Skip to main content

Hey!

I record with a Behringer C-3 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone at home. And I don't have an acoustically treated space to record in - I do the maximum amount of soundproofing I can possibly do at home.

Here's a sample of what the mixes currently sound like:

[MEDIA=soundcloud]tabinda-mustershad/youth-daughter-cover-by-tabinda-mustershad[/MEDIA]

I've seen people using condenser microphones at home and getting more fuller sounds with zero background noise. Like this cover by WOTE:

I can't tell what I'm doing wrong - whether it's a mixing error or whether the microphone is the issue. Or whether I'm recording with the wrong settings. I end up liking the raw recordings on my phone better than the ones I record via the equipment.

My other concern is the distance between the microphone and the vocalist. In the YouTube video, the mic seems to be picking up sound really well even when the vocalist is far away. My Behringer C-3 can't pick up sound from that far away unless the gain is turned all the way up - which only ends up adding more noise and is of little use.

I'm kind of a beginner to the whole recording, mixing and mastering world and would appreciate some advice.

Thanks for the help in advance!

Comments

Boswell Sat, 04/18/2020 - 12:18

I wouldn't beat yourself up about not sounding like a performer that has overdubbed a close-miked guitar track with a similar close-miked vocal and then mimed to the result for a video. You've done really well for a single take in an acoustically imperfect room. The finger squeaks are a bit prominent, but if you search around the internet you can find examples of how to perform spectral editing on them so they are less intrusive.

Other than naming the C3, you haven't said anything about your equipment, nor which DAW you use for mixdown.

pcrecord Sun, 04/19/2020 - 12:21

Picus, post: 463937, member: 51888 wrote: And I don't have an acoustically treated space to record in - I do the maximum amount of soundproofing I can possibly do at home.

I wonder what that means. not treated, maximum soundproofing at home..
The first mistake people make is to put foam everywhere which affects only the high frequencies and will throw off the frequency balance.
In any situation, you'd want to start with bass traps (there is a ton of DIY video about how to build them yourself. Start at the first reflection points and the corners of the room..
Since bass traps are just pannels that you can hang on the walls.. there isn't a home limitation really.. It mostly depends on how quality is important to you...

Your recording isn't bad but lacks definition in the high frequencies.. It could be that you are too close the mic if it exhibit a strong proximity effect or when you mixed in your room, the room or monitoring systems lied to you..
But you are doing the right thing.. Just record and record, it's the only way to get better.. ;)