Help!!! Sound Distortion...

[linziellen]

Hi everyone,Having just bought a new computer we're delighted with the quality of everything including sound, the Cd player has taken backseat However, I've just discovered something scary; I have a couple of my own songs saved with Soundclick. Decided to give them a whirl and to my surprise the sound was distorted by a long shot and I sound almost like a... man!I'm certain I don't sound like that in real life and with my old computer I sounded just fine.Does anybody have any ideas as to why that might be?Thank you.

[mojobone]

Post a link to your Soundclick, please? Then we'll know if it's your computer or something related to the file itself.

[linziellen]

Good idea -http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... 849970Hope that works. The only song where I sound about right is "I Said La La La" the other two are pretty scary from where I'm sitting!Thank you.

[mewman]

I had a listen and don't think you sound like a man! How far away from the mic were you for "Answerphone"? I hear a lot of the room (your bathroom?). Download a copy of studio buddy from TAXI if you haven't already. It has a lot of useful information about mic placement, eq, etc..I liked the tunes!mewman

[linziellen]

OK, thanks for checking it out Mewman, from here it sounds most odd. I have a jazzy voice but that's taking the biscuit! Yep bathroom it was, I will have a look at studio buddy thanks.In the meantime if anybody does listen and thinks I sound a bit manly - please let me know! I don't want to scare people, not really.Linzi

[rld]

I don't think you sound like a man...you've got a sultry, bluesy voice.As mentioned, the problem sounds like the mic is far away in a reflective room. If you are placing a recorder in the middle of a room and singing, thats what it will sound like.

[bluntbeats314]

i had a listen too and i actually like the power of your voice. i'd love to try and clean that up a bit for you-i'm no wiazrd but i would definitely like the opportunity-it would give me some practice mixing such a rich voice. if this is something you like to do just pm me and i"ll give you my email.blunthttp://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=492752

[mojobone]

What I'm hearing sounds like a terrific voice poorly recorded; which means there's hope! (Woe to she that has nothing worth recording. ) Might want to find a better bathroom, though, as that one's not as flattering to your voice as it might be. It may help to experiment with placing towels or curtains behind either the singer's or the mic's position, and finding the right mic distance is critical. Use that to balance the vocal level with the room sound.I often work with singers that sing to the room, it's the first technique most singers learn. But singing on a mic is a different animal entirely; you have to learn to reduce your natural dynamics somewhat, because the effect is like singing directly into the listener's ear. You don't want to hurt anyone.The problems you're hearing may be related to the listening environment/ monitor situation as well. (assuming there's no technical glitch on your end that I'm not hearing)It's difficult to learn mic technique, when so few singers grow up with a PA system in the home. Most Karaoke systems for the home are too weak to be of much use. It helps if you have a practice system that let's you hear the amplified sound above what you hear from "inside your head". If you can tell us more about how the recordings were made; the mic, (is it cardioid, omni, or figure eight? if that made no sense, consult "Studio Buddy") recording device, etc. I'm sure some folks here can offer helpful suggestions.There's a terrific demonstration of the different techniques in the "Tony Bennett Unplugged" DVD, if you can find it in your area, on the song, "Fly Me To The Moon".http://www.amazon.com/Tony-Bennett-MTV- ... &sr=8-1HTH.

[linziellen]

Hi and thanks for the help and time so far. I'm fed up, I've got a whole lot more to do than trying to work out what's happening over at soundclick Recording quality aside, there's is still HUGE difference between the original (that interestingly plays from time to time) and the one I'm talking about here. I sent an email to Soundclick but haven't heard anything yet. I'm so confused. I tried to attach both links here but it didn't work.Oh and I'm recording in a French house (tiles, tiles, tiles) onto a Sony Cyber Shot camera with a broken, out of tune piano.While I'm at it, does anybody know of any midi-MP3 converters I could use for free. I'm only after something really simple. We managed to delete one I used on the old computer and I have no idea what it was or where it came from. It was just straight forward and easy to use.Thank you,(Frustrated) Linzi

[daniel481]

Hi Linzi,Quality sounds fine over here. I mean, it definitely sounds like it was recorded with a cheap mic, but it doesn't sound distorted or weird or anything...Not only that, but your voice is awesome! Really good. I especially like "I Said La La La". That's a great song and would really kill with the right production. If you end up getting the equipment that allows you to record good quality piano and voice, let me know, because I'd be into produce the backing tracks for you on that one and getting a great mix.As far as mp3 converters, have you tried just using Itunes? If you don't have it already, it's free, and that's a simple way to get it done.Dan