Vocal improvement with mixing

[griffon65]

Hey guys, I got my homestudio setup about 6 months back and have been recording since. Most of what I have recorded came out near studio quality but my voice is just not recorded at the quality I would like. I have recorded music at a friend house before so I know its not my voice thats detracting from the quality. My friend's been recording/mixing for years so Im pretty sure it has to do with my average mic/mixing techniques. I hope you guys can help me with some of the questions I have. Oh I apologize in advance for how insanely long this post is but I wanted to give in-depth details.

My Set-up: On a computer, specs not really important I have had no technical issues whatsoever. Im using the omni studio w/ M-Audio Delta 66 soundcard and Studio Project C1 mic.

My voice: Almost exactly like Chester Benningtons from Linkin Park in terms of singing/screaming. I also rap but I cant think of a specific rapper I sound like.

My problem: The C1 is giving me clear quality. I usually record from 3"-6" inches away and a lot farther for screaming vocals. But my voice sounds less "sweeter"(when singing) then I would like it. Its lacking just a bit of depth(when singing and screaming) when recorded. Overall its a little flatter then I would like.

Mixing Questions:
1. What mixing effects/techniques can I use to improve the quality of the recording?

2. Anything specific according to my voice type?

3. Also I heard that messing with the individual bands in the EQ can dramatically improve/alter the voice then just raising the volume of the recording as a whole, any specific tips on this?

4. What is compressing?

Mic Questions:
1. Any specific tips as regards to my voice in accordance with my mic type that might improve my recording?

Thanks for reading!

 

[Teacher]

since you like your voice when you sing at your friend house y don't you start by mimicking his signal chain? then try treating your room..

i'll tell you what i use when i mix vocals

i'll put an eq first either sonalksis or psp master Q
followed by a compressor either La2a or RCL(vox preset is pretty good) to get some dynamic control

followed by Ren VOX for gating, dynamic control and volume gain

last but not least another eq at the end either PSP masterQ or UAD Cambridge

to top it off i have an aux send with DreamVerb on it

all the settings are of course program dependent but i've found those plugs to help me get a decent vox sound rather quickly

 

[starch]

This may be redundant but try slightly changing mic position. Angle it down slightly from about eye level. Make sure your signal is hot without clipping (maybe even compress slightly to tape if you have the option). Listen to hear if your room is giving you any bad tones or rings that may need to be taken care of during recording. Once tracked, and assuming you have done everything you could to get the best possible results up to this point, try rolling off some lows up to at least 90hz. Eq to taste:

Body - 200-400hz
Nasal - 500-1000hz
Clarity - 2-5khz
Sibilance - 6-9khz
Air/sparkle - 9-11khz

Play with these frequencies to see if you can get closer to the results you are looking for. If you need to boost/cut more than like 4-6db in any of these areas you may look into fixing it by trying something different at the tracking stage.

Good luck

 

[Robert D]

Teacher - Aw man, your just showing off now........ right over his head.

Griff - Dude, you got some readin to do. Your trying to fly the plane and asking the tower what the flaps are for.

Quick answer to Question 4 - Compression is dynamic processing, where at a certain threshold (signal level) the dynamic change of the output signal is less than the dynamic change of the input signal, by a factor called the ratio. What it does is evens out the loud and soft parts of your vocal so that it sits better in the mix , rather than alternately jumping out and then ducking behind the music.

Peace, RD

 

[grinder]

Could be the the differance between the rooms, mic/ pre, equiptment in general, the person running it or all of the above. I don't like the sound of the C1 for a screaming vocalist. As you said, it's too clean. I've had good luck with a 58, for those purposes, though, it's a mic I normally hate for vocals. Compression is a must for hard rock vocals and recording in general. Read this to get you started.

http://prorec.com/prorec/articles.nsf/files/B425578C027460898625661000745390

And this.

http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/articles3.htm

 

[spectacle]

Hi!

I think I know what you mean. I suggest you first try to get your mic/s combined with the room and your compressor to sound as good as you can before you record it.
Also in mixing i think workin with a good compressor often gives good results.

 

[helyfede]

I use that:

Shure Sm86 mic

then

waves desser

q10 waves eq

waves RVOX (that's a bomb)

R verb (if you want)