VOCALS ???? PLEASE HELP!

  • Thread starter Thread starter BennyBob
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BennyBob

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I am recording, and my vocals just do cut it. I have the voice, I have an AT 4033 and I have an ART TUBE MP. I have no extra cash though, so buying gear is not an option. I have FX (verb, chorus, delay, etc.) and am using a KORG 168RC Digital Console going into a Fostex D-160....My vocals just aren't smooth and warm....I don't like them, with or without the TUBE MP, plus the TUBE MP makes noise, and I don't need the xtra noise. What can I do with my set up to remedy this and make my vocals smooth...I am looking for a Rob Thomas sound (Matchbox 20) and I've been told by many I sound like him live, but I don't sound like that on tape, I know he is using 4000 dollar mics with 10,000 dollar pres, and 150,000 boards, etc. But there has to be a way with my setup somehow to achieve this.
Any help would rock
Ben
 
Huh?

Chances are that you will never be able to sound just like Rob Thomas no matter how much gear you have. Just go for your own unique sound and don't worry if you don't sound like Matchbox Twenty. We already have a Matchbox Twenty and we surely don't need another one.

Besides, why would anyone want to sound like Rob Thomas? The guy has a saliva problem.

Just have fun and work on your music.

Tucci
 
Using an analogue desk makes a difference, maybe using the digital Korg desk is not helping you. I think that maybe the ART isn't the right unit for the vocal sound you want, but if you maybe tried an analogue desk when you have the money, it may work in your favour. In my studios, there is a huge difference with the preamps in different consoles. I was recording a vocalist last week, and we used U87 mic going into a Neve desk, and when we changed the session and used a Mackie D8B digital desk, there was a huge difference in the vocal sound. if you get the oppurtunity, try plugging your mic into an analogue desk and see if it helps. also, i recommend the focusrite mic preamp, it's really great for most situations.

-rox
(Long Wave Studio)
 
Get a good compressor and play with it. It will take a while and some experimenting, but you will figure out how to use it to even out the vocal take so that it sits in the mix better.
 
recording vocals

Howdy Bennybob:
Remember with home recording, equipment is everything. If you don't have quality equipment, you can expect a not so good recording... however don't think you have run buy the kind of studio gear that Matchbox uses. There are a great many good products (mics,effects,...) that fit into the budget of the home recording artist. I recommend the latest copy of the musicians freind catalog...(it's free)get it and browse around. And again don't believe that you have to sound like Matchbox... you may have a Rob Thomas sounding voice and you can't really do anything about that... the sound is good if you could use it differently... originality sets a person apart. Be yourself... you might suprise yourself. Good luck...
DL:-)
 
or maybe my sound system is just deceiving me

HI Bennybob,

I can identify with your situation. I liked the sound of Rob so much on the acoustic version of push, that I tried all last week to copy it with my system. I chose push instead of bent cause the vocals stand out better.

Anyway already, I am happy to report that I am almost there.

after a lot of hours of mic positioning and eqing, I am finally getting my vocal to sound like his: warm while open.

THe almost there aspect is just room conditioning and upgrading my cables. Of course, monster 1000 cables and bass traps will cost me AND you close to $500, but I believe that you can get that sound with that simple upgrade.

By the way, I am going from a beast- I mean C414b/uls into a beast- I mean joemeek vc6q british channel. I have heard that the at4033 has similar characteristics with the c414 , so you can get that sound too

peace.


ps. If I had to guess what mic they used on the vocals, I would say it sounded like a neumann u87 or an AKG c12 :))
 
I Can't Even Think Right Now

But if the vocals had "high-end sparkle", I doubt it was a U87, unless it was modified. Even if an EQ is used, the frequencies must be there to boost them. A stock original U87 or even a U87ai will not have those "high-end sparkle" frequencies (on purpose, of course).
 
right again Recording Engineer

yes, THe vocals had some high end sparkle which will be quite difficult to achieve with a u87.

So simple reaoning will say that they used a c12.

RE, we are good.

Also, I just wanted to mention. Don't buy from musicians friend, unless you really think that tech support(which you can get from the manufacturer) is worth you shelling out all that extra cash. Might I suggest Marsmusic.com or 8thstreet.com . DOn't even call sweetwater sound; talk about markup
 
in addition to using compression, which will even out the vocal levels, what's your mic position? is your mouth close to the mic? are you using a pop filter? is the mic above or below lip level? you'll get a different feel from the position. then you can smooth out the position further through compression and eq.

what would happen if you recorded the lead vocal 3 times. the first time straight into the mic with the mic slightly below mouth level so you get more bass voice tone. then record with the mic slightly above mouth level for a clear present vocal. then with the mic off-axis from your mouth for more of a back vocal sound.

i have an at4033, and i've found that the pop filter has a smoothing, but dulling effect also.

word of warning when recording off-axis with the 4033. the diaphragm doesn't hear well to the sides, so don't go too far off axis. i like this trick for back vocals.
 
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