Hello technique folks. Hope you are all well this morning.

I'm sure this has been covered many times but I was hoping to get some "rule of thumb" type advice for my vocal tracks. I've recorded lots of vocals before but I've always just winged it until they were "acceptable". However acceptable just ain't gonna cut it anymore and I want to learn some hard a true techniques for recording/mixing my vocals so I can get more consistent results and have a good foundation to work with.

Here's the scoop...

Currently my mics kind of suck but they will have to do for now until I get some more cash flowing. I currently use a pair of Samson c101's for recording my vocals. On their own they are severely lacking but if I set them up to their own tracks and sing into them at the same time I get much more usable results. I keep one close to my mouth and put a sock over it (yes and actual sock that goes on your feet... lol) to cut down on sibilance/plosions. The second mic I place a few inches further away with no sock. I'm hoping to fix this in the near future by buying a better mic that's more geared toward vocals (these are overheads from one of those drum mic kits). I also have a pair of Blue Balls (nyuck nyuck nyuck) which are powered dynamic mics. They are interesting but I find them quite dark so I haven't played with them much. Maybe there is a way to draw them out in the mix more with some fancy EQing. I also have some old beat up SM58s and a budget Shure mic that mimics the 58 but it's brighter (it's a C series mic). I like that budget mic but it's just not as sensitive as the condensers so I find it kind of a pain to record with.

My vocals are currently going directly in to my Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 which has pretty nice pres but obviously there is no way to sculpt the sound going in. I do have an old Mackie CR1601 board I haven't hooked up yet but maybe that's an option for getting a better signal?

The software I am using is X2 Producer which was upgraded from the Production suite so I have all those effects at my disposal. I also bought the PC2A compressor/limiter when it was on special and it's proven invaluable but again I'm just winging it when I fiddle with it without any actual method behind my actions. I also have the full versions of GR5 and TH2. I only bring that up because I know some folks will use guitar sims to add a little extra sauce to their vox (I used to do it years ago with GR2).

The tracks I'm currently working on are mid range, smooth (not pukey metal), melodic rock vocals. I'm trying to think of a good example of what it sounds like but the best I can come up with is a cross between a lower register Geddy Lee (Rush) and Layne Staley (Alice In Chains) but that is a bit of a stretch. This is my main focus for now but I do many other styles which I'm sure would require different approaches... but I'll leave that for so as not to throw too much at the thread at once.

So... with what I've got how can I get a good, smooth, even signal to use as a foundation?

Thanks for any and all input. I know there are lots of different methods but I'm more than willing to try out pretty much anything to see what works. Cheers. 

I'm sure a lot of more knowledgeable folks will be along to help with suggestions about mics, etc., but I will just throw a couple of things in.
 
It's worth investing in a pop shield.  They can be inexpensive.  I got mine free with a mic.
 
To get an even level I love the combination of the PC76 compressor to catch the transients, and the PC-2A (or CA-2A) to balance the overall levels.  It's a classic combination.  Kind of micro/macro leveling.
 
Also add a little saturation, but only to the high frequencies.  You can use the VC-64 and choose to saturate only high in the EQ, or use the PC Sat knob set to keep high.
 
Don't know if an of that helps, as you probably know it already.
 
Good luck.

Hi, jb. I do kind of do some of that stuff but as I said it's all guesswork so confirmation is indeed helpful. If I can build a list of things that will generally work most of the time then I'll hopefully have more consistent results that I don't have to muck around to much to achieve... yanno? So thanks.

Cheers.

Hi Beepster, my name's Rimshot  


You will most likely see a lot of responses to your question.  I can only offer you what I use from my home studio which is not state of the art or super professional. I use inexpensive gear in a very simple way.


For my vocals, I use a Behringer B1 Large Diaphram condenser ($100).  I think I am one of the lucky ones in that this mic has performed very well for me for a number of years.  Someday I would like to get an AT 4040 mic for vocals.

My mic goes into an Alesis MicTube Duo Stereo Tube Mic Pre ($89).  I use a touch of the tube overdrive on it and then send the signal to my Zoom R24 which is my DAW interface to my PC.

I record with a pop screen, no rolloff or pad on the mic.  The level goes into X1 or S1 with peaks no greater than about -10 db.

I then adjust to taste by using a limiter, compressor, EQ, etc.  I find that I need to control the peaks so I usually use a compressor with light compression.  For EQ in my setup, I usually highpass the bottom end around 60 hz and boost about 4K on the mids.  Sometimes I add a touch at 10K for some added air.  

That's it for me.  I try to sing in a way that controls the loud peaks by backing off just a tad.  Sometimes I need to use pitch correction. 

All in all, you can see that what I use is really simple and not expensive.  If you have heard my latest song post, you will see how this sounds.  Here's that link: 

https://soundcloud.com/ji...d-you-loved-me-2-12-13

I apologize if this is not the info you were looking for.

Rimshot

Just get thicker socks, and use clean ones... :)

(sorry - couldn't help myself)

Bob Bone

One of the Groove3 mix videos goes into some detail about recording and mixing vocals. Might be a good time to redeem that coupon.

Thanks, rimshot. I'll play around with those suggestions. Nice tune. Very smooth.

@bob... lol, if I didn't wash them they'd find me on the floor foaming from the mouth. ;-)

@scook... yup. Gonna do a big clean up in here then get back to business. I'm trying to get the vox on this tracks smoothed out a bit better though so I can start working on some of the lead guit textures. I want them to play off the vocals which is hard when they stick out like a smashed thumb. ;-)

does this help http://www.soundonsound.c...8/articles/20tips.html

A little. Doesn't go too in depth though but it'll go in my bookmarks. Cheers.