Away in a Manger

[squidlips]

Eq your voice with as full low-end as you can get without it muddying up. Get it as full as you can. Push the envelope. Exaggerate, experiment. You won't like the results on tape but you can then eq out what you need to and see from there what settings you can use so as to cut back next time and get it a bit closer. I still tend to edit more after, which for me costs bucks but going without that low-end is like cutting off my lungs. I know I'm mostly alto but I've still got my upper register and it really needs that full-bodied sound, even more than my lower register. Same as you. It also helps give you that full-bodied, warm tone that I can tell you really have. You've got a lovely lyrically clear tone but it's got warmth in it that isn't getting onto the track.Does this help? Get all risky on me.

[hummingbird]

On this particular song I was going for sweet. I'm going to record again with vocal booth, without pop screen, extra foam on the mic, play around... will post again when I have something to work with.thanks Michael & Squid for all the listens & suggestions.cheersHummin'bird

[hummingbird]

Hi Michael - these are the settings right now... on the first mix that I posted. There is 0 reverb on the raw vocal and the 2nd mix.Reverb for the lead vocal is set at:Room Size - 2 (default is 4)Damping - 50% (default)Wet Mix - 0.00 dB (default)Dry Mix- -INF dB (default is 0.00 dB)Width - 100% (default)mode - Normal (default)The Shure SM7b is a dynamic microphone. "The mic has two switches for controlling the frequency response. One is a Bass Rolloff selector. One position of this switch provides a flat low frequency response & the second position provides a gradual low frequency rolloff. The second switch is a Mid-Range Emphasis (presence boost) switch. One position of this switch provides flat mid-range frequency response and the second switch raises the level of the mid-range frequency response." I recorded with those switches where they were when I took them out of the box. Should I try for a bass roff-off & a presence boost in the mids?cheersHummin'bird

[squidlips]

Absolutely, I'd give that a shot, Vikki. I'd try that mic out in any possible combination you can think of and go with the one that rounds your voice out the most.

[hummingbird]

Okay. Gives me something fun to do on a Sunday afternoon... after struggling with my usual scheduling of students!

[hummingbird]

Okay, here's a new version, with new mic settings ++mid-lift & --bass. Think it's better. I also have done some reading on EQ & mic positions, & made notes of suggestions from Michael & Aub... so here's what I have now. [There *may* still be a hum, I did record in my 'booth' (this mic is supposed to be engineered *not* to pick up the hum)] For comparisionRaw vocal -- http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... rueVersion #1 -- http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... rueVersion #2 -- http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... ue*Version #3 (new recording + new mic setting + new Efx) -- http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... tream=true

[daniel481]

Just to chime in real quick, I wanted to say that on my SM7B (which I use for all of my vocals), I always have the bass rolloff switched on, but everything else flat. Of course, that could differ from voice to voice, but it works great for me, and I've been able to get great tones by singing very close to the mic. I literally have my lips on the foam screen a lot of the time! I do tend to use a fair amount of compression in the mix with a bit more eq (generally cutting the lows a bit more, and cutting a bit around 500) and do find I need to use a de-esser with that mic fairly often, but it's worked miracles on both myself and a lot of other singers!Just thought that might interest you Dan

[squidlips]

Much betta Vikki.You usin' any compression? Cuz you really don't need any at all or very little. It's much better. I'm still not a fan of that verb sound.....it doesn't sound like natural room verb, which is all that's required these days. Something it took me a while to get used to, myself.I like it! You're getting there!

[hummingbird]

Quote:Much betta Vikki.You usin' any compression? Cuz you really don't need any at all or very little. It's much better. I'm still not a fan of that verb sound.....it doesn't sound like natural room verb, which is all that's required these days. Something it took me a while to get used to, myself.I like it! You're getting there!Compression - a slight bit when recording. None added later.Verb - is set as room size 1, wet mix -inf. I could turn it off altogether.I think I have this mic set up better for me. However, I still think the Neumann picked up more of the nuances in my voice.

[squidlips]

I think you're right about the Neumann's sensitivity and range but this one is doing the job and for a fraction of the price too. It's a beautiful thang. I dunno about the verb.....it seems more pronounced than room setting. Must be my speaker system. Good job on the compression. Classical singers don't need much at all.I think you've got a winner here.