• SONAR
  • vocal setup Sonar X2 Essentials 64
2017/10/15 19:49:35
thegreeneye
Could help with my vocal setup?. Everytime I record vocals it sounds terrible. 
I have a Autio Technica AT4040 condenser mic and Focusrite interface. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. 
 
thanks!!
2017/10/15 21:04:13
AT
It could be your voice.  Or it might just be the surprise when someone hears their own voice recorded.  It is probably the room.  Many home studio rooms are bad and create resonances and slap backs where they aren't needed.  It is probably technique, too - it is hard to hear what is going on moving and moving the mic (see # 2 above) while recording yourself.
 
It probably isn't the mic or the interface, unless you are unlucky.  Plenty of decent recordings have been done w/ your equipment.  Not a world beater, but good enough.
 
What can you do.  Get someone to help move the mic or speak around your room until you find the least offensive place to record vocals.  Now work that spot to death experimenting w/ your own voice.  And work your voice so it gets better.  It shouldn't take too long to improve things.  And remember, the instant you capture your voice that is going to be as good as it gets.
2017/10/15 21:04:13
AT
It could be your voice.  Or it might just be the surprise when someone hears their own voice recorded.  It is probably the room.  Many home studio rooms are bad and create resonances and slap backs where they aren't needed.  It is probably technique, too - it is hard to hear what is going on moving and moving the mic (see # 2 above) while recording yourself.
 
It probably isn't the mic or the interface, unless you are unlucky.  Plenty of decent recordings have been done w/ your equipment.  Not a world beater, but good enough.
 
What can you do.  Get someone to help move the mic or speak around your room until you find the least offensive place to record vocals.  Now work that spot to death experimenting w/ your own voice.  And work your voice so it gets better.  It shouldn't take too long to improve things.  And remember, the instant you capture your voice that is going to be as good as it gets.
2017/10/15 21:06:07
Zargg
Hi, and welcome to this forum.
Can you explain a little in depth what is wrong with your recordings? (Is it distorted, too low etc)
What kind of room do you record in? How far away from the mic do you stand when singing?
All the best.
 
2017/10/15 22:22:21
thegreeneye
Zargg
When I try to record vocasl, it's either distorted or sounds like i'm in a tunnel. When I track guitars, I can get a higher and cleaner track. I think it's something I'm doing in my setup with the mic/Focusrite. Do I need to boost my mic?
 
 
2017/10/15 23:06:58
Zargg
How far away from the mic are you when singing?
Have you tried to sing into the other side of the mic?
 
2017/10/16 02:05:52
Larry Jones
If vocals are distorted, turn down the input on the interface. If you can't do that, switch on the -10db pad on the microphone. There might also be a pad switch on the interface (don't use them both). Don't crowd the mic while singing. When setting levels don't even try to come close to zero on SONAR's VU meters. You can and should record well below that level. If you are still getting distortion turn down the trim control on the vocal track.
 
So are you saying the vocal is either distorted or sounds like it's in a tunnel? Which is it?
 
PS: Zargg might be right. Make sure you've got the mic turned the right way.
2017/10/16 11:05:47
Bristol_Jonesey
Have you got Phantom Power switched on in the Focusrite?
2017/10/17 20:05:57
Kalle Rantaaho
The "tunnel" makes me ask: How are you monitoring while tracking? Speakers or headphones? If headphones, do they leak to the microphone?
 
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