Tips on Vocal recording.....mics/preamps/pop filters, etc...

I'm in the process of doing some recording. If some of you could give me some tips on how you do your vocals I would appreciate it. Do you use a regular stage mic or a condenser mic? If you use a stage mic do you use a pop filter to help clear up the vocals? Right now I am using a stage mic, but I'm thinking of getting a condenser with a pre amp. Sometimes I think people get too caught up in making everything sound so neat and clean....I like to keep things simple and raw sounding, but I still want my vocals to sound good.....meaning, no pops or extra noise. So if you guys could give me some tips that you have used that work for you I would appreciate it.

Season

The most important thing more so than the acual Mic or Preamp your using would be good isolation. Obvioulsy things like a good condensor mic and preamp will give you a cleaner and fuller signal. But if you are recording the vocals in a place with ambient noise (or just noise in general), it will downgrade your vocal sound. Something that can kind of work is to hang heavy blankets on the walls around the mic. Basically anything to deaden the noise. Anything that bounces the noise back at the microphone is going to get picked up. This is usually undesireable when trying to record clean vocals. However you can definately get different natural sounding reverb and effects by recording in different rooms. Good to play around with once in a while but still I stress isolation. A pop screen can also definately make a difference. Some suttle compression can work as well but its usually a good idea to add this after you have tracked. Make sure whoever is spitting in the mic isnt really moving around and they are staying in somwhat of a consistant position while recording. I hope something in here helps you out. And of course if you have a sick preamp and microphone it will help you out in the end.

do you not like what you are recording already?

If you do like it, or are close, then see if you can't improve. Isolating the mic is a good thing to do. If you just aren't getting the sound, then maybe a condenser is the move. I've used the AT 4033, which is pretty good for the bucks, but of course it depends on what you have to spend.

drop the stage mic. Do what they said above. I like to record the compressed sound and not the raw sound. I heard this was better. Anyhow I have that crystal clear, warm, full sound. I couldnt ask for more.

if you got a walk in closet, you in good shape.purchase some studio foam from guitar center. tack that stuff to the wall of your closet and go to work!!!!

if you can't afford studio foam the quilts and comforters from your bedroom work wonders, try it. Sound isolation is your friend.

Mindtravel wrote: Something that can kind of work is to hang heavy blankets.

THE MATTRESS TRICK!!!

Don't forget monster cables. Dont sleep on the headphones that the artist will use because they need to hear what they do to adjust accordingly. I suggest sony's 7506. Great for recording vocals. There like a bill or somthing. Dont start mixing with those bad boys though.

of your questions can be answered in the new Electronic Musicians mag that is all about Mixing and Tracking vocals. I just finished reading it, and it will help you out a lot.