?
Are those separate plug ins or add ons that I need to download first? If yes, where do I find those?

Hope you guys can help us out!

Greetz
Minstrel

 

[horizon_scott]

hi man, basically its all about fiddling about and finding whats right for ya. you can find the effects by clicking inserts and then it will come up with a whole load of plugins, run the vocals youve recorded and then select a plugin to apply to it, and it'll play with the plugin and change as you fiddle around, keep going till you find something nice!

for highs i often add a touch of delay to the longer screams, does the trick nicely

 

[shizzane]

You can get a MXL Condenser Mic for under what a new Shure SM58/SM57 costs. I would look to do that just for the fact it gives you a better input track versus a standard mic. Of course these are not top of the line but for recording, and being inexpensive, they work out so much better.

 

[robbysaudio]

Is it still advisable to buy a pop filter? Or is that irrelevant, because we're using a SM 58 and not a delicate condenser mic? Is the difference remarkably huge (with / without filter)?

Pop Shields help reduce 'plosives', basically b's and p's which might have a detrimental effect on what would otherwise be a good recording, by peaking the levels into clipping.

From the description of your vocal style, it sounds to me like you might be giving that mic a bit of abuse anyway and the nature of your vocal stylings: 'growlings to screamings', probably means you're already going right up close and dirty with the mic. So, here a pop shield would be about as much use as a chocolate tea pot. You'd be better off using a compressor to keep the various levels in check and if that's beyond your price range adopting some very articulate mic technique, while keeing the recording levels set to accomodate the REALLY LOUD BITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mic technique is pulling back or off axis during loud passages to reduce volume, but if you're a mic in the face growler, that's a tad redundant

Good luck