Recording Tips for Hip-Hop in Cool Edit Pro 2.0:
1st. Record your verse on one track, when you're happy with it go to step 2.
2nd. Record your verse again, the same as your first track. This is known as an overdub.
3rd. Record an add-lib track. Putting emphasis on certain bars or words, to give it added flair.
You can have more than 3 tracks if you wish, but 3 should be your minimum, otherwise your audio's will not sound professional at all.
Mixing:
Go to: View>Show Mixer Window
make sure all the silver boxes (in default color) are checked so the eq and pan buttons etc... are showing.
Boost your vocal pressence by increasing the dynamic volumes.
Example:
1st track:
Hi - 12.4
Mid - 6.2
Low - 3.1
2nd track:
Hi - 10.3
Mid - 5.2
Low - 2.1
3rd track:
Hi - 9.4
Mid - 3.2
low - 1.0
These settings may not work for you, but play around with them until your voice sounds full.
Remember! - Your 1st track should be prominant, set at 1.5 - 2.0 db louder than your 2nd track. An overdub should always be lower than the 1st track. Your 3rd track (add-libs) should be blended behind that, approx 3.0-6.0 db lower than your 1st track. Your 3rd track should be audible, but not intrusive on tracks 1 or 2.
Mix your vocals so they blend with the beat, but so that they stand out over it. Do not let the beat overpower you!!!! Your lyrics are important, and you want people to hear them right? Make sure they stand out.
Cleaning and Effects:
In the Edit View for each vocal track....
1st. Expand the waveform so it's large enough to see fluxuations in it. usually 3 up, and 3 wide for my personal pref. Then, Right-Click - Select entire wave. Run a noize reduction with your previously saved profile (if you havent done this do so by recording a small 2-5 second track, without making any noise. Just let the mic pic up background noise. Highlight the track in edit view, and go to Noise Reduction, click the "Get profile from selection" button. Then save the profile as "Vocal Noise reduction" for later use on all your vocal tracks.) After you run your Noise Reduction on the wave... listen to the track meticulously... silence any breaths that are noticeable, by highlighting them, then Right-Click - Silence. once you've silenced all breaths, look for click's and pops. To eliminate those, highlight the single click, go to Noise Reduction - Click/Pop Filter. Then click the Auto find threshold button, and then click Fill Single Click. This process takes time, so if you have a slow PC, be ready to sit for a minute or two. Be careful, on some of the larger Pops or clicks, you'll get a metalic sound... if this happens, undo the filter, and live with it. DO THIS PROCESS ON EACH VOCAL TRACK!!!!
Effects:
You'll want effects on each track. Every major artist uses them, despite what you think. To get that professional sound, you need them. But don't overdo them, you don't want to sound like a robot either.
On tracks 1 & 2, put a Tight and Close reverb on your vocal selection. this will give you a fuller sound, and better pressence. On the 3rd track, play around with different effects, to get a different reverb from tracks 1 & 2, but make sure it blends well with them. Play around a bit, and see what you like. Remember, you can put more than one effect on your track, to get thousands of different outcomes.
Have fun, and happy recording!!!!
-Change
