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Hi all,

I am new to recording, using Garageband on mac. I am trying to record a vocal part that I want to have that high haunted choir vibe going on like the edward scissor hands sound track (you tube Danny elflam - Iceman)

I can pull it off for the first couple of notes but then I can't hit the notes . i want to know if there are any (preferably free or cheap) software / plugs ins that I can use on garageband that would like of let me do something similar to Logics Flex Pitch. Or some kind of way like on a midi instrument you can drag the blocks around to what note you want to hit. I have tried Garagebands pitch plugin and sang lower but it just takes away all of the natural elements of the voice and does not sound right, I just need it for the really high ones.

Any advice on how to nail this will be appreciated.

I have made some quick demos of the part using a synth, I rushed it so timings not bang on but you can suss the melody, there is also my vocal attempt in the 2nd track so you can hear where Im going wrong.

it starts at 30 secs in on each track (admin removed)

Click on the username to go the the soundcloud page and listen to the other vocal track

Im considering paying someone to sing it for me but hoping there is some way I can nail it using plugins or something.

Many thanks!

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Comments

dvdhawk Sat, 07/04/2015 - 09:28

Anyone remember the good old days, when if you needed a higher vocal, you just collaborated with other human beings and brought in someone with a higher voice? I personally like that option best. Vocal harmonizers and vocoders generally don't sound very natural in comparison.

If the part in question has no words, and is merely "Oooo" and "Aaaa" choral sounds, there should be abundant VST choices. The choral sound has been a staple sound in most synths and samplers since the 80's. Swimming in reverb as you've done, it should be perfectly acceptable for this sort of song.

However, if there are actual words, as I see it you've got two choices that meet your criteria, if it is out of your range (and it certainly is), AND you want natural sounding vocals.

Either enlist some help, as you've said, or transpose the song down into your vocal range. (bearing in mind taking the pitch down can influences the mood/feel of the song)

Do you ever hope to perform this song in front of an audience? Then what? Transpose? Sampler? Pre-recorded vocals? Pretty girl?

To each his own.

Good luck!

DonnyThompson Sat, 07/04/2015 - 10:47

He wasn't being "snotty". Nor was he ranting. He gave you realistic options... just because you don't like the options he presented to you doesn't mean that they still aren't valid.
He's a professional... and he understands that you can either sing a part, or you can't... and while there are tools available now that can help with that, if you can't afford those tools that can make that happen, then what do you want us to tell you?

Either transpose it down to a key where you can hit the notes, or practice your singing to where you can increase your range to hit the note you want to hit, or knuckle down and spend the money on the tools that can help you accomplish what you want to achieve.

There's no "magic button". If you are serious about wanting to accomplish that which you want, then get serious about solving the problem.

audiokid Sat, 07/04/2015 - 21:21

dvdhawk, post: 430370, member: 36047 wrote: Anyone remember the good old days, when if you needed a higher vocal, you just collaborated with other human beings and brought in someone with a higher voice? I personally like that option best. Vocal harmonizers and vocoders generally don't sound very natural in comparison

Exactly

dvdhawk, post: 430370, member: 36047 wrote: Either enlist some help, as you've said, or transpose the song down into your vocal range. (bearing in mind taking the pitch down can influences the mood/feel of the song)

Words of wisdom and advise.

dvdhawk, post: 430370, member: 36047 wrote: Do you ever hope to perform this song in front of an audience? Then what? Transpose? Sampler? Pre-recorded vocals? Pretty girl?

Again, not only words of wisdom, the best advise you could have ever gotten on this. Do you know why?
That would be the first thing I would ask you if you were looking for a record deal.
And you thought it to be snotty.
I listened to this track and I actually heard some potential in the music, but the voice was horrendous. The strings imo were also the wrong sound for this but the music itself could be really good with the right singer.
dvdhawk deserves the vote of respect on this one.

Kudo's Dave.

Rufio90210, post: 430356, member: 44172 wrote: Any advice on how to [[url=http://[/URL]="http://adesignsaudi…"]Nail[/]="http://adesignsaudi…"]Nail[/] this will be appreciated.

Rufio90210, post: 430356, member: 44172 wrote: Im considering paying someone to sing it for me but hoping there is some way I can nail it using plug ins or something.

hackenslash, post: 430361, member: 34898 wrote: Melodyne. It isn't perfect, and it takes a lot of careful work, especially in adjusting the formants, but it's extremely powerful. Not free or even that cheap, but it will do what you need. An old mucker of mine used it to turn a well-known metal singer into a girl, winning a competition in the process.

Indeed, not that this is the answer but you can use it again and again.

Rufio90210, post: 430371, member: 44172 wrote: Thanks for the Melodyne link, but unfortunately a little like Nectar 2 and Antares it is out of my price range

Rufio90210, post: 430371, member: 44172 wrote: Thanks for re iterating my questions and having a snotty nosed rant Dvdhawk

(n)
My opinion.
Get a good singer, find a better sound than the strings, keep working on this and learn to be respectful in a forum filled with seasoned professionals kind enough to listen and share their time and experience about your work in progress next time.
SC track removed as it was the wrong track to this OP in the first place and the thread has closed for obvious reasons.