Vocals question......

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tyler22
  • Start date Start date
T

Tyler22

New member
Hi,
I need to record vocals and I am not getting the results I want AT ALL. I am using cheap microphones but I think I can get them to sound better. Heres the equipment I am using:

A MXL 990(Mic)
A MXL V93M(Mic)

I am running those into a VX400 vocal pedal and then into my computer. I use Cubase SX3 and I know that is not the problem.

Maybe my mics suck but there has to be a better way to get a good sound...... what kind of effects to run when recording vocals?

When I record the vocals it just seeems like they are seperate from the mix. I mean you can almost tell that they were recorded separate.....please help.......thanks!
 
Those mics would not be my choice for vocals at all, and I own both. In fact I'm probably gonna sell my V93 because it just hasn't been useful for anything.

I prefer to record vocals dry and add fx later. This is a pretty standard way of doing it.
 
well there is no way at this post that i am gonna be able to buy a good mic.......so heres a question for you.....should i run it through that VX400 or run it through a mixer?
 
The MXL V67 is a great cheap vocal mic IMO, but that also requires phantom power.

Your mixer would be a better choice. What kind is it? It probably has phantom.
 
What kind of soundcard are you using? If it's a stock card, that could be part of the problem. You could also improve your sound with a decent mic pre rather than the vocal pedal. You also didn't mention anything about the room your in or how your mics are setup. Are you using a popscreen and how is the mic oriented towards the singer? As far as affects, it sounds like you need to add compression to achieve a better mix between the vocals and the surrounding tracks. Reverb is another obvious choice. But I would look at fundamentals before searching for answers using effects.
 
i got the

Mackie 808M

but i dont know if it has phantom power....

i got a question if something doesn't have phantom power does the mic not work at all or does it just not work as good as it would with phantom power?

what's a good vocal and guitar preamp? budget about $300-$600


I bout a M audio Delta-44 last year and the thing has been AWSOME....a really nice sound card

also about compression.....how much do i add? when i add it all i hear is that it muffles the sound?
 
Slow down! I haven't even had time to look up the specs on your mixer!
 
Tyler22 said:
what's a good vocal and guitar preamp? budget about $300-$600


I bout a M audio Delta-44 last year and the thing has been AWSOME....a really nice sound card
Click to expand...

For info on preamps in that range, try a search. That question is always coming up. Based on what I've read, I would suggest looking at the FMR RNP, the M-Audio DMP3, and the Grace.

Since you're not using a stock soundcard, the soundcard probably isn't the main source of your problem.
 
Tyler22 said:
also about compression.....how much do i add? when i add it all i hear is that it muffles the sound?
Click to expand...

what type of compressor do you have? Is it an outboard unit or a computer plugin? What type of controls are available? Ratio? Release? Threshold? Gain? Are you using presets? Have you tried tweaking any of the settings?
 
dwillis45 said:
what type of compressor do you have? Is it an outboard unit or a computer plugin? What type of controls are available? Ratio? Release? Threshold? Gain? Are you using presets? Have you tried tweaking any of the settings?
Click to expand...

I am using the compressor that is already on cubase sx.....it has threshold, ratio, attack, realease and makeup gain.
 
The Mackie 808M is a powered mixer that's meant for live applications. But it does have phantom power.

Live boards generally don't work well as studio boards. So I agree with the idea of going with an external pre directly into your soundcard.
 
Tyler22 said:
what exactly does the preamp do?
Click to expand...
Well, it powers the mic, for one. All mics need a preamp, whether it's in a mixer, a stand-alone unit or even a soundcard. The signal generated by a dynamic mic is very small and needs to be amplified before it can be manipulated. Condensor mics are powered, but the signal still needs boosting. Different mic pres do different things. Some are very basic, and just have gain control. Others have extras like compression and eq.
 
I have owned the 990 and can say that I could NEVER get it to sit in a mix. I tried and tried. I would do as sugguested and look at a v67g. I have heard plenty of vocals done with that mic that mixed well. The 990 seems to work ok in a very sparse mix. The other mxl mic you have may be the same way.

A mic preamp amplifies the signal from the mic. A line input, like the one on your sound card, expects a certain voltage to come in. The function of the mic pre is to amplify the mic signal to meet the expected voltage of the line input.

Also, I have recorded thru onboard sound and a delta 1010lt. At 16 bit 44khz, I did'nt hear much of a difference, using the same mic and preamp. I think the main thing to worry about with cheap and onboard sound cards is noise. If yours is'nt noisy, I would'nt worry about it right now.
 
You might want to try adding a little bit of delay to the vocals. By little I mean very little, just enough to give the vocals a little room, not really enough to hear the echo. Sometimes this helps to get the vocals to blend into the mix, rather than sound like they are outside. It just kind of cuts the edge off. If your compression sounds fuzzy you may be trying to compress too much. For the most part I find when recording, the less you have to do or add the better the sound. One more thing, good mics make a world of difference, and this is very obvious on vocals.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top