|
I thought I would start with recording vocals. Why vocals I hear you say? Well, for me, if it's a song, then the vocal is the most important item in the mix. It is the thing that everyone listens to. They will miss the harpsichord in verse 2 or the tambourine in the chorus but if the vocal isn't great, the whole project is doomed I tells ya !! Doesn't matter if you have Steve God on the drums and Paddy Pastorius on bass, if the vocal doesn't cut it, you can forget it! So, for songs think vocal, vocal, VOCAL !!
Recording Vocals
Ok...here is what you are going to need: 1. A fairly dry acoustic recording space. Not too large with little or no reflections, should sound fairly dead when you clap your hands. 2. A good microphone for the purpose. Here is a list of mics I have used successfully in the past. It's a good idea to experiment with the singer and see what sounds good / suits their voice. Condenser Microphones: Neumann U87ai or U47 or U67 or M49 Telefunken Ela M 251 or AR 51 AKG C12 or C414 Sony C800G Sanken CU41 Shure KSM 32 Microphones by Brauner, Gefell and Rode
Dynamic Microphones:
Shure SM7 (B)
RCA DX77 AEA R 84 or R92 Royer R121
The Dynamics are fairly rugged, the Condensers require a degree of tenderness and the Ribbons are very fragile. It's quite possible to damage a Ribbon just by blowing into it or leaving the phantom power turned on while plugging in. Valve or Tube mics can be particularly good on vocals. They produce a 'warmer' sound that can help in the sterile world of digital recording. Valve mics come with their own power supply and cable. Can be expensive but worthwhile to hire for a day or two for vocal sessions. A really good pop shield is a must too....the Condensers and the Ribbon really suffer with plosives and harsh consonants like P's, T's and C's.
3. A good Preamp is a must. Microphone signal level is low and needs to be amplified to Line Level so it can be recorded properly. Preamps come in Valve or Solid State topology, with or without transformers. It's worth experimenting and depends hugely on the microphone, singer and type of vocal performance ie., Rock, Ballad, etc. Here are some preamps I have used and can recommend.
Mic Preamps:
Avalon AD 2022 Focusrite ISA one API 3124 Universal Audio 710 or LA 610 Millennia HV3-C Manley Vox Box
Some preamps amplify the signal and do nothing else. Others can add equalization and compression. You pays your money and makes your choice! Unless you know the singer and have recorded that voice many times, go for a clean, 'flat' sound. I would avoid equalization but would add a wee bit of compression on most singers. The goal is to get the performances into your DAW and then do whatever work you feel is necessary afterwards. Keep the song in mind and remember the goal is to make the vocal sit well in the mix. We'll talk about this in Module 2.
4. Compression
I often use compression when recording vocals. It allows me to record at a decent level while smoothing out the levels the singer produces. I don't go mad with it, just a little does the trick. Later if you need to add more you can but if you hit it too hard, you are then stuck with that ! Most of the compressors I like for vocals use an Opto-coupler (Opto-isolator) in the design. Here's a few compressors for vocals I like:
Universal Audio 1176LN or LA2A Fairchild 670 or 680 Tube Tech CL1B DBX 160A orig
5. In order to minimize the amount of 'room' you are picking up on the mic, consider using blankets, duvets or any soft furnishings to soak up whatever reflections you can hear on the mic. It might be worthwhile purchasing a Reflexion Filter Vocal Booth as seen here: http://www.seelectronics.com/reflexion-filter-pro
Ok....so that covers off what you are going to need for recording vocals and so to the job itself...where to start? I am going to suggest the recording chain that I use after all these years. It might be a good place to start for you too.
Click here for a blow by blow on recording the lead vocal. |
|
