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Vocal Chain

  • 30-05-2009 3:24pm
    #1
    splitrmx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 352 ✭✭


    Describe your vocal chain. What mics, pre-amps etc are you using? I want to record vocals but am not sure where to start. I've got a Shure SM57 but need a pre-amp of some sort. Any suggestions?

    Oh and maybe some mic suggestions. Apparently the Shure SM57 is more for recording drums and guitar amps rather than vocals.


Comments

  • #2
    madtheory
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,892 ✭✭✭madtheory


    I've often used an SM57, or the older 577SB. SM 58 too. My mic pre is an Amek BCII mixer, and I often track with eq and compression from that. Not always though! My main vocal mic is the Audio Technica 4033a. Fantastic mic. I also occasionally use an AKG C414 B-ULS.


  • #3
    PaulBrewer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,790 ✭✭✭PaulBrewer


    splitrmx wrote: »
    Describe your vocal chain. What mics, pre-amps etc are you using? I want to record vocals but am not sure where to start. I've got a Shure SM57 but need a pre-amp of some sort. Any suggestions?

    Oh and maybe some mic suggestions. Apparently the Shure SM57 is more for recording drums and guitar amps rather than vocals.

    All depends on the Bradleys, Split ... what do you use at the moment?
    How much do you want to spend?


  • #4
    splitrmx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 352 ✭✭splitrmx


    I'm currently using the pre-amps in my Mackie 1402VLZ Pro mixer which is very noisy, I'm getting a lot of hiss off it.

    I haven't thought of an amount of cash yet, but let's say under a grand.


  • #5
    PaulBrewer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,790 ✭✭✭PaulBrewer


    splitrmx wrote: »
    I'm currently using the pre-amps in my Mackie 1402VLZ Pro mixer which is very noisy, I'm getting a lot of hiss off it.

    I haven't thought of an amount of cash yet, but let's say under a grand.

    The Mackies always has a rep for sounding good. Hiss shouldn't be an issue at all, especially with a dynamic mic. How are you connecting it? xlr to xlr?


  • #6
    frobisher
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,413 ✭✭✭frobisher


    PaulBrewer wrote: »
    How are you connecting it? xlr to xlr?

    Do I smell a XLR to jack lead?


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  • #7
    PaulBrewer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,790 ✭✭✭PaulBrewer


    frobisher wrote: »
    Do I smell a XLR to jack lead?

    Objection your Honor ... Leading Question !


  • #8
    i57dwun4yb1pt8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,655 ✭✭✭i57dwun4yb1pt8


    im only a newbie ,
    but i use A designs Pacifica pre amp
    and either a michael joly mod oktava 319 or an sm58 / 57

    they all sound good with this pre - a good pre seems to bring out the best in most mics .


  • #9
    johnnylakes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 164 ✭✭johnnylakes


    In my wee budget studio...at the moment my vocal 'chain' is..
    SM7b/Condens. -Soundtracs Solo Desk - Behringer (I know!!) EQ - Compressor - Presonus FP10...
    Not TOO bad a result...getting better each time...which is all we can hope for I guess...


  • #10
    Aridstarling
    Closed Accounts Posts: 650 ✭✭✭Aridstarling


    SE2200a straight to Tascam Us 1641 pre. Thats about it on the external side of things.


  • #11
    rayzercork
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 83 ✭✭rayzercork


    at the moment im running an sm58 into a dj mixer and output is going into my pc, i do my recording with audacity or reaper, then normalize and clean out most of the hissing before i export it and stick it into FL.
    sometimes i just plug the 58 into the bcd3000 and use that as a soundcard but it tends to have very noisy recordings. i only use that for practice runs though.
    not exactly an ideal setup but i plan on changing my soundcard soon.


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  • #12
    madtheory
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,892 ✭✭✭madtheory


    johnnylakes wrote: »
    SM7b/Condens
    You saiyn' SM7 is a condenser? Cos it isn't... :)


  • #13
    PaulBrewer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,790 ✭✭✭PaulBrewer


    madtheory wrote: »
    You saiyn' SM7 is a condenser? Cos it isn't... :)

    I'd guess he's saying SM7 or Condenser ...


  • #14
    dav nagle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,182 ✭✭✭dav nagle


    Se Gemeni> Neve Portico> Apogee Rosetta 200
    I mix 'in the box'


  • #15
    trackmixstudio
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 843 ✭✭✭trackmixstudio


    Depends on the singer and song.
    If there is space in the song I would use a neumann but if the mix is full and I need the vocal to cut I will use an audix i5.
    For pre I will use either API or Phoenix DRS1. They both sound different in the mids so whichever suits the singer.
    If a flat clean vocal is required for video voice over I will use Focusrite ISA.
    I rarely compress/eq on the way in but sometimes line into Focusrite ISA220 to use comp/eq.
    AD through line in on Focusrite ISA828 with AD board.


  • #16
    johnnylakes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 164 ✭✭johnnylakes


    PaulBrewer wrote: »
    I'd guess he's saying SM7 or Condenser ...
    Was saying either / or... and sometimes both...crazy like that!


  • #17
    fitz
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 8,576 ✭✭✭fitz


    My chain is either an Audix i5 (bought one after hearing it in Trackmix), Neumann KMS105 or a Neumann TLM103 into a Universal Audio Solo 610, with a line-out of the 610 to an Apogee Duet. Haven't tried the Apogee pre's yet, I suspect they'll be a little to clean on vocals for my taste.

    I've been thinking about getting a compressor for light use when tracking. Anyone got any suggestions ?

    Also, OP, what audio interface are you going into from the mackie, and how?


  • #18
    splitrmx
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 352 ✭✭splitrmx


    Shure SM57 -> XLR to XLR cable -> Mackie 1402 mic input -> Motu 828.

    I think the real problem is that the vocals I'm recording (my own, just want to put them through a vocoder) are really low as I'm not a proper singer, and when I turn up the volume on the recorded vocals the background noise is more apparent. Perhaps a condenser mic would help here.

    Also, the Mackie 1402 is a bit noisy, I think the more expensive higher end Mackies have a lower noise floor.


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