Whats the best software for recording STRICTLY vocals?

I don't need soft synths, or a sampler, or virtual instruments or any of that jazz.

Just a SOLID, reliable multitrack type deal, for lacing vocals only.

Whats my best bet? Soundforge?

It wouldn't be Soundforge. It's not a multitracker.

Have you considered a hardware multitracker?

strictly vocals and nothinng else? it doesnt really matter. the main thing to look at is whether or not you are going to process them and edit blah blah blah... look for plug in compatibility etc., budget, sound card issues...

@Mesh

Why dont you break down your vocal process, I'm about to lay some vocals down for the first time at my home studio, I know what mics you got, so what kind of pre are you using and what do you do to the vocals after there recorded, your vocals sound clean, I likes em alot.

because my preamp is broken right now, i am pretty much using all plug ins for the sound i am getting. i have a night pro dual preamp that sounds real dope, but i havent been using it lately. i have a 828 interface(motu) which gives me my phantom power.

ok, so make sure you got a pop filter on the mic cuz nothing sounds more unprofessional than poppy P's. then make sure the mic is set up in a good spot. i use my bathroom a lot with a blanket over the shower curtain and a tall piece of acoustic foam to round out a corner. that is one of the biggest things. from the start you want to avoid any unnatural reverb which a bathroom can cause. play around with where you put stuff and the mic untill you find something you like.

once youre set up, try to record with a decent amount of headroom. i like to keep the peaks around -9dB. this keeps you clear of distortion.

so once you are done tracking, this is kinda the standard thing i do:
eq, preamp simulator with coloration and limiter, compressor.

the eq i roll the bass off around 40Hz, boost with a shelf at around 12kHz and then play around with it to see what i like depending on the mc. i like crispy vocals. you can also boost it with a bell eq around 16kHz for some extra crispiness.
Digital performer has a preamp simulator that i use. it is kinda like a channel strip. the main thing i use in there are the coloration emulator to add to the sound, and then the limiter. i am just knocking off peaks with the limiter because i am getting ready to compress it. so make sure you have a really fast attack and release time at this stage cuz you dont want to over squash it. dont attenuate much more than 5 or 6 dB.
Now adjust compressor with a typical vocal setting. not too quick attack, kinda slow release, about 3 or 5:1 ratio, and dont attenuate more than 6-9dB.
That s about it really. to save processing power i make an aux track with all those plugins on there and then group all vocal tracks through it.

just keep in my mind that with the limiter and compressor, start off with a very small amount of attenuation. those maximums are definitely that, you do not want to shoot for that amount, you just want to be on the look out for those numbers as a stopping pont. but you can tell with our ears what is right and what is too much.

let me know how it works out fo you. by the way, what mic are you using?

Damn Mesh, perfect!!! You know your stuff, I'm actually shopping around for a mic as we type, I'm going to Guitar Center later to pick one up for this weekand. Any recomendations for a $400 budg.

the audio technica 4050 is real dope. i think it may be like 500 tho. but check out some of their options. i got lucky and picked up my neumann for 550 when our mars music went out of biz. they sell for 975 now! i cant believe that. but uh, lemme think here for a good mic on a budget...

The Studio Projects C1 is a great inexpensive mic. The Electro Voice RE20 is an amazing dynamic mic and a longtime industry standard. I've got a Groove Tubes AM11 sitting here that is also damn good for the money.

Good luck hunting.

peace.

homershines

for phat drum sounds & samples
contact me at [email protected]-o-m

I read that Madonna wont sing into anything that doesn't have Antares Auto-tune on the other end.

ive had good experience with the cheaper akg and shure condenser mic's...(c4000b, c3000b) for akg, and the ksm 32 from shure, all are under 500 or just about. with the right preamp and knowledge you can make a mic at that range sound as good as anything.

egokilla wrote:I read that Madonna wont sing into anything that doesn't have Antares Auto-tune on the other end.

pretty much every singer you here today has some form of autotune on it. you can tell when they dont. sounds like doo doo. some of the bigger acts have an autotuner for every octave in their range! pussies.