Community Forums Archive

Go Back

Subject:Recording Vocal Chain Advice
Posted by: johnsawan79
Date:3/11/2015 6:16:06 AM

Hi!, I am using Shure PG42 microphone for recording vocals, but I am a newbie up to now & barely able to record a good sounding vocals. I would like to ask for some advice. I have a usb YAMAHA MG16XU audio interface where i plugged the microphone. It has a comp. & 4 EQ knobs. Should I use them during recording or leace them all flat (12 O' clock)? if not how much values should be applied for each specially the compressor knob? I hope someone could give a sample of good vocal chain using free VST plugins also the correct way of chaining them. Does the (plugins) input & output direction from left to right or right to left?

I currently have the following free vst plugins at my disposal.

Kjaerhus Classic Bundle
Modern Plugins
Reaplugs
Bluecat's Bundle
MDA bundle
Terry West
The fish filetes
also the bundled plugins in Acid pro 7

Thanks!

Message last edited on3/11/2015 6:19:09 AM byjohnsawan79.
Subject:RE: Recording Vocal Chain Advice
Reply by: Chienworks
Date:3/11/2015 7:51:52 AM

Conventional wisdom usually says to make your recording as clean and pure as possible. You can always modify after the fact, but it's difficult to remove modifications you've already made to the signal.

On the other hand, if you're recording only vocals then it's often a good idea to eliminate the unused frequencies as they will only be adding extra noise. Some low end dropoff below 100Hz (unless you're a basso profundo sort of speaker) will eliminate hum and thumps. Some high end dropoff above 5KHz can help eliminate some hiss and sibilance. Don't go overboard or your voice will start sounding telephony instead of real.

About the only effects i add afterward are a very tiny amount of reverb if the recording is too dull.

Invest in a good pop screen! They're not that expensive, and they'll help eliminate all the "p" thumps. If you can't get one right away then make sure you talk over the microphone instead of directly into it.

Subject:RE: Recording Vocal Chain Advice
Reply by: johnsawan79
Date:3/11/2015 8:15:14 AM

Hi Chienworks, thanks for the feedback, so it means not to use the on-board compressor knob & keep all EQ at 12 o'clock? Sorry for this dumb question I'm really new to recording stuff... can you give some example how do I dropoff the frequencies you mentioned, which plugin is best for this type of job? I do have the pop filter yet my vocal recording does not seem to blend well on my mix.

Please hear the below link of my last recording & would love to hear you kind feedback & suggestions...

I used modern deesser & modern compressor on this track plus a voice effect from WOK, but I'm not quite happy with the results till now.

https://soundcloud.com/john-sawan/fallen-heroes

Message last edited on3/11/2015 8:15:59 AM byjohnsawan79.
Subject:RE: Recording Vocal Chain Advice
Reply by: Chienworks
Date:3/11/2015 8:59:04 AM

The dropoffs are normally done with the high and low EQ knobs on the mixer.

Subject:RE: Recording Vocal Chain Advice
Reply by: Geoff_Wood
Date:3/11/2015 6:50:49 PM

Yep, all controls at neutral (or Bypass if available). I can't imagine that a PG42 will be giving you 'excess frequencies', or even many frequencies that you want !

Apart from p-popping maybe. If there is a low-cut or HPF button, try engaing that.

geoff

Subject:RE: Recording Vocal Chain Advice
Reply by: johnsawan79
Date:3/14/2015 3:27:03 AM

Thanks for the tip :D

Go Back