[Julio V]

Hi,

I am not sure if some one could help me to suggest a website or forums to teach myself about vocal recording?

I would like to make my own album CD. It is a kind of Karaoke.

I mix audio files ( music from karaoke DVD) with vocal

At this moment I used software: CuseBase

Hard ware are:
Laptop
Zoom Handy Recoderr H4 ( Analog to Digital convertor)
Micro phone
Mackie Mixer
cables

I am also abit confused with Cusebase software jargons such as : Threshold, attack, release, compress...fade, .... when I edited vocal audio file

Some one with knowledge please help.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.
thanks

Julio

[alexs2]

You may get more replies here than in the HiFi section.

[mickevh]

Originally Posted by Julio V

I am also abit confused with Cusebase software jargons such as : Threshold, attack, release, compress...fade, .... when I edited vocal audio file

That sounds like a "compressor" plugin of some kind. Compressors are dynamics (loudness) processors, typically used to "even out" the volume of a track and boost the average loudness level. Have a look around t'Internet for "compressor/limiter" and I've no doubt you'll find chapter and verse on what they do and how to use them.

Just about every vocal track ever recorded has some form of delay (echo) or reverberation added - they just sound better like that.

Besides that, what is it that you want to know?

[Julio V]

Hi Mickevh

Thank you very much for your reply.

I did try to record my voice. However, having played it back , I could say definitely that it was from KARAOKE mixer system

I did hear some one in Love Singing forum. Their record sound like from professional CD. I mean there is not much echo or reverb. . .

I hope you would try to understand what I am saying

[Iccz]

Recording your vocals may take many attempts to get them as close to perfect as you want (unless you're using an auto-tuner with the intentions of going for a totally un-natural sound - in which instance its better to sing almost as badly as you can...) this is a very important part of the process as it's very hard near impossible to fix a bad recording.

After recording you can do small adjustments, sort out the off key notes, remove any background noises such as clicking etc and cut/re-arrange the vocal track, and obviously add your effects.

The problem a lot of people have with recording vocals is being too loud, getting the levels right isn't easy, then if you move closer or further away from the mic it could send your levels into the red, also if the vocals are too quiet you'll get noise when you amplify it, so getting the levels sorted for recording is imporant. Cue compressors, they can automatically lower the volume to the threshold - basically setting a max level.

There are no magic settings for your plugins and levels for recording, as equipment and vocals can vary, it's a matter of experementation to find your ideal settings. You'll need to look into the sensitivity of the mic, technique of recording, levels and gain, and possible compressor settings - there are ways of using compressors in the recording or you can add it later and record the vocals dry, if you're going to be using compressors you'll want to find a good article on the net about using them for vocal recording, find out about thresholds, gating etc.

I'm sure there will be a number of useful websties/blogs/forums out there for recording and editing your vocals. Just remember a lot of it is down to your messing with it and seeing what the results are like and adapting from there.

[mickevh]

If you'll indulge me a few observations - in no particular order:

I note in you gear list, you don't cite what microphone you have. Not all microphones are the equal, just like instruments. Different mics of different quality (and price tags to match) produce differing results. Don't expect that 15 quid omni from Tandy or the freebee you got with your PC to sound like a 800 pound large diaphram cardoid condenser on a shock mount.

One reads that "pro" sound engineers have cupboards full of mics and choose one that is appropriate for the person they are recording, the style of the music, the "sound" they are trying to create in the track and of course sometimes just plain old personal preference.

You don't mention headphones: If you play a CD over your stereo, set up a mic in front of it, sing & record the result, you'll get "spill" from the playback track into the recorded vocals which complicates subsequent mixing. If poss. record in a silent room, put the playback into cans, plus your voice (a bit of reverb on the vox helps) & record the vox "dry" then start playing with fx etc. later during the "mixing" stage.

However, I struggle to sing in key in cans, so I do the "one ear in one ear out" verion which helps me, though I got better with both ears "in" the cans with practise.

You mention that there's "not much echo/reverb" added to things you've heard. Bang on - but it almost certainly WILL be there, most beginners (moi included) add far too much fx at first, before realising that "less is more." Once you get used to listening for it, you notice this much more in "real" records (and spoil you're enjoyment of them forever - be warned.)

Put your mike on a stand, don't hold it. If no stand, tape it to something, dangle it from something, whatever, just don't hold it.

Sing standing up.

If you stand really close to mic (like eating it as rappers and metal heads tend to) you get a "bass effect" in that bass levels are higher. Better to stand a bit further away (hence, use a stand) or roll off the bass levels a bit on the mixer. (The latter can also help the vox "sit" into the mix a bit better. Sounds strange in isolation when you "solo" it, but works in the overall mix.)

Don't drink citrous drinks while recording (think what happens to your mouth when you suck on a lemon.)

Don't record & mix on the same day. Record one day, concentrate on performance, singing in key etc. Leave it to another day to do the final mixing to make it "sound" good.

"P" and "K" sounds can "pop" the mic and the levels, watch out for that.

Last trick is for multi-part vox, like harmonies. If a lyric ends in hard sound such as the aforementions p/k sounds, you can get a kind of "machine gun" effect with three or four parts. A trick is to have one person (usually the lead) sing the hard sound and the others omit it. eg, if the line ends on the word "track", lead vox sings "hears my track" the rest sing "hears my tra."

Mind you, my voice is pretty rotten, so take the ultimate mixing decision and just don't bother to sing at all if I can help it. (At least, not when anyone is listning.)