Nasal Vocals

Any suggestions on how to get that out?

It's possible that you might be able to effect some limited improvement by using EQ to attenuate the mids somewhat and possibly putting it thru an exciter,  but honestly you'd be best off recording it again.

hey dude. i have this problem too. what you need to do short of telling your singer to go get some lessons with projection is getting a mic that doesnt have a peak in its response at 1-2k

im using the Rode NT2-A with a Focusrite ISA-One and that seems to work well, allowing a bit more breath thru than normal. a lot of singers hide behind nasal frequencies because they're trying to control the pitch with their throat instead of setting the note in their voicebox and pushing air thru.

i was using a Studio Projects C1 before and this dudes voice was almost unbearable... I dont know what your gear situation is like. but if you're trying to do this with anything short of a condenser mic you're SOL

vinski


Try hanging the mic upside-down and aim the capsule somewhere near the bridge of the nose or the forehead, or higher if it helps, of your singer.  Try and keep the bottom of the nose out of the line of the mic.  Not only will you reduce pops and stuff but hopefully eliminate some of that nasal sound, and encourage the singer to use more throat without coming across as too offensive!?!?!
Ensure you have the gain required to do this with the mic also.  It's gonna get a bit quiet up there.

But the folks above are right.  If it sounds nasal-y then it is.

+1 mic position is the first line of defense, then EQ.  If you can change the mic that might help. It's not always your "best" mic that works.  Of the condensor mics the best one I've tried for less nasal sound is the AKG Solid Tube. A good dynamic mic might also work but requires a good preamp.

A nasal sound, paradoxically, arises when the part of sound that comes from the nose is NOT getting recorded.
 
This typically happens when you use a cardiod or hypercardiod microphone and you sing right up against it.
 
The microphone picks up what is in front of it, the mouth. It does NOT pick up things that are off-axis, i.e. the nose.
 
In loud, live situations, you often have to live with this or you get feedback.
 
In recording situations, move the microphone at least 6 inches away from the mouth. The Shure SM7b enforces this by having the capsule deep inside the pop shield.
 
For a realistic recorded sound, you will want to pick up the entire sound being projected by the singer. This includes vibrations from the sinuses (yup! :) ) and other areas of the head. So moving the microphone 1-2 feet and an inch or two above the axis of the nose is the plan. However, if you do not have a sensitive, low noise large condenser, you will have to content yourself with the 6 inches from the face method.
 
If you have a Shure SM57, get the A2WS pop shield and mount it as far out as the mounting ring will allow.
 
If you have some other dynamic mic, get one of those round pop screens (or build something out of a womans stocking) so that the singer does not get closer than 6 inches to the mic.

I have one track on which the male lead singer sounds like he's holding his nose while singing. Can't figure it out. Pretty nasally. Any suggestions on how to get that out

Re-record it. If thats the way he sang it, you really cant do anytihng to it. Eq may be your only option and that has severe limitations. You cant unbake a cake to take out the flour. The same goes with vocals
Cj

What's the matter with a nasal sounding vocal?....

It seemed to work for this guy.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu0SQrAX9u0

didnt your mom ever tell you bob dylan is bad for you?

Does this singer always sound like this, or was this a one-time deviation?

I was super nasally when I first started singing as a teenager.  If EQ is the answer, right on and far out, but I would suggest singing lessons.  In college I had a friend studying voice at Boston Conservatory, and I still follow her advice to this day (20 years later).  The best piece of advice was opening my throat when singing.  To do that: pretend you've got a hot potato on the back of your tongue.




You're all doing the hot potato thing right now, aren't you?

Vinski and Ohhey have it about right. 

Nasal is nasal, no doubt.  But there was ways to mitigate that 'annoying' tone by situating the mic ABOVE the nose and having the vocalist project a bit more.  This is also a case where you REALLY need to EQ the signal on the way in.   Get it to sit as well as you can BEFORE 'committing to tape'. 

Also, don't overly compress the vocals.  Riding the faders will give  you a bit more control over suppressing the signal during offending phrases.

If you can't re-record, you're pretty much stuck with a turd sandwich.  Believe it or not, adding more "jangly" instumentation (ie - steel six string and 12-string guitars) tend to blend well and mask some of the more "hostile" nasal tones.

Good luck...
Jay

Hello Folks,

Good stuff, especially on mic positions.

Since the singer is about 9500 miles away, I'm stuck with what I have. 

Oh, well.  Next year.

I'll fiddle with what I have in the meantime.

Thanks,

CS