makin vocals sound better

i was wonderin what kind of effects or reverbs to use to make vocals stand out or just plain sound better. do i use compression? or just some general tips to recording vocals to make them sound rich, clear and profound

im just getting into recording, but compression will make them stick out more, sound more crisp. Are you using a pop filter? a lot of people starting out recording overlook the pop filter! If you dont have one, just take some panty hose and stretch em over a hanger-bam! you got a pop filter!

WWW.THGMEDIA.COM is the best thing I have come across it is very simple to use and makes it easy to attain great sounding recordings without having the knowledge to tweek the knobs like the pro's do..........hit the site and check the audio files you will here the difference.........if anyone cop's this from my man tell him PHATZ sent you

1. Start with the best mic and pre amp that you can afford.

2. On mix, roll off the bottom end with a hi-pass filter starting around 80hz and adjust upwards to taste. Be careful not to roll off too much or your signal will start to sound thin i.e. radio effect. If your vocal sounds boxy or muddy, cut around 320hz about -3db, adjust to taste. If your vocal is dull use a shelf eq on the Hi end starting anywhere between 4-8khz and boost 3-5 db.

3. Compress so that your reduction is aroud 3-5 db. Do not over compress or your vocal will start to sound dull. You'll have to play around with attack and release times depending on the material.

I mix mostly hip-hop and RnB. The trend as far as reverb is concerned is to use very little on lead vox. I usualy use a dark ambience or plate and apply just enough so that there is, for lack of a better way to explain sound, a halo around the lead vocal. You probably would only notice it if I took the effect off.

A trick I sometimes use is to add 30-50ms delay to the lead and pan the delay signal slight off-center. This has a thickening effect on the lead. Very subtle but effective way to get the vox to stand out. Do not add too much or it will start to sound like a corny slap delay.

I could go on and on, but I guess this is enough to start with.
These are only guidlines, your millage may vary. Always experiment.

yo ddot i really do appericate your response but .......hey dude all that roll the low filter pass the thingamagiaa and bosst the 380hzs all all that stuff sound like chinese to me. im not a tech head. so you got to explain very simply what it is your talking about. peace and love

My bad. What are you using to mix with and cut vocals?

magic studio software, a beringer ub2442fx mixer and a audio technica 3035. on the mic it has a low cut switch (whatever that means) it goes from a curve line to a str8 line. and t has a pad switch it goes from -10 db and can switch over to 0db. what is the best way to set the mic with these switches. thanks for your help

Science.
Nice choice with my man Wise.
That boy is bad! Doesn't get his props.
Put Trenton on the Map and made Philly happy too.

OK.
The low pass/low cut onn the mic will or should reduce low end bumps or pops when the person is too close to the mic or tap thier feet or tape he mic stand. It gets rid of a lo tof low end stuff that you don't want.

The pad, reduced the overall volume of the mic by -10...meaning tht if you are recording somebody like...Busta Rhymes who is screaming and the levels are too hot, you hit that -10db and they aren't able to get that 10 db of volume. It's almost like a fader already pushed down 10db for you. Can be a life saver.

Bottom line: A decent mic(you got one) and a decent Mic preamp (I don't think you have one) will givce you great results.

(oh yeah) in hiphop people rarely use reverb for vocals.


Peace.

Science wrote:yo ddot i really do appericate your response but .......hey dude all that roll the low filter pass the thingamagiaa and bosst the 380hzs all all that stuff sound like chinese to me. im not a tech head. so you got to explain very simply what it is your talking about. peace and love

i think all that hz shit is the frequency on the eq. if you look at an eq it usually labels the frequency under the sliders/knobs. (i.e. 30hz, 60hz, 100hz, 350hz, 1khz, 50khz, etc...) shit like that

if that helps

Check this for more info on freqs and DB. A good mixdown reference.
http://www.ruggedbeats.com/productiontutoria.html

about 9 months ago i bought some studio foam. i payed like 300 bucks for this big ol box of the stuff. i got this somewhat large walk in closet so i stuck the stuff on the walls and made me a booth. my question is what does this do? keep sound out ? enhance the vocals? and if it does enhance the vocals how? i bougth the stuff cause every studio i went to had the booth insulated with it. im just lookin for some info

The foam does a good job on reflected sound and can cut some of the higher frequencies. But it does pretty much nothing to the low end sound. Usually you get a lot of low end when you record in that kind of situation if you aren't careful.

Peace.