Reply With QuotePost the tracks so people can listen, any comments will be wild guesses and probably send you on a lengthy Goose chase.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Vocal Mix
Hi. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on mixing vocals: I have some very well produced karaoke tracks that I am trying to add vocals to. I want a very dry vocal sound but they seem to sound too close up and seperate from the music regardless of what I do (compress, limit, equalize, etc.) I even tried to use an exciter plugin to brighten the track up a bit to match the music. It still doesn't sounds right.
I'm using:
Shure SM7
into a Manley Dual Mono Mic Pre
into a Manley Opto Leveling Limiter
into a MOTU 896 HD
into Adobe Audition
I'm using PC
Thanks.
Post the tracks so people can listen, any comments will be wild guesses and probably send you on a lengthy Goose chase.
To me even before listening it sounds like you're trying to do something that's extremely difficult.
Adding dry sounding vocals to an already processed track. Best guess without hearing anything would be to play with pre-delay on a good verb and run almost 100% wet signal w/ minimal dry. You can eliminate that reverberant sound but it allows for timbre and timing adjustments that can help.
Sometimes timing is the bigger factor.
Phil
Phil
RO Vocal Booth Moderator
"Talking about music is like dancing about architecture!"
You are using a nice, first-rate, top shelf, recording chain. Not your everyday karaoke signal chain. That's a hit record recording channel you have there. Impressive! I've never been much of a Manley woman myself. But I digress I'm undressed.
Just as has been indicated here, trying to match a dry vocal to an already mixed, process, enhanced, mastered track means; you'll have to do likewise in order to get the vocal to fit. What makes you think in this situation LESS IS MORE? Just because I keep ranting about that? I didn't think you took me so seriously? It doesn't always hold true when you find your self so far down stream, already in the process. Much as you have indicated. Plus, I actually believe, your folks are slightly too close to the capsule of your SM 57. About 3 inches of foam on the end of that microphone would be a good thing. Not pantyhose Popsicles. Plus you've probably not engaged any kind of "high pass", low-frequency rolloff to compensate for the SM 57's proximity effect? It will never sit correctly that way. So it's not so much boosting mids and/or highs. You'll find it's more about lowering lows. And you'll now have to experiment some weather you accomplish that before or after compression/limiting. You get different results both ways and you may want to use both ways. So you may find yourself rolling off low-end plus compression. Adding some mid and/or high-frequency equalization & compressing and/or limiting again. You'll also find yourself adding some pre-delays and/or some stereo digitally generated room ambience to those naked vocals? That's the cost of doing business with pre-produced karaoke. If you're going to play with the Chinese you have to think like the Chinese. Remember you want your vocal to Kung Pow, without the peanuts.
No nuts in my food. Get out of here you nuts.
Ms. Remy Ann David
Without hearing the track, "too close up" sounds like you need some reverb - early reflections, specifically. You don't need something with a "wet" sound to add space to your vocal.
Use a 'verb that lets you separate early reflections and late. Listen to the "space" in your karaoke recording and try find a matching 'verb for your vocal. Then dial down the late reflections - turn up the early reflections if you need to move the vocal back into the mix.
"Ambience" plugs might also help - which basically add early reflections. I've used Room Machine 844 on occasion (freebee). http://www.silverspike.com/?Download
As Remy says - backing off the mic and capturing some natural early reflections will help too.
Thank you all for taking the time to help me out with this. I'm putting all your advice to work and things are sounding much better! I'm also in the process of setting up a site that will contain some audio material so hopefully I'll have some samples soon.
Thanks again!!
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks