Vocals on sm57?

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rocketman768

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So, I absolutely love my sm57 for recording my guitars and instruments. Sounds perfect! But when I'm trying to record vocals, it seems a little off. I'm singing right now at around 2 inches from the mic, and the levels are just not there at all. When I normalize them, the static is very noticeable. I can't seem to get a good warm tone out of it. So, is the sm57 REALLY the vocal mic it's claimed to be, or am I just doing something wrong? Any quick studio recording tips (not post-recording like compression, eq blah blah) ?
 
Although it might not be the BEST mic for recording vocals, it's used by many many singers. There shouldn't be a gain or static problem if it's working properly. Could it be your pre-amp??? Mic wire??? The track strip you record your vocals on??? etc....???
 
rocketman768 said:
So, I absolutely love my sm57 for recording my guitars and instruments. Sounds perfect! But when I'm trying to record vocals, it seems a little off. I'm singing right now at around 2 inches from the mic, and the levels are just not there at all. When I normalize them, the static is very noticeable. I can't seem to get a good warm tone out of it. So, is the sm57 REALLY the vocal mic it's claimed to be, or am I just doing something wrong? Any quick studio recording tips (not post-recording like compression, eq blah blah) ?
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The SM57 is a very versatile mic. It is a solid performer for live vocals & instruments. Through the right preamp and with the right voice, it can do a damn fine job on recorded vocals, as well, though I don't think it is really marketed as a vocal mic at all. As with most dynamic mics, it will require a lot of gain from the preamp for quiet voices and instruments. What preamp are you using?

Most studio lead vocals are recorded with condenser mics, ribbon mics, or large diaphragm dynamic mics (Shure SM7B, Electrvoice RE20, etc). The SM57/58 are often used for scratch vocals & background vocals (which find their way onto lots of recordings making them perhaps the most used mics for vocals, but not the most beloved), but it wouldn't be my first choice for recording voice.
 
As RAMI said, while not an ideal vocal mic, a 57 can serve as a vocal mic.

I would check each gain stage. l'd think in a studio environmnent and with your gains properly set, you should be abale to get a decent signal at about 4". At 2" you may be risking plosives, etc.

I assume you've already confirmed that the mic works, since you indicate you record instruments. If you know the mic and cords are OK - it would almost have to be a problem with gain.
 
If I run the mic through a pre-amp, would it still pick up noise in the line before the pre-amp. Ah heck...

What are the rules for levels and noise?

How short should my cable be from the mic to preamp? How short should it then be out of the preamp to the sound card? Things like that.
 
Yeah beleive it or not, Anthony Keidis of the Chili peppers uses an SM57 to record his vocals without a pop sheild! He holds the mic right up to his mouth and this gives a very deadned sound to which alot of processing can be done.
 
rocketman768 said:
If I run the mic through a pre-amp, would it still pick up noise in the line before the pre-amp. Ah heck...

What are the rules for levels and noise?

How short should my cable be from the mic to preamp? How short should it then be out of the preamp to the sound card? Things like that.
Click to expand...

First of all, you need to tell us how you are recording right now (what is your signal chain)? What type of cable (XLR to XLR, XLR to 1/4", other)? What preamp (external, mixer, soundcard)? What soundcard?

In general, the microphone should be connected to the preamp with a decent XLR to XLR cable. The gain on the preamp should be turned up as loud as it needs to be so that the loudest portions of the vocal (instrument, etc.) are just below clipping on the preamp (also make sure you aren't clipping the soundcard's converters). Front-loading the gain like this ensures a strong signal-to-noise ratio so that you don't have to boost the gain later (with compression, normalization, etc.), which would increase the noise. I never (ever) use normalization on vocals (or anything else, for that matter). A good compressor/limiter and/or riding the fader will yield better results 100% of the time.

Like I said above, dynamic mics require plenty of clean gain, so you'll want a decently quiet preamp (the M-Audio DMP3 and Studio Projects VTB-1 come to mind in the budget pricerange). Many inexpensive mixer preamps get noisy at their upper gain ranges and may be less desireable.

As for cable runs, shorter is generally better, but anything under 50ft should be o.k. All my mic cables are 15-20ft and the cables between my preamp and soundcard are all 3-5ft patch cables.
 
Ok, that answers my question I think. This is just the first time I've TRULY tried to record vocals and it's stumping me. So, I guess I'll go to the store tomorrow and pick up a good preamp, as I've never really needed one before.

If you want to hear some of my stuff: http://people.clemson.edu/~pglee/music.htm

The sm57 is used with "Partial Meltdown." This and the next song on the list are pretty much what I'm going for. The older stuff of course gets progressively worse as I get younger.

Just for reference, this is the equipment: Soundblaster Audigy soundcard, SM57 mic, XLR to 1/4 inch transformer, gold-plated shielded 20ft 1/4 inch cable, 15ft XLR cable. And of course, all the guitar/bass accessories (pedals, 100-watt marshall...). Chain is simple: MIC -> XLR CABLE -> TRANSFORMER -> SOUNDCARD MIC IN. At least, it works well for instruments (perhaps not vocals!).
 
rocketman768 said:
Just for reference, this is the equipment: Soundblaster Audigy soundcard, SM57 mic, XLR to 1/4 inch transformer, gold-plated shielded 20ft 1/4 inch cable, 15ft XLR cable. And of course, all the guitar/bass accessories (pedals, 100-watt marshall...). Chain is simple: MIC -> XLR CABLE -> TRANSFORMER -> SOUNDCARD MIC IN. At least, it works well for instruments (perhaps not vocals!).
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Yeah, you're getting a good guitar tone, so you should at least be commended for that (nice playing, too). A decent preamp will probably improve that tone even more. It will definitely help for vocals. Preamps can vary a lot in price. The two I listed above are good inexpensive pres. Try them out at the store to hear what you like.
 
rocketman768 said:
Ok, that answers my question I think. This is just the first time I've TRULY tried to record vocals and it's stumping me. So, I guess I'll go to the store tomorrow and pick up a good preamp, as I've never really needed one before.

If you want to hear some of my stuff: http://people.clemson.edu/~pglee/music.htm

The sm57 is used with "Partial Meltdown." This and the next song on the list are pretty much what I'm going for. The older stuff of course gets progressively worse as I get younger.

Just for reference, this is the equipment: Soundblaster Audigy soundcard, SM57 mic, XLR to 1/4 inch transformer, gold-plated shielded 20ft 1/4 inch cable, 15ft XLR cable. And of course, all the guitar/bass accessories (pedals, 100-watt marshall...). Chain is simple: MIC -> XLR CABLE -> TRANSFORMER -> SOUNDCARD MIC IN. At least, it works well for instruments (perhaps not vocals!).
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don't audigy soundcards work better through the line-in? i remember one guy was using one nd he was getting levels all over the place until he plugged the lead into the line-in and not the mic in
 
Yeah, you want to go from the mic to a preamp and into the line input on your soundcard. The setup you are using is not gonna give very clean results. You are amplifying in software which is fine but you are amplifying all your noise as well. A decent preamp will give much cleaner amplification.
 
damnit why is the solution always buy more gear????????


LINE IN!!

as stated above.


also, ive heard keidis uses an SM7. if he uses a 57, i'll be impressed. not by the mic, i know its that good. with keidis, for not being a snob.
 
Sounds good your stuff Rocketman, but where are the vocals?
 
Sampled drums sound good, but too obvious that they are samples certainly at the start of the first song.
 
Sounds good your stuff Rocketman, but where are the vocals?
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Um, yeah...the title of the thread explains it I think.

Sampled drums sound good, but too obvious that they are samples certainly at the start of the first song.
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The point for me is not to sound totally like real drums. I just write them to be what I'd want played if they were real drums. I'm happy with them. Although, I would very much like a drummer in the Clemson, SC area :)
 
the 57 is great on vocals, but not everyones.
Or it may just be the cable, micpre (if ya have), mic position, or the mic might be outa shape.
peace
 
rocketman768 said:
Um, yeah...the title of the thread explains it I think.
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Nope not really. I thought you were going to let us hear a sample of your bad vocal recordings. ;)
 
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