Vocals and preamp

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jon Valdivia
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Jon Valdivia

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Hi!

Do you know how to get the maximum of a vocal track? I record nice vocals with my SB Live!, and a mic (like the sm58), but i'd love to know which effects or procedures i should use to enhace the vocals ir order to sound really great.

Thank you all.

Jon.

p.s.:Do you think i need a preamp for the mic?
 
ha ha.

Define "really sound great".

ha. ha.
ha.

xoxoxo

ps.. yeah, you'll need a pre amp if you want it to sound good. and a new mic, too.

xo
 
Lots of new things...

Of course, i suppose that if i spend a lot of money in good hardware it'll sound great. I really want to buy a preamp, but i don't know which.

My main question is: once recorded the vocal track, what should i do to enhace it?
 
okok. What I ALWAYS do is compress vocals. NOBODY has good enough mic technique. So I do som compression.
Another thing I ALWAYS do is take each track 4 times. 2 reasons.
a)theres always a fuckup that I missed during tracking, and I want a matched sound if I have to jump around from take to take.
b) I LOVE doubling vocals, at least a little bit on every tune. Maybe just a word here and there for emphasis. If you have a couple extra tracks to fool around with, you money.

THEN, once I get a clean lead vocal track, I make a copy and put my favorite reverb or other choice effect on it. I put the effects on a COPY then I mix in the effected copy just like I would backing vocals... I love varying wet/dry levels.

And thats usually it. If you have nice vocals, you dont need to do much.

xoox
 
Thanks, now i have a clue

Thank you very much!

I usually do the reverb, but i've never done compression (i don't know how, actually). Now i know tha things i have to experiment with.

Another thing i didn't is recording 4 vocal tracks. I'm used to record maybe 20 times to find the right one, and work with it.

Now i know something more. Thank you very much. I'll show you when i get some nice vocal.

Jon
 
I haven't really found the compressor yet cause I use the Dynamics processing under amplitude. This allows you to customise your compression very well.
 
Yes, you've found it - Dynamic Range Processor *is* the compressor function in CEP. But maybe Camn was talking about using a compressor when tracking? That's what I do.
 
Damn you guys are genius'

Wow,

I am going to have to print like 20 pages of material off of this site and compile a continuity book!!!!
Now I have a question about recording vocals in CEP.
What is the best way to record vocal parts in general.
I understand how to get great results, but as far as how to manage the takes, and how long to allow a take.
What I have previously been doing was, just feeling the flow and nature of the lyrics, and when the artist and I thought we had found a good stopping point, we would cut there.
Then we would start the recording on another track at a comfortable position where the artist could pick up where we ended and continue until another stoping point.
After we finished the lyrics part, I would go in and try to give each vocal piece somewhat a consistent level, and then mix them all together to come up with one vocal track, excluding chorus or bridges.
Now, I'm a newbie, is there a better way and how?
I have just relocated to states and updated my setup to include a large diaphram condensor mic and mic preamp.

Thanks for any suggestions,

I-AM
 
I use a couple different sets of plugins, dobie. A lot of times I use Sonic Foundry's "track compressor"... but I like the Vocal compression preset in CEPs Dynamics section. I usually start with that and tweak as needed.

IAM... this is how I ALWAYS track vocals.

a) find a nice sounding room. Or if I cant do that, do everything I can to kill the reflections and shit from a normal room.

b) make the vocalist warm up. If they dont know how, I teach them. Dont let them wear their voice out, though.

c) Get the vocalist COMFY. But on some low lights. Burn a candle. Whatever. Get them as NON nervous as possible. IMO nothing sounds worse than nervous vox.

d) take the vox.

e) take em again.

f) take em again.

g) take em again.

h) If I'm happy with one of the above... quit tracking.. if not, take a BREAK (to rest the voice), then goto d).

-----------

ok.. maybe I dont ALWAYS take 4 times... but ALWAYS at least 2. If I think the 1st one is BOMBER.. then I only take it twice, and I usually regret it. BUT i LOVE doubling. I always wanna be able to double vocal tracks.

oxox
 
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