Hi Pros…

Help me optimize recording levels for vocals / speaches

My background:
I know just enough to do volunteer work at a religious institute. And I have been doing it for long time.

Work I do:
I record spiritual discourses. It’s always one speaker – male with a deep bass voice.

I'm looking for some advice on a mid-range condenser mic to record vocals with. I plan on having this mic for a while because I don't think Guitar Center returns mics used for vocals.

ok I'm a upcoming rapper and i need some help gettin my vocals to sound "track" ready any tips it doesnt even have to be using a program just any tips wit changing vocals sounds just any help cu i kinda got a nice monotone thing going on and my breathing sucks so idk please give me tips if you got any

I don't have a lot of mics to go around and I'm looking to use what I have as much as possible.

One of my band-mates has two SM58's and I'm hoping they are usable for drum recordings.
Maybe hit-hat Micing ?

So far the mics I have for the drums session are; RODE NT4, Beta 57A x 2, Beta 52A, SM57 x 3, SM58 x 2.

I understand there is no such thing as "the best" mic - in the end it comes down to personal preference. But, I would like some input.

I have been asked to mix a load of hardcore/metal bands at a local live music venue however their in house guy isn't there. As such iv been banned from touching the in house sound desk. He has set up an input to the power amps so can plugin my mixing desk (its beringher 1222fX). The preamps of this desk are pants and ruin vocals.

such as the sm57? got a friend coming in who insists on using the sm57 for recording his voice and i've never recorded vocals with it before. should i let him sing right on top of the mic with his lips touching the grill like he does at live shows? or should i try to get him to back off 6 inches or so like with condensers ? should i use a pop screen?

Im not used to live work so to speak so could do with a bit of advice.

I have recently got involved with a new band doing technical hardcore metal in which we have a vocallist whos voice can be described as nothing but brutal during his screams and angelic when singing.

Man do I need help here. I've tried to get used to using keyboards for creating drum track and I can't stand how slow and lame it is. I have excellent sounds, but the whole keyboard midi drum creation sucks to me. I am by no means a novice at programming. I earned a serious living in the 80's programming drums using Linn and MPC 60's.

What 3 vocal ranges, or an all in one Neumann mic would be your first choice for just vocals and what pre(s) would you choose?
Tenor
Baritone
Alto

U87 seems to be the standard but maybe there is a better choice. I'm not going to be using it for kick etc.
U47 valve sounds amazing and expensive. hmm, my lust for mics... :tongue: