okay, can someone please school me on what I need to record vocals properly

[N.U.G.]

whattup Illmuzik family,

I've got a real decent music PC. Up till now I've just been producing, now I want to record vocals as well.

Can someone please breakdown what equipment (obviously a microphone, but everything else too) and software is recommended.

thanks!

 

[Loose Cannon]

The mic will probly be phantom powered, so your gonna need a mixer thats got phantom power built-in.

Youll probly be runnin the tape out of the mixer to the input of the computer, then runnin the tape in of the mixer to the output of the computer. The reason for doin that is so you got the beat and the vocals runnin through the headphones.

I dont think you really need anything else besides cables after that.


Ive tried a couple different mic setups but the one i use right now is the easiest one ive had.
I got the behringer b-1 mic and the behringer ub802 mixer. Im gettin a pretty good signal through usin that. And it aint real expensive. I dont have any problems with it and ive been usin this setup for bout 6 months.


Let me know bout any questions you got.

 

[N.U.G.]

^^^^

cool, you got any tracks with vocals using this setup I could peep?

also what software do you use to record?

thanks

 

[eXampuL_oNe]

Also man, a good compressor and mic pre-amp is alwyas a plus... But, u can do this with software also, the only thing is it's better to have a hardware compressor because then you can re-compress the vocals in your software program and really make them shine! If you go to my page and listen to the track "the Game" that's when i didnt think i needed a hardware compressor and just used cool edit to compress... But your software you are using is also a big issue, some have better compressors than the others, i use logic 5.2 and those compressors are real nice.. Compression is definitly important on vocals because it evens the whole recording out so you dont have parts in the recordnig that are loud and then some that are quiet... u feel me?

 

[N.U.G.]

Also man, a good compressor and mic pre-amp is alwyas a plus... But, u can do this with software also, the only thing is it's better to have a hardware compressor because then you can re-compress the vocals in your software program and really make them shine! If you go to my page and listen to the track "the Game" that's when i didnt think i needed a hardware compressor and just used cool edit to compress... But your software you are using is also a big issue, some have better compressors than the others, i use logic 5.2 and those compressors are real nice.. Compression is definitly important on vocals because it evens the whole recording out so you dont have parts in the recordnig that are loud and then some that are quiet... u feel me?

yeah, I definitely feel you man

it gets kinda confusing to know exactly whats needed such as a mic pre amp and hardware compressor like you mentioned.

thanks for the info though

 

[DJFANTOM]

Basicaly what every 1 has told you so far. If you already have a goood sound card then a condensor recordin mic , a mixer with phantom power and mic preamp or a stand alone mic preamp or both like I have (ull need the mixer if ur hookin up more then your mic ) I also have my turntables and a keyboard hooked up to the mixer. A hard ware comresor is definately a benefit.

I have a presonus blue tube mic preamp ($60 bought used), art levelar tube compressor($50,@ pawn shop) samson co1 condensor mic ($70 new) and a phonic 6 chanel mixer ( $70 new)


As far as software its up to you some are content with cooledit/audition, Cubase is the best imho for sequencing. Protools is the industry standard. But ima tell you if you recordin vocals on a pc the best and easiest to use imho is SONAR 3 it has easy editin and mixin/routin but its pro software. Specificaly designed for pc.

Holla @ me if you need a "demo" of it. I work in harlem.

 

[N.U.G.]

Basicaly what every 1 has told you so far. If you already have a goood sound card then a condensor recordin mic , a mixer with phantom power and mic preamp or a stand alone mic preamp or both like I have (ull need the mixer if ur hookin up more then your mic ) I also have my turntables and a keyboard hooked up to the mixer. A hard ware comresor is definately a benefit.

I have a presonus blue tube mic preamp ($60 bought used), art levelar tube compressor($50,@ pawn shop) samson co1 condensor mic ($70 new) and a phonic 6 chanel mixer ( $70 new)


As far as software its up to you some are content with cooledit/audition, Cubase is the best imho for sequencing. Protools is the industry standard. But ima tell you if you recordin vocals on a pc the best and easiest to use imho is SONAR 3 it has easy editin and mixin/routin but its pro software. Specificaly designed for pc.

Holla @ me if you need a "demo" of it. I work in harlem.

thanks for the info DJFANTOM

just a quick question, is Cubase a decent option for recording vocals?

thanks

 

[DJFANTOM]

Yeah cubase is decent for recording vocals. Just me personaly I don't like the u I and the mixing environment. I know its excellent for sequencing hard ware (and soft synths) I've used logic 5 platinum (very complicated program) cubase , sonar 2, 3.1prod. Ed. And Protools and personaly I took to sonar. But if I was sequencing with cubase id definately use it to record vocals.

I suggest you try all the different programs. See which is more comfortable to you.

Protools tho is the all in all solution. Cecause its powerful recordin mixing , sequencing, and has a nice sound card (mbox) wit good preamps built in .

 

[N.U.G.]

^^^^^

yeah if I didn't already my Audiophile, I'd strongly consider MBOX

I think I'll try Cubase first as I really want to learn that program for all the things it can do. If I'm not happy with it I'll try Sonar

okay, it looks as though I need to go to the music store and buy me some equipment! Is ther an industry standard MIC?

 

[2_nice]

man......
seeing you won't have enough money for a crash hot preamp and probably don't have good acoustics )i.e tuned iso booth) i would recommend getting an electrovoice ev-27 you will need either a mixer or preamp (won't need much gain but will need high impedance as dynamic mics and guitars run on high impedance).......... electrovoice ev-27.... a bit expensive but REAL nice
about $400 u.s on e-bay

 

[DJFANTOM]

What's your budget for a mic ? The Rode nt1 was a very popular mic is most home studios. And even used I some small pro studios. Audio technica has a model that seems to be the nt1 of today. Forgot the model # but its the 1 they use on rap city the bassment with tigga in the booth (I know you know what im talkin about)

I believe its about $300 I might be wrong.
No disrepect to 2_nice but $400 for a dynamic mic . That makes no sense. If you wanna know the industry standard dynamic mic its the shure sm 58 ($100 new) not realy made for recording but it gets clear vocals when you record with it. And its the best budget vocal mic period imho.

Its even used by professional concerts and shows.

You can also find it cheap used.

Check out a site called newyork.craigslist.org its a buy sell site . I've bought and sold a few things on there. Lot of good equipment on there for cheap. And unlike ebay you meet the person sellin and buy it in person from them. Even get to test it 1st.

 

[N.U.G.]

What's your budget for a mic ? The Rode nt1 was a very popular mic is most home studios. And even used I some small pro studios. Audio technica has a model that seems to be the nt1 of today. Forgot the model # but its the 1 they use on rap city the bassment with tigga in the booth (I know you know what im talkin about)

I believe its about $300 I might be wrong.
No disrepect to 2_nice but $400 for a dynamic mic . That makes no sense. If you wanna know the industry standard dynamic mic its the shure sm 58 ($100 new) not realy made for recording but it gets clear vocals when you record with it. And its the best budget vocal mic period imho.

Its even used by professional concerts and shows.

You can also find it cheap used.

Check out a site called newyork.craigslist.org its a buy sell site . I've bought and sold a few things on there. Lot of good equipment on there for cheap. And unlike ebay you meet the person sellin and buy it in person from them. Even get to test it 1st.

awesome advice. I'd say I have a low budget right now, but if its going to be worth my while to go over my budget I will.

From your advice and what a few other people have said - it looks as though I'm goine to get either the "Rode nt1" or the "Shure Sm 58"

 

[N.U.G.]

as far as microphones, I'm actually strongly considering a RODE NT2 or RODE K2 or RODE NTK

if anyone has any advice about which is preferable then scream at me!

 

[DJFANTOM]

Yo N. U G. I got some good news for you.

I came across some 1 selling that audiotechnica mic I was talkin about on the site craigslist.org I was talkin bout.
Sellin for $230 its the model 4040 peep this link

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/msg/40860356.html

Also a friend of mine just imed me and asked if I wanted to buy his rode nt 1 mic. He selling for 150 which includes stand cable pop screen shock mount. Etc... Holla @ me on aim sn: djfantom .

 

[N.U.G.]

Yo N. U G. I got some good news for you.

I came across some 1 selling that audiotechnica mic I was talkin about on the site craigslist.org I was talkin bout.
Sellin for $230 its the model 4040 peep this link

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/msg/40860356.html

Also a friend of mine just imed me and asked if I wanted to buy his rode nt 1 mic. He selling for 150 which includes stand cable pop screen shock mount. Etc... Holla @ me on aim sn: djfantom .

thanks for helping out man, but I'm in Australia and will be buying from a music store down here. I appreciate teh gesture though

peace

 

[DJFANTOM]

thanks for helping out man, but I'm in Australia and will be buying from a music store down here. I appreciate teh gesture though

peace

No problem. Any time.
And I thought you were in Harlem. You should realy change your location in your profile thing there. All this time I thought you were in NY.

 

[N.U.G.]

word, sorry about the location thing. It's a long story of why it says what "Harlem World"... I'mma change it in a minute anyway