Vocals: Single vs. Dual Channel Mono? -ACID Product Family

Subject:Vocals: Single vs. Dual Channel Mono? Posted by: spinweb Date:7/27/2006 11:12:19 AM I'm trying to figure out why my old vocal tracks sound better than my new ones as I attempt to finish an old tune. I'm using the same mic. One thing I figured out is that for my old tracks, I had both channels receiving vocal signal. In other words, I thought it was stereo, but it was just two-channel mono, as my input into the sound card was a stereo mini plug. However, now, I'm using a single channel mono signal. To get it I'm using a 1/4 guitar cable's jack into the Digi002 rack. Question: Could this be why the old tracks sound fuller? Should I somehow split the signal into two channels of the digi002 rack? Thanks, Rick
Subject:RE: Vocals: Single vs. Dual Channel Mono? Reply by: nutrapuppy Date:7/27/2006 12:07:44 PM What kind of mic is it? You say you had it connected to a stereo mini plug, but now you are using a guitar cable. How does the mic output get to a guitar cable? Are there any other adaptors involved? My guess based on your description is you are sending a mic-level signal (low level, expects low resistance) into a line-level input (expects to see high level, has high resistance). You were using a mic preamp input on the old sound card. I do not use the 002, but judging by a pic of the back panel, you need to use a true XLR balanced mic cable to access the mic preamp. The dual mono signal split situation you had before probably doesn't have much to do with this particular issue. Good luck!
Subject:RE: Vocals: Single vs. Dual Channel Mono? Reply by: spinweb Date:7/28/2006 2:16:03 PM It's a good mic. Neumann TLM103. Old setup: Mic into phantom power (PP), out of PP into K4, High gain out of K4 into stereo mini plug, into Echo Indigo I/O soundcard. New setup: Mic into phantom power (PP), out of PP into K4, High gain out of K4 into 002 analog channel 5. I might do some experiments on the mic/recording quality this weekend. Something was better about the old takes... the room I was in? (the effects seem to be the same), the settings on the K4 (not likely to be it), etc. The newer takes sound flatter. And throwing a lot of reverb on them doesn't seem to be the answer. I won't give up... in search of a good vocal sound! Thanks. Rick
Subject:RE: Vocals: Single vs. Dual Channel Mono? Reply by: JohnnyRoy Date:7/28/2006 3:11:28 PM I doubt two mono tracks vs one mono track would make a difference. If you used a different room that would definitely make the sound different. The Echo vs the Digi002 will also color the sound differently. Of course, proximity to the mic or a different pop filter will also change the sound. ~jr

Subject:Vocals: Single vs. Dual Channel Mono?

Posted by: spinweb

Date:7/27/2006 11:12:19 AM

I'm trying to figure out why my old vocal tracks sound better than
my new ones as I attempt to finish an old tune. I'm using the same mic.

One thing I figured out is that for my old tracks, I had both channels
receiving vocal signal. In other words, I thought it was stereo, but it
was just two-channel mono, as my input into the sound card was a stereo
mini plug. However, now, I'm using a single channel mono signal. To get it
I'm using a 1/4 guitar cable's jack into the Digi002 rack.

Question: Could this be why the old tracks sound fuller? Should I somehow
split the signal into two channels of the digi002 rack?

Thanks,

Rick

Subject:RE: Vocals: Single vs. Dual Channel Mono?

Reply by: nutrapuppy

Date:7/27/2006 12:07:44 PM

What kind of mic is it? You say you had it connected to a stereo mini plug, but now you are using a guitar cable. How does the mic output get to a guitar cable? Are there any other adaptors involved?

My guess based on your description is you are sending a mic-level signal (low level, expects low resistance) into a line-level input (expects to see high level, has high resistance). You were using a mic preamp input on the old sound card. I do not use the 002, but judging by a pic of the back panel, you need to use a true XLR balanced mic cable to access the mic preamp.

The dual mono signal split situation you had before probably doesn't have much to do with this particular issue.
Good luck!

Subject:RE: Vocals: Single vs. Dual Channel Mono?

Reply by: spinweb

Date:7/28/2006 2:16:03 PM

It's a good mic. Neumann TLM103.

Old setup: Mic into phantom power (PP), out of PP into K4, High gain out of K4 into stereo mini plug, into Echo Indigo I/O soundcard.

New setup: Mic into phantom power (PP), out of PP into K4, High gain out of K4 into 002 analog channel 5.

I might do some experiments on the mic/recording quality this weekend. Something was better about the old takes... the room I was in? (the effects seem to be the same), the settings on the K4 (not likely to be it), etc. The newer takes sound flatter. And throwing a lot of reverb on them doesn't seem to be the answer.

I won't give up... in search of a good vocal sound!

Thanks.

Rick

Subject:RE: Vocals: Single vs. Dual Channel Mono?

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:7/28/2006 3:11:28 PM

I doubt two mono tracks vs one mono track would make a difference. If you used a different room that would definitely make the sound different. The Echo vs the Digi002 will also color the sound differently. Of course, proximity to the mic or a different pop filter will also change the sound.

~jr