The Song Fight Bulletin Board

I know this has been gone over a bunch of times, but I can't find the threads where It's been talked about right now.

I'm recording a rap song for this week's fight, and I recall that every single attempt I have made at adjusting the EQ on my vocals has been a horrible, abortive failure. This is probably because I just adjust the EQ randomly until I get something that sounds halfway decent to me. I was wondering if anyone had any specific tips for making my vocals not sound like crap. I'll happilly put up the tracks from my song if anyone wants to mess around with them.

Describe how you are recording them. What mic, pre-amp, effects, pop screen, etc.?

Generally try to get a strong and clear audio track. Then it's about how you want it to sit in the mix. But give us a little of your setup and method first. And link to examples that you feel are appropriate representations of what you like or dislike.

I'm using an M-Audio MobilePre USB with a SHURE Sm58 Mic with a pop protector on it. Editing the sounds in garageband. The vocal track I have currently recorded is not as clean as I would like it to be, but I'm going to wait a bit before re-recording because I'm sick and my voice will go if I don't take a break. As for examples of what I'm going for,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yaSzcXZKIQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qggxTtnKTMo
http://search.playlist.com/tracks/Do%20 ... ckalicious

Hope that helps. I've got all the tracks of the song separated now so I can give them to anyone who wants them.

Roymond asked all the right questions. A well recorded vocal shouldn't need all that much EQ.

I tend to roll off as much low end as I can for clarity, boost a little bit at 1.5K for presence and then a slight high shelf at 10K for "air".

Pretty much what Roy and Ken said. I'm no expert on this subject and I'm still experimenting. But I do know that it's hard to make a bad vocal track sound good, so it's important to have a good "vocal" mic. It doesn't have to be expensive, just right for the job. Then I'd suggest using a unit or plugin with some pre sets for different styles of vocal mixing and EQing. It will help train your ear.
Then I'd probably do some research on how some of your rap heroes record and mix. Copy their techniques. Double track vocals, delay, etc.

Thanks for all your help guys. I think I've got my track sounding pretty good. Although I'm not sure where to go to do research on the recording techniques of my favorite artists. Any suggestions? Asking google "How does blackalicious record" has not helped me one bit.

the various mix and productions magazines have searchable archives online.

I'd say, link us to a song where you like the vocals and let the good ears here at the mighty SF, me not included, possibly break it down.

illmuzik.com has forums for hip hop production you might find useful.

In addition to the songs I already put up links to, I'd really like to be able to emulate the syle of this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NztaNmiFPG4

Also, thanks for that link. I will check it out forthwith.

MC Minimum wrote:In addition to the songs I already put up links to, I'd really like to be able to emulate the syle of this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NztaNmiFPG4

Also, thanks for that link. I will check it out forthwith.

Sounds to me like a basic condenser mic with lots of compression. Could be the shitty youtube audio quality, though. But yeah, get an affordable condenser (MXL make some pretty decent sub-$100 large diaphragm condensers) use a pop filter, record in a nice quiet room so you can crank up the gain on your preamp, and stay about 6-8 inches away from the mic. Use a multiband compression plugin (which I can't give advice on, personally, I always just use a preset that sounds good, usually "Vocals" oddly enough)

I've never used GB, so I don't know what's included, but I'd imagine there's compression plugs with it?

Anyway, that's what that dude's vox sounded like to these ears. Don't overcomplicate this stuff!

A new mic isn't necessarily the answer just to add something else for you to consider. An SM58 is more than adequate to get a decent vocal track down. You need to make sure you're watching all of your meters first and foremost. Your pre-amp doesn't offer much in that regard (just "signal" and "clip") so just make sure the clip light doesn't goes off, at least not a lot. Others can advise whether this is important on the front end or not (your pre-amp) I don't worry about it as much because I have analog pre's and they are a lot more forgiving from what I understand. The point is you need to check your level on the GB end of things as well, because that's digital and has no forgiveness. There you need to make sure you NEVER clip or get into the red lights. That will give you a vocal track that can't be fixed with EQ. Lastly, when mixing always isolate your vocal track (listen to it without any music) and try to determine whether it's a distortion issue, a room issue or an EQ issue before you make adjustments. If it's distortion, re-record the track (unless you like that effect) and keep dialing the knobs on your gain back until that is removed. If it's a room issue, something like this might be the answer. If EQ is needed I recommend you start reading. Maybe your answer isn't in that link, but stuff is out there. This guy is really good and has had some success here as well.

Märk wrote:

MC Minimum wrote:In addition to the songs I already put up links to, I'd really like to be able to emulate the syle of this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NztaNmiFPG4

Also, thanks for that link. I will check it out forthwith.

Sounds to me like a basic condenser mic with lots of compression. Could be the shitty youtube audio quality, though. But yeah, get an affordable condenser (MXL make some pretty decent sub-$100 large diaphragm condensers) use a pop filter, record in a nice quiet room so you can crank up the gain on your preamp, and stay about 6-8 inches away from the mic. Use a multiband compression plugin (which I can't give advice on, personally, I always just use a preset that sounds good, usually "Vocals" oddly enough)

I've never used GB, so I don't know what's included, but I'd imagine there's compression plugs with it?

Anyway, that's what that dude's vox sounded like to these ears. Don't overcomplicate this stuff!

Garageband is as easy as buggery. Just set it to "Male Vocal" or "Male Rock Vocal" or "Live Vocal" - and forget about it. It may not be real good - but it makes you sound not terrible without being too complicated