I agree with the previous posts, it doesn't sound distorted to me. If you can post a link to just a dry vocal track, we may be able to offer some more accurate analysis.

John,
 
I don't hear any distortion either.   Your piano is stepping on the vocal frequencies a bit.   If you have something like Waves Center or an EQ that allows M/S and Center EQ, pull your piano down about 3-4db in the center to make more room for your vocal track.   I don't think the vocal track sounds bad.  A lot of other factors play on your sound such as proper gain staging, compressor setting, choice of reverb, etc..   I have found that Tape and Console emulations bring a lot to the party as well, mixing through them from the start.  
 
Not crazy about the reverb on the vocals, that could be contributing to some of the issues you are hearing.   Would like to hear the vocal without any reverb to get a better idea on the quality of the verb plug or settings.  The track is really pretty good so I wouldn't get too discouraged, seems to be just a mix issue rather than a mic or equipment problem at least on the surface.
 
Regards

Thanks guys.  I'm going to try to get the dry vocal track to you.  It's not the mix that's bothering me, though I agree that there is room for improvement in that area too.  I hear the problem when I solo the vocal, and I've tried to re record it many times with the same dissatisfaction.  I think it might be an EQ issue.  In addition to the EQs that come with Sonar, I also have Waves Renaissance EQ, but I really don't have much technical savy with EQ or compression.  I just screw around with those things until it starts to sound decent.  But I can't seem to tweak this problem out.  I have two other mics and another interface and I tried all of the combinations and I'm still very disappointed with my vocal sound.  I'll work on getting the isolated voice track to you soon.  Thanks again.
 
JB

not an expert at EQ/Compressing vocals either.
perhaps you could start with one of the FX chains for vocals (located in Browser) and if you have the Nomad plugins that came with Sonar X2 or X3, they have EQ/compressors with presets for vocals too.
eh, sorry...just see you have Sonar Studio and probably that stuff is not in there..

Thanks again, Sheanes.
 
OK.  Got the isolated vocal track.  One is completely dry and the other is how it appears in the current mix sans music.
 
https://johnbowen.bandcamp.com/track/lv-effect
https://johnbowen.bandcamp.com/track/lv-dry
 
Looking forward to your thoughts/suggestions.  Thanks!
 
JB

the room is the prob imo, there's a 'concrete' reverb/echo room sound that's not pleasant.
most clearly heard in the word 'before' at 1.00 minute.
imo no microphone prob, but you sound a bit far away from the mic but that could be latency perhaps, my ears are not so good.
 
what can you do ?
treat the room to become really 'dead' and then add a reverb on the computer later....but I don't know if that would sound great....probably no ideal solution.
if you have a room with wood on the walls, or a lot of furniture etc, carpets....(avoid concrete and tiles on wall/floor/ceiling).....would try to record the vocals there to see if it gets better.
 
good luck, you're on the way to better sounding vocals / hang in there.
 

oh sorry, I just see I listened to the effect track hahaha !!! I'm an idiot.
 
now I hear your recording room is pretty 'dead' allready, so the reverb efect in the other track is not so great imo.
 
probably difficult to get a nice reverb from the raw vocal track itself as it's got not a lot of warmth in it from the room.
 
I guess you'll need a reverb type that has an impulse that's 'warm' and iic (not good at this either sorry) you'll need a 'warm' convolution reverb.
 
anyway, mic sounds ok and problem is reverb sound imo.
 
 
 
 

Sheanes
oh sorry, I just see I listened to the effect track hahaha !!! I'm an idiot.
 

 
So glad you corrected that.  You had me a bit alarmed.  Last year I spent $500.00 to treat the room with Aurlex acoustic panels.  I had a through room analysis done and have it set up as per their directions (thought I didn't get deep curtains for the three windows yet).  I thank you for your observation.
 
JB

It sounds fine to me. I don't hear overbearing distortion on my system that would cause me concern. Keep recording more tunes and experiment. Experience will cue most of your sound problems. Thanks for posting your song! Please keep em' coming

The process of producing a recording is as much art as it is science.

I don't know exactly how much time you e devoted to your hobby but if you had spent the same amount learning a guitar or piano would you be able to perform to a standard that would prove entertaining to your listeners.

You be the judge. I'm 63 pin a few weeks and got this bug when I was 14 yet I still find things to learn all the time.
The scope of this music/recording/mixing etc. is so vast that you would diminish the art by assuming you could just buy some gear and be happy with your ability to record and mix to any great satisfaction. Give yourself some time, and take the pressure off yourself to get it all right. Learn what's making the sound wrong and correct these things a little at a time. Read about the knobs your twiddling and experiment. You have to train your ears too.

All the best and keep at it.

I recommend you get involved in projects like the one in the linked thread. It's a great learning tool.

http://forum.cakewalk.com...-My-ROPE-m3552104.aspx