I've made like 50 thousand over a few years due to one of my songs going viral 7 million views. It's a tough grind but very rewarding and feel good weather one dollar or hundred
@@reekrodriqguez6552 problem is you can’t noise gate the background sounds while singing. It will just be inbetween singing. Personally I hate noise gates. It’s better to edit out the sounds yourself so you have control over it.
A lot of these tips are good if you are recording yourself but recording other people is different. first sound check and then leave headroom from the soundcheck because artists always sing louder during a performance than they do sound check ( even if you tell them to sing the loudest possible). Another good tip is to make sure the singer is standing and the mic is pointed at their forehead hanging from above, this makes them use their entire diaphragm and will also keep the mic from clipping. All of the mixing/processing is your fault, take it step by step, listen to the full mix each time, (MAKE SURE IT IS GOOD!) and make sure before you master that your mix really only hits on average -5dBs, this will give room for mastering. source, I am a certified Audio engineer that went through college to get my cert's and degree's.
@@theceasarkevlar9155 have the capsule of the mic pointed downwards towards the ground above the artist with the diaphragm facing the artist forehead. this also depends on the mic. I am referring to a side-address mic and not an end address mic.. this does require either a special mic stand or some homemade hoshposh. im sure if you look up some isolation booth recordings whether it be singers or voice -overs you would see a good example.
@@elijahwohlers9945 yeah I've been a in house tracking engineer for about 3 and a half years now. Only thing is I'm "self" taught even though I hate saying that because I've just drawn from resources like your advice here. Funny thing is though I watch the videos like this for entertainment...they become just so repetitive with facts that are "formal" and introductive well suited for "a new set of home studio beginners ears" our critical listening and experience gives us another set sensory analyzer if you will OUR EARS .so when they go to bypass the compressor to teach a visual mix decision... I've already HEARD that attack dialed in a bit too late to tame those initial transients on a wild alteration of LOUDLY TRACKED -3db(omg) BIG BRIGHT BLASTY B-words. Lol I but no knock on the videos it helps guys who aren't confident or trusting their ears yet. I just learn in the NOW days from signal wisdom and Veteran Advice. Thanks for the elaboration.
@@theceasarkevlar9155 No problem, even though you are experienced, you might be able to learn more from schooling. There are just so many concepts. but here are a couple of books that I have used during my study's and they aren't super expensive. The mixing engineer's handbook by Bobby Owsinski. Modern recording techniques by David Huber. Yamaha Sound reinforcement handbook. and for live sound, Live sound reinforcement by Teddy Boyce. Then we also go through Pro Tools training and get two cert's from Avid; Cert user and Cert operator. I usually check these types of videos out to see if I can learn more.
Andrew Huang once said that if you don't have a pop filter or anything you can try putting a pencil between you and the mic and it can separate the air that causes the pops.
i use both a pop filter and a pencil (actually a laser pointer lol) i find that the filter keeps the pops from being too harsh and the pencil helps separate the sound so its not directed exactly toward the microphone
You can also place the mic to the side/corner of your mouth instead. So when plosives happen its not hitting the mic directly versus if you put your mouth right front of it.
@@Kaori_Suzuki I find pop filters distracting and they also can block things like your lyric copy, so I go sans filter using your technique but also sometimes I will sing slightly over the top of the mic.
Honestly, with a totally dry vocal track I tend to add some mild reverb during editing too make it more realistic and to get it out of the dead closet sound. The reverb on your "bad" recording has a borderline reverb, which won't hurt in the mix. However, with voice over that reverb world be unacceptable. My personal, unproven theory is that that's the reason why a certain large diaphragm dynamic mic is so widely used in podcasts. Very good video!
Being really close can be cool too. Depending on mic and singer, and style. Billie Eilish' vocals are generally recorded super close up to the mic, like properly almost kissing it. Recently learned this, before I was just super scared to even try it since it's a just a big no-no in most peoples' book.
i would love to do that but i am soooo fuckin loud and i have so much pressure i make the membrane stick to the frame if i am not FAR away from the mic. but on the brightside i have a very consistent dynamic wich is even more consistent bc i got mictech. also, i have a lisp. with all that a dynamic mic is often way better for me then a condenser.
She doesn't sing, she mumble-talks. Her vocals are more relatable to ASMR than to actual singing. So yeah, she's up on the mic. I dont think she's a good example to follow, unless you're going for that specific genre
@@s0uthpawguitar Nah, there are more examples than her. I've heard other engineers started talking about that "sweet and sexy closeness" that you can only get from being really up close to the mic. Bottom line is, it's not a no-go to be up close to the mic. Do it if the sound fits the style (and mic).
@@balluse If you're interested in why the mic sounds different super close, look up "proximity effect". Understanding that will help you decide which mics to use for different applications.
I like the bad one better. Am I evil? 1:05: don't clip; 3:26: don't sing too close to the mic, don't touch it; 5:30: don't sing too far (for lead vocals mainly); 6:34: use a pop filter or sing off-axis; 8:16: don't overuse FX.
For the last point, it's more like Don't overuse preinput fx (or at all) You can add the fx later, but you can't remove it if you have it before the input.
This guy is so solid. The section where he showed the playroom and how the mix sounds from it was clutch because many people think you need the perfect space to make great music. Subscribed. Always great info.
When I was a teenager I literally bought an egg shell pantyhose and made a pop filter for recording because I didnt have the money to buy an actual filter.
Yo I fuckin appreciate you showing us the results of your experiment despite them disproving your hypothesis. If more people did this in all areas of life we'd all be a lot happier. Glad I had the chance to learn from your mistake today.
Hi Joe. Dewald from South Africa. Just want to say thanks for dropping the nuggets! Your vids has helped tremendously and it has made a noticeable difference in my recording, mixing and mastering process. Thanks for being a blessing. Lekker (afrikaans for nice)
The "bad" take sounded "surprisingly good" because we don't know and hence don't like sounds without reverb. Even outside at least the ground reflects some signal. So the dry voice is unfamiliar and seems not as good as a more roomy take. To really compare the 2 takes u should add some reverb to the "good" take, just enough to make it sound naturally. Then it'd become way clearer why we use to record that way.
thats why i love experimenting... i record very close to the mic... maybe a fist away from the mic... thats how you doesnt record that much of your room... doesn't matter if its more low ends... you can still correct it plus i like that in your face sound 😁
So staying closer to the mic can prevent the feedback from the bad room acoustics to not go into the mic? i have a room which isn’t treated in any way and i have recorded rap vocals with great quality but i notice some takes have feedback in them, how do you prevent that feedback if you don’t got room acoustics, are there any tricks up the sleeve?
@@ChainsTheChef888 yes... but be carefull with your mic gain... you can easly record your vocal distorted... thats why i always check the gain first with the artist who is recording here... you don't have to this is just what i prefer and like :)
@@KI2LA Okey so to go to the correct gain levels i should first rap into the mic very close (not touching it) and start to tweak the knob until in that certain close distance the peak is -10 db, correct?
Thanx for pointing out the difference between live sound and studio recording. Some rookies don;t always get the differences. It's the same for performers.
I think your role as educator (s) is to present people with as many techniques as you can. What I mean by that… you can easily search Paul McCartney mic technique on google and observe the exact opposite of what you are teaching here - lips on the grille/air column straight perpendicular to the diaphragm - and start wondering who is the knowledgeable one between Joe Gilder and Paul McCartney?!😃The thing with getting close to the microphone is that you also get pronounced transient response hence presence not only the boomy low end. Also, most recording engineers “abuse” compressors on the way in which have the tendency to smooth out a vocal and bring out the quality of mics and preamps. So with all due respect, there are more ways to vocal recording than we can imagine depending on the context. What matters is that it sounds good. Cheers!
There is "one" thing you could do if you haven't got a pop-filter (but please get one anyway!) that doesn't only work with plosives but also with all kinds of "s"es. That is: Automate your Vocals. This trick gives you complete control over how loud every single sound is and how it effects the rest of the mix. There is also a nice video about this on RUclips by "House Of Kush", I guess.
Yes good stuff, mic clipping and the proximity effect and printing hard compression, I have a powerful young lady blowing up a u87 at 3’ (yeah I know 3’!) I don’t own a condenser that I can use for her,, we wound up using a padded sm7b and a 421 through a cranborne pre and a LA 2A in various combos to tame her projection I don’t know if you tried cranborne Camden 500 but really great especially @ $350 for the hardware strip
I just recorded a vocal two days ago, and I can definitely hear a reverb sound from my living room, where I record. In the mix, you can't hear the natural reverb. I still have to apply reverb myself.
I've been at this for over "XX"{ (lol) years and hit on a new one with my latest batch of songs. I had the mic lower than I normally have it, with it angled up towards me. Nothing extreme, just slightly off-axis. I got really clean vocals and no plosives as the air "rode" over the mic instead of right into it. Distance was in the 8" or less range or so with a pop filter and it seemed to give me a little more freedom to move. It had the added psychological bonus of being a little less visually conspicuous so it helped me relax as I tend to tense up because I wish I had someone else to be a singer for me. Not having the mic literally "in my face" was quite liberating and I'm pleased with the results.
Nice one Joe, I am kinda coming to the the conclusion that the more I learn the less I know! however with the help of these videos I will get there in the end< cheers and all the best, Del
Remember back in olden times when a mega group would record an entire album in the dungeon of an even older castle, or maybe the basement of a estate villa? Maybe on a yacht for that matter?? Oh... OH!!! OHHH!!!! Perhaps your guitar hero insisted on setting up in a hallway, or some old creaky stairwell because it sounds right to his ears? Yeah... me too. Pay attention to the rules, but don't get tied to them. Most importantly, think ahead and use your ears.
Oh wow I had no idea this was uploaded a few minutes ago, this is so helpful!! Just getting started with my music stuff, and I'm trying my best with the small amount of equipment I got :) and these videos are great for that
Joe, great video as always. You might like this tip I got from Warren Huart: tape a pencil (and I know you like pencils) across the center of your pop filter to break up the plosives a little more without dampening the overall vocal.
I have been recording in my untreated room as a practice for a long time now, I generally don't find a huge difference from treated room/studio takes unless there's construction or a loud music party going on nearby
Great vídeo! I’m trying to record a song directly on the phone using the BM800 mic and Bandlab/ GarageBand while I cannot afford an audio interface. I’ve justed uploaded here a song that I recorded like this. Your tips are going to be helpful
Yeah man that digital clipping is harsh! I do like distortion on a second vocal track though…coolest vocal distortion I ever got? In my early 20s I was in my project studio (with Cool Edit Pro lmao) and messing around ran my vocals through my dad’s old Silvertone amp (2x12 Jensens, all original tunes)…every so often 20 years later I still borrow that amp from him for the express purpose of recording some backing distorted vocal tracks! Love those happy accidents!
So the takeaway is, as usual, *listen* to your recordings because you cannot predict what will soundbest and poop-in = poop-out. You can *not* fix it in post, no matter how much compression you add. This is why I like Creative Sound Lab's channel, he's constantly just trying things out to see what sound he gets from different setups, different mics etc, just to see what it sounds like, he builds an arsenal of knowledge, tips and tricks to get particular sounds to make recordings more interesting than the straight up vocal-booth sound.
The vocal recorded in the room literally sounds like a slap delay. Greg Scott from House of Kush actually has a video on how to use room reverb to your advantage.
Great video!! I was expecting the same from this vocal. Didn’t they do something similar on the gang vocal on kol use somebody?? And even Faced away from the mic. This demonstrates why not always following the rule book can lead to some awesome sounds and effects on a record. I heard that the bvs on everlong were actually recorded over the phone! Like I said. Great video. Well explained and to the point. 😀
It has to do with pressure in the gland end. Youve seen clean guitars how single string sound go out of center. That is because the comma (string) is not picked up the same on the axis. Has a lot to do with recording on float or not. Center float means it floats on a center between excursion a and b. Maybe ot is not right smack in your arm, maybe the center is a little off axis and the speaker proyects sound off his "rest" center. For example, you have this speaker, it reproduce from excursion "a" to end excursion "b". You input bass into excursion zone. Sound should reproduce ok on both zones. But this is an imperfect asshole world and zone "a" goes off axis a little bit more, so now youve got bass travelling off its rest center and reproducing excursion zones out of axis. This means in stonks term*not stonks* Fukd up speakers etc. To fix this issue you force comma to be *not floating* Now try to explain that to your engineer.
What approximate dB level should a well recorded track be, before applying any pre-gain or processing? Why is it that if I I set the interface (I use an external mixer YamahaMG10XU as the interface) at green area (0 dB lufs), the recording always come in as - 14dBfs to - 18dBfs only?
I recently got recommended your videos and I'm really impressed. Rare to find people explain this stuff so well. I'd say it's In The Mix, but if my cool uncle made the channel! I hope the comparison doesn't bother you, but I just wanted to say, you're amazing, and the examples are so good, it makes the point more obvious. Subscribed, keep it up man!
Great video, and sound advice (pardon the pun!!). A tip: if I get plosives in my vocals, I use Melodyne to take them out. It picks them up separately so you can reduce the volume on them. It's fiddly but still easier than using EQ (for me anyway.....). And it doesn't impact the rest of the song.
Using eq to filter out low frequencies helps the mix - a human voice recording in general does not have those lower frequencies as part of the signal to begin with - so applying a low cut /high pass filter is a good idea to help the overall mix and will reduce any plosives being heard. That type of eq is one setting on the whole track that takes only seconds to setup, so nothing difficult. As to avoiding plosives when recording, simply turn your head a bit to the side - sing across the mic - not into it -and you will not get any plosives to start with.
That "too much room" problem is soooo real. After 50 productions I've finally been hit with a vocal with too much "room sound" and I couldn't for the life of me figure out the problem until this video. Thank you!
Great video. I love that song by the way.I’ve listened to all your music on Spotify several times. Fighter and Listen are a few of my faves. I’ve made you probably a penny by now.
That's a great home studio! Looks like a very cozy space to create music. Microphone position (height) is also important. Seen many singers sing into the mic at incredible angles.. 😀
Haha jokes on you
my recording equipment is my phone and my Google Drive
i know that feel bro
bro I'm recording on band lab and my phone AND Chromebook 😭 LMAO
@@risant2483 Bandlab supremacy
Hah. I use Google Drive after every session to download them to my main computer whose fans are too loud to record with.
@@risant2483 BandLab is awesome! I used to use it before, now I use Ableton :) Ableton is a level up for sure but I enjoyed BandLab as well
Pro tip for every vocalist before every recording session: warm tf up. Seriously.
Say it again!!!! Truer words have not been spoken
Or get a lil' drunk... Lol
@@Skwidd_Man ON GOD 😭
What does tf stands for?
@@LolloMarinoItalia wtf= what the f*ck so tf = the f*ck
Lmao. Made my first 3 cents from music streams.
Noice
Stonks
I've made just over $3 in 6 months...gotta love it 🙃
@@OfficialSapphirePhoenix one year and im at like 7 dollars
i love what i do though, so it doesn't matter to me :)
I've made like 50 thousand over a few years due to one of my songs going viral 7 million views. It's a tough grind but very rewarding and feel good weather one dollar or hundred
Pro tip: If you don't have a pop filter laying around, you can just put pantyhose over your head so that it covers your mouth.
Or do the hush sign as you talk or sing
@@MattDxstined You apparently, didn't get the joke.
@@MattDxstined nah i laughed
And the best recording studio is, in fact, the bank.
Lmao
Next time you need a slap back delay: “kids, out of the room, I need the place!”
In my vocals you can hear cars, airplanes, my dog scratching and my phone ringing. 😐 ...I included everything in my songs. 🤪
You can also hear chickens and kids making noises in mine.and I dont even have kids
I got to sample your vocals lol
Thats art
Noise gate?
@@reekrodriqguez6552 problem is you can’t noise gate the background sounds while singing. It will just be inbetween singing. Personally I hate noise gates. It’s better to edit out the sounds yourself so you have control over it.
A lot of these tips are good if you are recording yourself but recording other people is different. first sound check and then leave headroom from the soundcheck because artists always sing louder during a performance than they do sound check ( even if you tell them to sing the loudest possible). Another good tip is to make sure the singer is standing and the mic is pointed at their forehead hanging from above, this makes them use their entire diaphragm and will also keep the mic from clipping. All of the mixing/processing is your fault, take it step by step, listen to the full mix each time, (MAKE SURE IT IS GOOD!) and make sure before you master that your mix really only hits on average -5dBs, this will give room for mastering. source, I am a certified Audio engineer that went through college to get my cert's and degree's.
Interesting so when u say hanging from above can u elaborate on that briefly for me?
@@theceasarkevlar9155 have the capsule of the mic pointed downwards towards the ground above the artist with the diaphragm facing the artist forehead. this also depends on the mic. I am referring to a side-address mic and not an end address mic.. this does require either a special mic stand or some homemade hoshposh. im sure if you look up some isolation booth recordings whether it be singers or voice -overs you would see a good example.
@@elijahwohlers9945 yeah I've been a in house tracking engineer for about 3 and a half years now. Only thing is I'm "self" taught even
though I hate saying that because I've just drawn from resources like your advice here. Funny thing is though I watch the videos like this for entertainment...they become just so repetitive with facts that are "formal" and introductive well suited for "a new set of home studio beginners ears" our critical listening and experience gives us another set sensory analyzer if you will OUR EARS .so when they go to bypass the compressor to teach a visual mix decision... I've already HEARD that attack dialed in a bit too late to tame those initial transients on a wild alteration of LOUDLY TRACKED -3db(omg) BIG BRIGHT BLASTY B-words.
Lol I but no knock on the videos it helps guys who aren't confident or trusting
their ears yet. I just learn in the NOW days from signal wisdom and Veteran Advice. Thanks for the elaboration.
@@theceasarkevlar9155 No problem, even though you are experienced, you might be able to learn more from schooling. There are just so many concepts. but here are a couple of books that I have used during my study's and they aren't super expensive. The mixing engineer's handbook by Bobby Owsinski. Modern recording techniques by David Huber. Yamaha Sound reinforcement handbook. and for live sound, Live sound reinforcement by Teddy Boyce. Then we also go through Pro Tools training and get two cert's from Avid; Cert user and Cert operator. I usually check these types of videos out to see if I can learn more.
U don't have to turn down ur mix at -5 just for mastering, that's optional
When he listened to his overprocessed vocals I could see visible discomfort lmfao
Andrew Huang once said that if you don't have a pop filter or anything you can try putting a pencil between you and the mic and it can separate the air that causes the pops.
i use both a pop filter and a pencil (actually a laser pointer lol) i find that the filter keeps the pops from being too harsh and the pencil helps separate the sound so its not directed exactly toward the microphone
You can also place the mic to the side/corner of your mouth instead. So when plosives happen its not hitting the mic directly versus if you put your mouth right front of it.
@@Kaori_Suzuki I find pop filters distracting and they also can block things like your lyric copy, so I go sans filter using your technique but also sometimes I will sing slightly over the top of the mic.
Bruv, the first waveform looks like a redacted line from a top secret CIA document. And sounds like one too.
🤫
Honestly, with a totally dry vocal track I tend to add some mild reverb during editing too make it more realistic and to get it out of the dead closet sound. The reverb on your "bad" recording has a borderline reverb, which won't hurt in the mix. However, with voice over that reverb world be unacceptable. My personal, unproven theory is that that's the reason why a certain large diaphragm dynamic mic is so widely used in podcasts. Very good video!
Being really close can be cool too. Depending on mic and singer, and style. Billie Eilish' vocals are generally recorded super close up to the mic, like properly almost kissing it. Recently learned this, before I was just super scared to even try it since it's a just a big no-no in most peoples' book.
i would love to do that but i am soooo fuckin loud and i have so much pressure i make the membrane stick to the frame if i am not FAR away from the mic. but on the brightside i have a very consistent dynamic wich is even more consistent bc i got mictech. also, i have a lisp. with all that a dynamic mic is often way better for me then a condenser.
She doesn't sing, she mumble-talks. Her vocals are more relatable to ASMR than to actual singing. So yeah, she's up on the mic. I dont think she's a good example to follow, unless you're going for that specific genre
@@s0uthpawguitar Nah, there are more examples than her. I've heard other engineers started talking about that "sweet and sexy closeness" that you can only get from being really up close to the mic.
Bottom line is, it's not a no-go to be up close to the mic. Do it if the sound fits the style (and mic).
@@balluse If you're interested in why the mic sounds different super close, look up "proximity effect". Understanding that will help you decide which mics to use for different applications.
It's music, rules have to be broken or you won't get original music 😂
Good stuff, also pause it at 6:11
I like it :D
😂😂😂😂😂
Heil Gilder!!!!
NAZI
You have a radio voice 🎶
Tons of compression? lol
Proximity effect, compression, and mic placement.
He has radio equipment.
Why would you insult him like that?
Too much reverb!
Joe: "can't fix it in the mix" - reverb, clipping, and plosives
RX8: hold my beer
Dude has a legit radio/announcer voice!
I like the bad one better. Am I evil?
1:05: don't clip;
3:26: don't sing too close to the mic, don't touch it;
5:30: don't sing too far (for lead vocals mainly);
6:34: use a pop filter or sing off-axis;
8:16: don't overuse FX.
For the last point, it's more like
Don't overuse preinput fx (or at all)
You can add the fx later, but you can't remove it if you have it before the input.
I found this to be extremely helpful. Really well explained, man.
This guy is so solid. The section where he showed the playroom and how the mix sounds from it was clutch because many people think you need the perfect space to make great music. Subscribed. Always great info.
When I was a teenager I literally bought an egg shell pantyhose and made a pop filter for recording because I didnt have the money to buy an actual filter.
Love it! Here, have an extra like
It be like dat
The vocal recorded in the live room sounded ambient and real.
Yo I fuckin appreciate you showing us the results of your experiment despite them disproving your hypothesis. If more people did this in all areas of life we'd all be a lot happier. Glad I had the chance to learn from your mistake today.
Just went and listened to "Amen." Wow, those first verse lyrics are especially apropos today. Well done, Joe.
I like the hopeful message- Amen.
😊
That vibrato on 'Amen' is so beautiful!!
Hi Joe. Dewald from South Africa. Just want to say thanks for dropping the nuggets! Your vids has helped tremendously and it has made a noticeable difference in my recording, mixing and mastering process. Thanks for being a blessing. Lekker (afrikaans for nice)
A big recording mistake is when I am the singer!
The "bad" take sounded "surprisingly good" because we don't know and hence don't like sounds without reverb. Even outside at least the ground reflects some signal.
So the dry voice is unfamiliar and seems not as good as a more roomy take.
To really compare the 2 takes u should add some reverb to the "good" take, just enough to make it sound naturally. Then it'd become way clearer why we use to record that way.
thats why i love experimenting... i record very close to the mic... maybe a fist away from the mic... thats how you doesnt record that much of your room... doesn't matter if its more low ends... you can still correct it plus i like that in your face sound 😁
In Your Face ☑
*+1 Style Points*
So staying closer to the mic can prevent the feedback from the bad room acoustics to not go into the mic? i have a room which isn’t treated in any way and i have recorded rap vocals with great quality but i notice some takes have feedback in them, how do you prevent that feedback if you don’t got room acoustics, are there any tricks up the sleeve?
@@ChainsTheChef888 yes... but be carefull with your mic gain... you can easly record your vocal distorted... thats why i always check the gain first with the artist who is recording here... you don't have to this is just what i prefer and like :)
@@KI2LA Okey so to go to the correct gain levels i should first rap into the mic very close (not touching it) and start to tweak the knob until in that certain close distance the peak is -10 db, correct?
@@ChainsTheChef888 yes -10 or -12 should be fine :)
This is one of the most educative videos I've watched! Thank you!!!
Thanx for pointing out the difference between live sound and studio recording. Some rookies don;t always get the differences. It's the same for performers.
When you got to "What is a pop filter? It's pantyhose stretched over..." an embroidery hoop! They are super cheap at any craft store. Enjoy :)
I think your role as educator (s) is to present people with as many techniques as you can. What I mean by that… you can easily search Paul McCartney mic technique on google and observe the exact opposite of what you are teaching here - lips on the grille/air column straight perpendicular to the diaphragm - and start wondering who is the knowledgeable one between Joe Gilder and Paul McCartney?!😃The thing with getting close to the microphone is that you also get pronounced transient response hence presence not only the boomy low end. Also, most recording engineers “abuse” compressors on the way in which have the tendency to smooth out a vocal and bring out the quality of mics and preamps. So with all due respect, there are more ways to vocal recording than we can imagine depending on the context. What matters is that it sounds good. Cheers!
There is "one" thing you could do if you haven't got a pop-filter (but please get one anyway!) that doesn't only work with plosives but also with all kinds of "s"es.
That is: Automate your Vocals. This trick gives you complete control over how loud every single sound is and how it effects the rest of the mix.
There is also a nice video about this on RUclips by "House Of Kush", I guess.
Yes good stuff, mic clipping and the proximity effect and printing hard compression,
I have a powerful young lady blowing up a u87 at 3’ (yeah I know 3’!) I don’t own a condenser that I can use for her,, we wound up using a padded sm7b and a 421 through a cranborne pre and a LA 2A in various combos to tame her projection I don’t know if you tried cranborne Camden 500 but really great especially @ $350 for the hardware strip
You have a good voice
I just recorded a vocal two days ago, and I can definitely hear a reverb sound from my living room, where I record. In the mix, you can't hear the natural reverb. I still have to apply reverb myself.
Great video!!! Very helpful
Great stuff.
I've been at this for over "XX"{ (lol) years and hit on a new one with my latest batch of songs. I had the mic lower than I normally have it, with it angled up towards me. Nothing extreme, just slightly off-axis. I got really clean vocals and no plosives as the air "rode" over the mic instead of right into it. Distance was in the 8" or less range or so with a pop filter and it seemed to give me a little more freedom to move. It had the added psychological bonus of being a little less visually conspicuous so it helped me relax as I tend to tense up because I wish I had someone else to be a singer for me. Not having the mic literally "in my face" was quite liberating and I'm pleased with the results.
Nice one Joe, I am kinda coming to the the conclusion that the more I learn the less I know! however with the help of these videos I will get there in the end< cheers and all the best, Del
Hey Joe should I set my switch on my microphone at 10db or 0db for singing?
You’re a G bro, thank you
7:22 in a live sound environment you will be using mics like the sm58 that have a pop filter built inside them.
But change is comin..... love this video ♥️
Thanks for all your good stuff. I like the way you explain things!
Remember back in olden times when a mega group would record an entire album in the dungeon of an even older castle, or maybe the basement of a estate villa? Maybe on a yacht for that matter?? Oh... OH!!! OHHH!!!! Perhaps your guitar hero insisted on setting up in a hallway, or some old creaky stairwell because it sounds right to his ears? Yeah... me too. Pay attention to the rules, but don't get tied to them. Most importantly, think ahead and use your ears.
Anyone who knows the voice software used in voice recording in this video should please tell me. Thank you.
no time wasted, pure content, love this
The mic being off axis thing was mind blowing tbh
Right?! It doesn't seem like it should work.
Gotta say - the vocals sounded great. I actually did find the song on RUclips and had to listen. Like it a lot!
Oh wow I had no idea this was uploaded a few minutes ago, this is so helpful!! Just getting started with my music stuff, and I'm trying my best with the small amount of equipment I got :) and these videos are great for that
This helped a lot!!
Joe, so happy to get some tracking videos from you. This is very helpful. Keep them coming! 👍
lol "a Lumineers sound and goin 'heey'"
great video!!
Great video (as usual)! :-)
Joe, great video as always. You might like this tip I got from Warren Huart: tape a pencil (and I know you like pencils) across the center of your pop filter to break up the plosives a little more without dampening the overall vocal.
😂 love it
Hey Joe, I actually liked the 1st distorted vocal track until your voice got soft🤣
Hey Joe, what a great piece of tuition! Vocals are so important to me, really helpful, thank you
Learnt a lot and enjoyed this a lot, thanks!
very clear video easy to follow and not boring :)
Great channel with lots of very helpful advice. Thanks for sharing.
I have been recording in my untreated room as a practice for a long time now, I generally don't find a huge difference from treated room/studio takes
unless there's construction or a loud music party going on nearby
Great vídeo! I’m trying to record a song directly on the phone using the BM800 mic and Bandlab/ GarageBand while I cannot afford an audio interface. I’ve justed uploaded here a song that I recorded like this. Your tips are going to be helpful
Yeah man that digital clipping is harsh! I do like distortion on a second vocal track though…coolest vocal distortion I ever got? In my early 20s I was in my project studio (with Cool Edit Pro lmao) and messing around ran my vocals through my dad’s old Silvertone amp (2x12 Jensens, all original tunes)…every so often 20 years later I still borrow that amp from him for the express purpose of recording some backing distorted vocal tracks! Love those happy accidents!
So the takeaway is, as usual, *listen* to your recordings because you cannot predict what will soundbest and poop-in = poop-out. You can *not* fix it in post, no matter how much compression you add.
This is why I like Creative Sound Lab's channel, he's constantly just trying things out to see what sound he gets from different setups, different mics etc, just to see what it sounds like, he builds an arsenal of knowledge, tips and tricks to get particular sounds to make recordings more interesting than the straight up vocal-booth sound.
Some of these vox takes are really great, Joe! The slightly distorted bits (raspiness in your voice) sound really good.
As usual, excellent video!
Thanks!
first time to watch your tutirial video for vocal...i get a lot of good input 😀💪👍
Awesome example and tip!
Thanks Joe.
And don't snap your fingers during vocals, lol! Awesome vid. Thanks!
Straight forward, down to Earth, honest tutorial. Thank you sir.
The vocal recorded in the room literally sounds like a slap delay. Greg Scott from House of Kush actually has a video on how to use room reverb to your advantage.
The clipping vocal sounded like an awesome parallel compression/distortion vibe ahaha
Agreed. I kinda liked it.
Good video, explains it very well and I’m the first!
Great video!! I was expecting the same from this vocal. Didn’t they do something similar on the gang vocal on kol use somebody?? And even Faced away from the mic. This demonstrates why not always following the rule book can lead to some awesome sounds and effects on a record. I heard that the bvs on everlong were actually recorded over the phone!
Like I said. Great video. Well explained and to the point. 😀
Great video Joe!
I agree..but i can get the perfect vocals with the rectangle during compressor..i do it to control frequencies coming through S1...sound so good
Could someone please explain to me why the tops and bottoms of a mono waveform are not the same??
It has to do with pressure in the gland end. Youve seen clean guitars how single string sound go out of center. That is because the comma (string) is not picked up the same on the axis. Has a lot to do with recording on float or not.
Center float means it floats on a center between excursion a and b. Maybe ot is not right smack in your arm, maybe the center is a little off axis and the speaker proyects sound off his "rest" center.
For example, you have this speaker, it reproduce from excursion "a" to end excursion "b". You input bass into excursion zone. Sound should reproduce ok on both zones. But this is an imperfect asshole world and zone "a" goes off axis a little bit more, so now youve got bass travelling off its rest center and reproducing excursion zones out of axis.
This means in stonks term*not stonks*
Fukd up speakers etc.
To fix this issue you force comma to be *not floating*
Now try to explain that to your engineer.
I would suspect its because his mic has 2 inputs and one may be picking up more.
Really informative man great video!
What approximate dB level should a well recorded track be, before applying any pre-gain or processing? Why is it that if I I set the interface (I use an external mixer YamahaMG10XU as the interface) at green area (0 dB lufs), the recording always come in as - 14dBfs to - 18dBfs only?
I recently got recommended your videos and I'm really impressed. Rare to find people explain this stuff so well. I'd say it's In The Mix, but if my cool uncle made the channel! I hope the comparison doesn't bother you, but I just wanted to say, you're amazing, and the examples are so good, it makes the point more obvious. Subscribed, keep it up man!
Excellent examples! Thanks!
Wow the way you teach without all the big technical words 🙏
Studio One? Nice upgrade from the archaic and overhyped Pro Tools. Also, excellent, perfectly informative video. Thanks, Joe!
Great video, and sound advice (pardon the pun!!). A tip: if I get plosives in my vocals, I use Melodyne to take them out. It picks them up separately so you can reduce the volume on them. It's fiddly but still easier than using EQ (for me anyway.....). And it doesn't impact the rest of the song.
Using eq to filter out low frequencies helps the mix - a human voice recording in general does not have those lower frequencies as part of the signal to begin with - so applying a low cut /high pass filter is a good idea to help the overall mix and will reduce any plosives being heard. That type of eq is one setting on the whole track that takes only seconds to setup, so nothing difficult. As to avoiding plosives when recording, simply turn your head a bit to the side - sing across the mic - not into it -and you will not get any plosives to start with.
Thanks for this video. I think I was processing the voice way too much using a preamp. I’ll watch a tutorial on that preamp 🤙🏼🔥
That "too much room" problem is soooo real. After 50 productions I've finally been hit with a vocal with too much "room sound" and I couldn't for the life of me figure out the problem until this video. Thank you!
Brroooooo he got the voice of an angel.BEAUTIFUL
Great video. I love that song by the way.I’ve listened to all your music on Spotify several times. Fighter and Listen are a few of my faves. I’ve made you probably a penny by now.
I just made my first song with a vocal and this helps a lot. Thank you.
Valuable to me. I do not want to waste a lot of money on the "room". Thanks.
Excelentes dicas! Obrigado!
The RX DeClip, however, has saved a ton of clipped "loudest notes" in a record I got to mix. Just saying - check it out when in trouble already.
Izotope makes some good ass tools.
That's a great home studio! Looks like a very cozy space to create music.
Microphone position (height) is also important. Seen many singers sing into the mic at incredible angles.. 😀
Thanks for the video. Also, it's a little depressing to find that your attempt to do your worst vocal still sounds better than my best vocal take!
Great video! Thanks alot!
Sooo good. And I'd throw 1/3 of a cent your way everyday of the week.
You can't put a price on that. 😊
Is Graham Cochrane your alter ego? Man, exact same voice, and I'm sure i've heard him sing this song
They have a website where they compete doing mixes.
Hey, your voice is similar to "Morpheus" voice from the Matrix :)