Anyone out there know their stuff in the studio?

[Nadz1lla]

I'm looking for a new way to record vocals, namely I want to use a vocal recording mic in the studio like I would have on stage; in my hands and able to move about.

I have a great recording mic, but it's one of these ones you put in a bungee-held cradle and I need a pop-shield in front of it...so even if I did detatch the mic from the stand, I'd then be without the pop shield.

The way I usually record vox is: Mic into small mixer with phantom power, mixer into compressor, compressor into my soundcard.

I do get decent results for the really low budget gear I am using, it's me physically that lets it down. I'm much better at singing if I can move around, use my body a bit more (e.g double up when I need to etc) than if I have to stand in one position in front of a mic. I just find it incredibly limiting, not being able to move, and I don't get my power out how I would like.

I have seen clips of people using normal mics to record with (Lamb Of God, Fightstar, some others) but I'm guessing as they're able to get access to great equipment and engineers, then that's why their vocal recordings still come out well. Whereas if I plugged my PG58 in and went at it, I imagine even with this compressor in the chain the result would be none-too-pleasing.

Are there any mics that can still do the job without a pop-shield etc? I did see Charlie from Fightstar using an SM7 in the studio and he was singing with it as he would a normal stage mic.

Any little tips, cheats, or pointers towards cheap equipment I should be looking at getting would be great! :D

[Oli]

With vocals, some people (often, the more 'rock' side of music), struggle to get the performance when faced with a mic on a stand with a pop shield. You can get great results with just a SM58... as long as you get the performance down, then it almost* doesn't matter about the mic. You could even try setting up a mic on a stand, and just holding your normal stage mic.... sounds a bit daft, but you feel more at ease with it, even though you're not singing into it.

I'd suggest taking the compressor out of the recording chain- you can compress it after, but you can't take the compression off a recorded signal. One thing you may want to consider, is setting the compressor to limit (highest ratio, quick attack, fairly fast release, and threshold right up the top)... so that if you get a little bit too into the performance, and start singing with more volume, then you might still have a decent recording to use, rather than getting clipping.

All the 'standard' stage mics are fine to use without a pop shield. The shield on the mics themselves are pretty good at reducing plosives (p, d & b type sounds), so you shouldn't really have a problem.


* Of course it does, but a great performance is still going to sound good with a non-'studio' mic.

[Nadz1lla]

Thanks! Yeah someone told me a while back not to put the comp in the chain, do it later in Cubase with one of the comps on there. Rhapsody Suite? I think that was the name of the Comp he used.
I'll give this a go with my PG58, but I have been reluctant as...well, it's a £30 mic. We'll see I guess, hehe. Will give it a bash tomorrow!

I did look at some SM7's on t'interwebs, and they seem to go for a fairly reasonable amount, so if the PG really makes things nasty I can save up a bit and get something a bit more suited to the task.

Thanks again for the tips!

[Muttley]

Spookily last night I found this YouTube video of Devin Townsend recording vocals for his next album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuuRuL3HbHg

It looks like he's using an SM7B and they have the most ridiculous rejection pattern, so it almost doesn't matter that he's sitting there in the same room with the monitors cranking out.  Those mics are > £300 mind.

I've also read that he records vocals through a UA 6176 mic-pre/compressor/limiter.  One of those will set you back about £2k though.  ;)

If you're not compressing/limiting on the way in, make sure you leave enough headroom so the vocals aren't clipping anywhere.  May take a bit of practice.

TBH, as long as you're not getting too much other sound bleeding in to the recording (careful of handling noise too) it's gotta be worth a shot with whatever you've got.

Muttley

[Nadz1lla]

Aye pretty sure that's an SM7b, and thanks for stumbling across that, Devin is a massive influence!   :D

[MDV]

The choice of mic is a matter of taste and your voice - I've recorded volcals with an audix i5, because it was the best one I had for that guys voice.

But, you will still need a pop shield.

I suggest a mobile pop shield. I *guess* that if you get, say, (now bear with me here, this is a glimpse into the weird and wonderfull "MDVs world of I've-got-a-problem-so-I'm-going-to-see-what-I-can-fix-it-with-thats-just-lying-around-the-house"; dont laugh, if shite works, then its good) a roll of sellotape, make a pop filter from that and  a sock (I have done this, it does work), and attach it to a hand-held mic of your choice with some card or plasctic or whatever, and tape, then you have a mic you can treat as a stage mic that records like a studio mic.

Alternatively you can adjust your plosives so that sudden burst of air are eliminated. This has the added advantage of conserving breath and increasing control because you arent blowing your load on one word that needs a lot of wasted air. Mums a singing teacher, she has a full list of plosive replacements for live mic technique. You can only hear them in a mix if you know what to look for (if done well at least). I can get them off her, if you want?

[Nadz1lla]

Plosive control? Wow...I hardly have any other kind of control anyway, might not be able to master it, but what the hell, it's intriguing!  :lol:

A mobile pop shield sounds like a good way to go too, I tried some recording this morning with both PG58 and actually using my recording mic in-hand. Both sucked, lol, but doing the comp in cubase helped a little. Still doesn't compare to the results I get with my normal set-up at the moment, but my normal set-up doesn't help realize my full vocal potential. I'm sure if I'm clever I can adapt my existing shield and try that.  :?

[maverickf1jockey]

Personally I would have used lingerie rather than a sock but it would work just the same and I suppose it wouldn't smell too bad if you made sure it was washed thoroughly first.

[MDV]

Sent mum an email for the stuff, and any other advice

[Nadz1lla]

Thanks dude, much appreciated! Anything I can do to up my game will be great.  :D

[MDV]

No bother. Will keep you posted.

[gwEm]

i like oli's first post

with the pop shield, it is possible to adjust your vocal technique to minimise popping.

i use an sm57 for my vocals, it may not be the best choice, but i like it.

[MDV]

This is what mum said

"my experience is:  You need a proper studio mike, and you sing as close to the mike [as possible] with a proper pop guard.. I f you need the comfort of a mike in your hand, do what Mick Jagger does and pretend.  Consonants to soften are: S - make it z or don't pronounce it at all.  T should be D, P should be B, F should be V, H is very breathy, so should be silent, Singing for recording will be part of my syllabus when I start taking pupils again.  The main thing is to avoid distortion and be prepared [by this, having deivered joint masterclass sessions with her and seen the singing parts, means map the song out fully, mainly to know exactly how and when youre going to breathe], think about the meaning of the words and put your heart into it."

She had to contradict me, didnt she? Well, shes recorded much more vocals than I have, what can you do.

[Nadz1lla]

Wicked MDV, thanks for that, very cool stuff! Could you pass me thanks on to your dear Ma for me please?  :)

[MDV]

Wicked MDV, thanks for that, very cool stuff! Could you pass me thanks on to your dear Ma for me please?  :)

Quite welcome, will do.