Recording Vocals

(b)Assman · #1 10-16-2008, 04:02 PM

So ya I'm recording vocals and what i've concluded is that my voice sounds worse on my $100 microphone then on my computers built in mic. ***??

Is just the microphone picking up my voice to well or not well enough? Maybe my voice sounds better on crappier mics?

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...one?sku=270475

That's what I'm using.

dmilt23451 · #2 10-16-2008, 10:32 PM

Sounds worse how? Perhaps its that you are actually hearing your voice...not through your computer mic? Or perhaps because of using the new mic you are hearing just your voice and not as much of the ambiance that comes from using the built in mic.

idResponse · #3 10-16-2008, 11:01 PM

i just use an sm58 for everything

and i have a stereo pair of behringer c2's for doing other things, it also works well as a vocal mic so you don't have to be right near the mic, or for multiple voices at once. i tell you it really makes my acoustic guitars sound nice on the recording.

SM58! YAY!

dmilt23451 · #4 10-16-2008, 11:09 PM

Thinking a little more about this...if it is that your vocals are more low end heavy it could be because you are too close to the mic. With dynamic mics the closer you are to it there is increased low end. But with out a better description of how your vocals sounds worse it is hard to diagnose.

blipndub · #5 10-17-2008, 01:41 PM

A $100 mic will pick up the room sound more than the smaller diaphragm of the computer mic. So it actually sounds better but is picking up more bad sound.

Charling · #6 10-17-2008, 02:37 PM

the bass boost caused by getting closer to a mic is called the 'proximity effect' and it is noticed on any directional microphone, not just dynamics. in fact you are more likely to hear it on a condenser because they tend to have a better bass response at a given price point.

you can get a large diaphragm condenser for A LOT less than $500, a perfectly good one too.

blip n dub may have it correct, a little mic on the computer is designed to capture hearable voice and thats about it.

a proper mic is a lot more sensitive and as mentioned records a lot more detail in your voice and the room you record in. if they sound bad, the recording will not lie.

to be honest a $100 dollar dynamic is not likely to sound TOO nice for your voice, but its worth noting that sometimes when recording you will stay away from a VERY expensive and detailed condenser mic because it is too 'real' for someones voice, ie it picks up bad and good elements of the sound.

in that case a rugged dynamic might be a better choice (vox on californication was recorded on an sm57 for example).

however in your case i'd do a few tests, try recording at different distances, see how much 'room' sound there is if you just record 'silence'. also make a few loud transient heavy sounds such as clapping at different distances from the ic and see how much you can hear the room you are in etc etc.

i'm not certain but i think a lot of the cheap computer mics have a very basic compression system in them as well, so it smooths out your voice. this is a big part of getting a good vocal sound.

if all else fails post a few 320 mp3's of each and we can have a listen and see whats going on!

locolobo85 · #7 10-17-2008, 08:24 PM

What kind of pre are you running the mic through?

Getting a good vocal tone is strictly a matter of taste and varies greatly from voice to voice. IMO, vocals require a good bit of fiddling around with the eq setting and finding the appropriate amount of gain. So, turn the channel up, start flat with the eq and find a sweet spot with the gain. Then start sweeping around with the channel eqs and tweeking the gain from time to time. Chances are you just haven't found that sweet spot that brings your voice, the mic and pre together.

I'll bet the farm that once you get it dialed in that mic will blow your computer mic away.

patzilla83 · #8 10-18-2008, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idResponse

i just use an sm58 for everything

+1 most of the time. i have some condensers i use for drum OH's and for overdubbing gtr's. they sound great with some singers, but the guitarist in my band sounds much better using an sm58 IMHO. we used a really nice vintage neumann when we recorded at an actual studio recently, and ended up going back and using a higher end dynamic (sennhieser 421, i think).

idResponse · #9 10-18-2008, 04:33 AM

yeah, i'm poor and can't afford nice mics so my sm58 works for everything.

actually, i have the 4 mic audio technica midnight blues set, three tom mics and a kick mic and those are pretty nice mics for the price! the tom mics almost emulate a 58 with slightly more bass response! the kick mic isn't really much of a kick mic, it might work real nice for bass cabs though, havne't had much time wiht it really. i use the MB's for vox a lot, and i love it. it's mounted on my desk mic stand right now.

my sm58 is beat to **** and still does the best recording vocals job ever... never a problem with it. if you don't have one yet you are seriously missing out on a great mic. classic. universal. indestructable. the sm57 sounds good and all but seriously, all the difference is is the housing and the windscreen between 57 and 58, so i choose the 58 because i'm not afraid to use it as a hammer in case i need one at a gig... YEAH! 58!

blipndub · #10 10-18-2008, 07:45 PM

I use sure mics and a cheap ATechnica or a 50.00 condensor from Apex. I'm not a vocalist and when I've used really nice tube mics they are just too nice for my purposes and I don't like the immediacy and detail they provide. not that I want to bury the vocals, I'm just ok with not sounding like Frank Sinatra.

JimmyM · #11 10-18-2008, 10:53 PM

In all my many years of playing, I have never seen anyone use one of those mics. Therefore, I must think that there's a reason for it. And though I've never used one, I would have to say that it probably sounds like crap

Agreed with everyone else...in the $100 range, the SM-58 is unbeatable for vocals.