recording/mastering vocals

So I just got into vocal recording. I have a tascam us-122 audio interface, a behringer b1 condenser mic and a simple sound proof area. My question is, is why do the vocals sound good before putting them in with the beat, clear, crisp, and impressive considering the price of the mic. Anyway as soon as I throw the beat behind it all of the sudden the vocals sound muddy, even after running a compresser/limiter and basic effects. What do I have to do to balance everything to get the crisp sound I'm goin for. Any tips and tricks for recording and mastering vocals would be appreciated...

Are you mixing your vocals in with the tracked out beat(so you can carve out a place for them to sit) or are you mixing them with a 2 track stereo beat file?

do you have an 80db hipass filter on? will keep out unneeded low rumble from mic stand etc

I'm using a beat that I resampled in my mpc before I got an audio interface so its just a single file, I have a shockmount for my mic and I'm running a high pass filter through ozone, for some reason tho both the vocals and the beat sound great seperately, but when they are mixed together they both sound dead. What's the best way to "carve" out a place for the vocals in a beat that's already "complete"? And if no one minds giving up their secrets what tips do you guys have for the application of compressors and other effects on vocals

there is also an arrangement issue here
assuming its easier to mute stuff from the beat than from the vocal: try to make things that are less important quiter when the vocal is busy.. also, instruments that share an important frequency range with the vocal, try lowering them in the instrument... i have no experience with this, but thats what id try first

eq is how you can "carve" your place for the vocals but thats easier with a track out not a stereo file... you can remove frequencies from your instrumental tracks to free up space for the vocal frequencies to shine you just need to know what range theyre both in... but honestly it sounds like youre just slamming them both too loud leaving no dynamics to the track.. you mentioned ozone.. are you using pro-tools? if so try bussing all your vocals(per person) to an AUX input using a bus for the output of your vocal channels and the input of the AUX that way all vocals can be compressed/eqed and over all tweaked as one that way you've got a stereo beat and vocal on two tracks and find the right balance between the two...

remember too lower is better the more quiet your mix is the louder it gets when you master(more headroom/less compression)