how does one "mix" a cappella?

[hummingbird]

Quote:Hi Vicki!Justin has been very helpful --- I hope the mic you borrow works for you! Have you heard the John Fogerty song "Deja Vu All Over Again?" Great song. --- It makes me think of the last time you posted questions about recording vocals. "Get closer to the mic; Try a condenser mic; An SM-57 (although a great mic) isn't really made to record a woman's voice" etc. Maybe I dreamt that, but what of those suggestions have you tried?Just wonderin',Ern Hi Ern... I did hear those suggestions. I did record several songs gettin' closer to the mic - like an inch away in some cases. And I'm borrowing a condenser mic (just got it). With this particular situation, I didn't want to get too close to the mic cause then I feel like I can't sing with full power. I was also hoping to learn a little about compression/EQ & delay when it comes to vox, but I get that every case is too individual. I talked today to a friend who does sound for live concerts and has a fair bit of knowledge, we're going to arrange a time for him to come over and help me understand some aspects of production better. Because it isn't all about the mic - it's also working with the tracks afterwards. If none of that helps...I'm also considering just forgetting about recording anything but draft vocals or harmony vocals at home if I'm looking for broadcast quality. Once I have a song built up and all the tracks ready to go, there's a local studio with an engineer who could record my vocals and do a really good mix, at least for film/tv stuff. In the meantime, I'll concentrate on getting pieces composed & produced without vocals and schedule some sessions with that friend in September.H

[ernstinen]

Quote:With this particular situation, I didn't want to get too close to the mic cause then I feel like I can't sing with full power.Gotcha! I remember when a friend of mine loaned me his dbx 160x compressor. After I found out what it could do, I told him "You saved my life!" I literally was thinking that I couldn't sing into a mic; that it was completely stifling my voice and my emotions. A good compressor is priceless --- It lets you go at it without THINKING about the recording progress. That is, after it's set properly. Since I'm an engineer, I could both sing and engineer at the same time. If that doesn't work for you, maybe you can have a musical friend come over and tweak the compressor parameters as you wail to your heart's content! Good luck,Ern

[hummingbird]

Quote:Vikki, another tip is to work the mic. I find getting closer to the mic will capture the nuances, and then you can pull away for the bigger larger parts. I also suggest vocalists work with 24-bit interfaces and leave lots of headroom by turning the gain down on the pre-amp. As long as you have a quiet sound card interface you can get good range, but still be close. I don't have a compressor on the input of my vocals, although it is something I would like to try at some point. 24-bits is a lot of room if you set the gain right and the noise is low.I think you might also want to try a condenser mic and see how that works with your voice. In a studio I think it would bring out details that would complement your voice nicely.Since I just discovered that the condenser mic doesn't work with my preamp (no phantom power), I'm back to hugging the mic closely with the input turned down until I get some bucks to upgrade. Sigh. Anyway, the takes I'm getting with the Shure close-up do have more bottom.

[og]

Vikki, you can get an ART Phantom III phantom power unit for about $50USD. I used one up until I got my new computer because the old one didn't have enough bus power to run a mic.

[hummingbird]

Quote:Vikki, you can get an ART Phantom III phantom power unit for about $50USD. I used one up until I got my new computer because the old one didn't have enough bus power to run a mic.Hi - thanks for that thought - I checked it out - doesn't look like it has USB interface... unless there's some other way to use it. I'm looking at getting a M-Audio Fast Track ProUSB Audio/MIDI Interface (with 2 Phantom-powered Mic/Line Inputs and Live Lite 4 Software) which will likely run me about $275. Then maybe in October I can swing purchase of a condenser mic. Upgrading my software to EWQLSO Silver Pro XP is also on my wish list.H

[mazz]

Vikki,The phantom power supply that og mentioned is just that, a power supply for condenser mics. It is not an audio interface or pre-amp.Good luck,Mazz

[og]

Yeah, you run your XLR in on plug, and another out to your interface or card. It doesn't do anything except supply power to the mic.

[hummingbird]

Quote:Yeah, you run your XLR in on plug, and another out to your interface or card. It doesn't do anything except supply power to the mic.gotcha. That would be cheaper! I'm picking either that or the M-Audio Fastrack Pro up tomorrow. I'm movin' up to the next level in vocal recording!

[Casey H]

Quote:How does one "mix" a cappella? Carefully.

[sgs4u]

Quote:Quote:How does one "mix" a cappella? Carefully. and with your eyes closed?