How do you record vocals at home?

[yourdj]

Hi im doing a track for my girlfriend and im having a problem recording the vocals?

i get allot of background noise and it sounds like im in my bedroom :p
I have tried it in the cupboard (with clothes in) and thats a bit better?
Bathroom too.

Im using a wired sure mic and my wireless akg one. this is being routed through a small 6 channel mixer and straight in to the mac.

any tips would be great? I will try to put some clothing over it or something :confused:

I do not have much time as im producing a video too (waiting for camera from ebay) and her birthday is on thursday.
Should have it on time. Shes in spain so its a youtube job. :)

[NKR]

Firstly you need to be in a bigish room with some kind of baffles/bass traps to reduce sound bounce (otherwise you sound like you are in the bog).

Second you need your mic on mic stand with a pop filter in front of it to cut out other background noise and the sounds of vocal artist taking breath.

I come out of my desk into a Tascam MD player. Takes a bit of fiddling with levels to ensure a nice balance, but works okay - also use this for live recording when at gigs. Make sure you are using a decent desk too otherwise its going to be difficult to get a decent sound.

Run the MD player through a Beringer USB Interface UCA202 into Audacity and then can play about with the levels some more and clean it up a wee bit. Then convert to MP3 and you are laughting.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Didn't Mark Bellshill use a condenser mic to record himself singing recently?

[James]

a noisegate might help

If you've got limited equipment, then an audio editor like soundforge might help as you can remove hiss/rumble etc. with that

try and record the vocals dry (without any effects) and without any eq, and do all your editing at the end.

[NKR]

Didn't Mark Bellshill use a condenser mic to record himself singing recently?

That is the ideal situation using a condensor mic in a shock frame, but that is not a cheap option. Plus your desk then requires phantum power, which most good ones have, but maybe not small six channel ones that yourdj has.

[csg]

the most important factor in recording a vocal voice-over track will be room acoustics and technique, NOT equipment

Generally for voice dubbing or anouncement recordings, you want a dead acoustic, free from reflections and boom.

this generally means a relatively small space with plenty of things like soft funishings to absorb reflections - cushions, sofas, curtains, bookshelves etc are ideal

Next, mics - there is no need to use a condensor mic in a shockmount here. Most pro voice dubbing studios generally use dynamics here ( electrovoice RE20, Shure SM7, Beyerdynamic M201 etc). Make sure the mic is on a stand rather than handheld

A pop screen is a good idea - if you dont own one, you can make one easy enough using a wire coathanger and a couple of pairs of tights...

Get the mic as near as possible to the artist, but make sure that the mic does not clip when at max. input from the artist - pfl on the mixer using your ears to detect distortion.

Suspension mounts wont make any difference unless you have a lot of background vibration - ie traffic rumble, people moving around the studio etc. Generally, for voice over recordings, your dynamic range will not be high enough to worry about

Gain structure is vital - get who ever is performing to talk at the level they will use - pfl the channel, and set the gain so it is just below clip when the artist is as loud as they will go.
If desired, insert a compressor into the channel to catch peaks - set a fast attack, fairly fast release time with a ratio of maybe 4:1 ( as a starting point)

Noise gates can be usefull if you cant get the background noise low enough, but they are difficult to get " just right"

Adjust the output levels from the mixer so the mixer is just below peak on the loudest transients - this will ensure you have the maxiumum signal to noise ratio
Again, just like the mixer, adjust the level inputs of your recorder so that peaks are just below clip level.

so, in short, dont worry about what kit you are using, technique, skill and methodical working will produce a much better recording than any posh kit and poor technique can - to use an old phrase, its not what you have, its what you do with it

[rob1963]

try and record the vocals dry (without any effects) and without any eq, and do all your editing at the end.

Seconded.

A couple of years back I recorded a number of comedy sketches for a friend's internet radio show.

I used a very cheap mic like this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COMPUTER-PC-DESKTOP-MICROPHONE-MIC-GEMBIRD-BEIGE-NEW-/170327457060?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Collectables_InputDevices_RL&hash=item27a84ebd24

However, I recorded the vocals dry using Audacity. All the production was added afterwards...and the quality was amazing!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I use an Alesis USB Microphone and record straight into Audacity DRY. Then I save as a .wav file and input into Adobe Audition and add the effects there.

The Alesis USB Mic came as part of a Podcasting I got for christmas and it's actually very good. Straight into the laptop and no need for mixers or anything else. It works for me.

[yourdj]

Thanks for the help.

Look like audacity and a coat hanger and tights is is the key for me at the moment. :p Does audacity come for mac or is there anything else?

I have done voice acting stuff before but they have posh booths and nice mics. All he had was a small professional booth (no bigger than a wardrobe) and a decent mic.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Audacity is available for Mac as far as I know.
Google it.

[Starlight]

the most important factor in recording a vocal voice-over track will be room acoustics and technique, NOT equipment

Generally for voice dubbing or anouncement recordings, you want a dead acoustic, free from reflections and boom.

this generally means a relatively small space with plenty of things like soft funishings to absorb reflections - cushions, sofas, curtains, bookshelves etc are ideal

Next, mics - there is no need to use a condensor mic in a shockmount here. Most pro voice dubbing studios generally use dynamics here ( electrovoice RE20, Shure SM7, Beyerdynamic M201 etc). Make sure the mic is on a stand rather than handheld

A pop screen is a good idea - if you dont own one, you can make one easy enough using a wire coathanger and a couple of pairs of tights...

Get the mic as near as possible to the artist, but make sure that the mic does not clip when at max. input from the artist - pfl on the mixer using your ears to detect distortion.

Suspension mounts wont make any difference unless you have a lot of background vibration - ie traffic rumble, people moving around the studio etc. Generally, for voice over recordings, your dynamic range will not be high enough to worry about

Gain structure is vital - get who ever is performing to talk at the level they will use - pfl the channel, and set the gain so it is just below clip when the artist is as loud as they will go.
If desired, insert a compressor into the channel to catch peaks - set a fast attack, fairly fast release time with a ratio of maybe 4:1 ( as a starting point)

Noise gates can be usefull if you cant get the background noise low enough, but they are difficult to get " just right"

Adjust the output levels from the mixer so the mixer is just below peak on the loudest transients - this will ensure you have the maxiumum signal to noise ratio
Again, just like the mixer, adjust the level inputs of your recorder so that peaks are just below clip level.

so, in short, dont worry about what kit you are using, technique, skill and methodical working will produce a much better recording than any posh kit and poor technique can - to use an old phrase, its not what you have, its what you do with itGreat sound (no pun intended!) advice here. You obviously know what you're talking about! ;)



a pop filter in front of it to cut out other background noise

This is NOT true at all. A pop filter basically softens plosives like p's etc. A pop filter will never cut out background noise.

Furthermore, another handy tip is to get your duvet bed cover and cover yourself and the mic (which ideally you want to mount it on a basic mic stand). Though it tends to get a bit hot after a short period but the results can be good.

I'm a voiceover artist based just outside Oxfordshire. I've got a Yamaha AW1200 hard disc multi track recorder which is hooked up to my Dell and I also use an Audio Technica AT4033 condenser that sounds very bright and crisp and of course Adobe Audition 1.5. If you'd like to pop down for an hour to record your stuff (for free), you're more than welcome to pop down, I'll stick the kettle on though I dont do b&b lol! ;)

Hope this helps ;)

Neil.

[Mark Wild]

Didn't Mark Bellshill use a condenser mic to record himself singing recently?

Yes mate he did :)

I used a shock mounted MXL990 with a metal pop shield to reduce sibilance, this is hooked up to a Novation Nio usb Interface which gives phantom power to the condensor mic. All used with Adobe Audition (not cheap but VERY slick software), you can get some great results nowadays for next to nothing money wise.

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/44163-mxl-990-condenser-microphone.html/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=base

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/28195-novation-nio-2-l-4.html/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=base



That is the ideal situation using a condensor mic in a shock frame, but that is not a cheap option. Plus your desk then requires phantum power, which most good ones have, but maybe not small six channel ones that yourdj has.

It never used to be a cheap option, but I think you'll find it is now ;)



Furthermore, another handy tip is to get your duvet bed cover and cover yourself and the mic (which ideally you want to mount it on a basic mic stand). Though it tends to get a bit hot after a short period but the results can be good.


:lol: Sounds like a nightmare.

[Starlight]

:lol: Sounds like a nightmare.

Haha yeah! :lol:

Neil.

[OllieJames]

I use a Rode NT1a and ProTools for VoiceOver and recording people's vocals. Neil's advice about the duvet does actually work quite well... Although slighty impractical! Id suggest trying a small space, with as much soft furnishings as possible.