Vocal Tracking

[DARKMATTER]

Can the forum's resident experts chime in with their tricks of the trade for achieving natural vocal tracks? I understand this is a pretty subjective issue, but I'd benefit from any tips: from signal path, to the gear/plugs you employ. OK - first off, by "NATURAL" I mean punchy, but not overly processed.

I use an AT-4030, but just feel my vocs lack punch/character. I've begun molting the vocals, and setting wide pan for a "bigger sound" - well, it worked for Lennon....

Thanks all

[wonder]

I use a SOUNDELUX ELAM 251 through an Avalon Vt737....does the trick for most vocals.

[Resonant Alien]

Darkmatter - saw your other post on UAD plugs.

Buy the UAD, run your vocals thorugh the 1176, LA2A, or Fairchild, along with a Pultec EQ, and report back here if you are still not satisfied with your sound. I think you will like what you hear.

[tim57var]

Get a good mic and good mic pre - or at least decent ones. I use a Neuman U-147 and Avalon 737 with very good results. I don't like to use much eq or compression when recording vocals - I put it on in the mix. Of course, good singers help!!

[dougieb]

I find that the Sunbeam Mixmaster 2369 run through just about anything comes out pretty tasty.

http://www.sunbeam.com/productdetail.aspx?PId=26

[wylie]

Nice specs on that mixer.

However I find with the at4030 I get the best results buy cranking the gain as hot as you can get it and stand about two feet back when tracking should give you a good starting point.

Takes a little getting use to singing into such a hot mike but the results will be clear.

[aaronlyon]

A VERY commonly overlooked recording problem is the ROOM your singer is standing in. Reflections off nearby walls can wipe out the "warm" character of the voice (comb filtering!). Treat your room before you try to fix your equipment.

-aaron

[m2]

All these are great suggestions: The room is super important. The mic; the pre; the compressor; EQ - all of it. Of course the singer plays a big part in what you choose to record with at the end of the day.
Female vocal that's breathy and soft benefits from maybe a darker mic - a ribbon mic even [R84]. A male vocal thats soft and pillowy may need a mic with more definition like a 414. All will want some great sounding pre and a compressor/limiter.

I use the above mics with vocals as well as a U87 and more recently got a Neumann M149 tube which is amazing for vocals. I run most of the time thru a Great River 1NV pre to a Manley Variable MU comp/limiter to the DAW.

Good luck.

Oh yeah ,he Sunbeam mixer is a MUST!

[aaronlyon]

You know Maslow's Hierarchy of needs? <http://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTM> He proposed that you can't fulfill your higher needs (self-esteem, compassion) before meeting your lower, most basic needs (personal safety, health).

Perhaps a hierarchy of sound can be proposed for voice recording! Because you won't be able to perceive or appreciate the Apogee converters if you're using a Radio Shack mic.

So:

Singer
Room (physical environment)
Microphone
Preamp
Mic cables
Converters

...not including playback speakers...

[Timeline]

The best vocal sound i ever got was with the fader all the way down.

[FM]

Originally posted by Aaron Lyon:
You know Maslow's Hierarchy of needs? <http://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTM> He proposed that you can't fulfill your higher needs (self-esteem, compassion) before meeting your lower, most basic needs (personal safety, health).

Perhaps a hierarchy of sound can be proposed for voice recording! Because you won't be able to perceive or appreciate the Apogee converters if you're using a Radio Shack mic.

So:

Singer
Room (physical environment)
Microphone
Preamp
Mic cables
Converters

...not including playback speakers...

interesting... mic cables are higher hierarchy than converters?
i respectfully disagree.

imho:

singer
mic
pre
converters
room

i record in my living room with zero treatment and i get good results, and i am not a particularly talented singer.
room treatment is a nice thing but as a project studio owner i'd rather put that money into other things, such as improving my AD/DA chain.

FM

FM drops it like it's hot.

[wylie]

Originally posted by FM:

Originally posted by Aaron Lyon:
You know Maslow's Hierarchy of needs? <http://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTM> He proposed that you can't fulfill your higher needs (self-esteem, compassion) before meeting your lower, most basic needs (personal safety, health).

Perhaps a hierarchy of sound can be proposed for voice recording! Because you won't be able to perceive or appreciate the Apogee converters if you're using a Radio Shack mic.

So:

Singer
Room (physical environment)
Microphone
Preamp
Mic cables
Converters

...not including playback speakers...

interesting... mic cables are higher hierarchy than converters?
i respectfully disagree.

imho:

singer
mic
pre
converters
room

i record in my living room with zero treatment and i get good results, and i am not a particularly talented singer.
room treatment is a nice thing but as a project studio owner i'd rather put that money into other things, such as improving my AD/DA chain.

FM

FM drops it like it's hot.

I find if you record in a room where theres a beer fridge is aways best.

[FM]

yeah... it has been medically proven that beer actually increases a vocalist's range...

alright, i made that up... i just love beer.

good one Wiley.

FM

FM found love on a one way street and lost it on a lonely highway.

[m2]

posted May 11, 2005 12:58 PM                         

quote:
Originally posted by FM:

quote:
Originally posted by Aaron Lyon:
You know Maslow's Hierarchy of needs? <http://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTM> He proposed that you can't fulfill your higher needs (self-esteem, compassion) before meeting your lower, most basic needs (personal safety, health).

Perhaps a hierarchy of sound can be proposed for voice recording! Because you won't be able to perceive or appreciate the Apogee converters if you're using a Radio Shack mic.

So:

Singer
Room (physical environment)
Microphone
Preamp
Mic cables
Converters

...not including playback speakers...
interesting... mic cables are higher hierarchy than converters?
i respectfully disagree.

imho:

singer
mic
pre
converters
room

i record in my living room with zero treatment and i get good results, and i am not a particularly talented singer.
room treatment is a nice thing but as a project studio owner i'd rather put that money into other things, such as improving my AD/DA chain.

FM

FM drops it like it's hot.
I find if you record in a room where theres a beer fridge is aways best.

See I think the beer is a dependant variable. Meaning if the beer preceeds the singer then does it trump all others e.g. we think the singer is good AND the rig sounds great in proportion to the amount of beer consumed? Perhaps beer follows 'room' hmmmm

[FM]

perhaps beer PRECEDES room... hmmmmm...

let's face it, BEER TRUMPS ALL!



FM

FM paid tha cost to be Da Boss.