Topic: How to Increase Vocals

[IRiver19]

I've recorded a handful of shows using this setup (Church omnis --> Church ST-9000 preamp line-in --> Sony RH-10 hi-md), and they all ended up with the vocals too soft.  The words were easy to understand while I was in the theatre, but I found myself straining to understand the recording at times.  I had the preamp switch set to +30 gain.  The audio level knob was also set to max (I'm really not sure what the knob does so perhaps herein lies the problem.  It seems to adjust the gain, but considering there's a switch for that already, I'm probably wrong.  The recording never clipped though so I figure I couldn't have been too far off with the settings.)

I recorded one show without the preamp and the vocals are very prominent.  Unfortunately, I set mic sensitivity to high so there is a lot of clipping.  However, I think I can still conclude that the preamp is causing the vocals to be overshadowed by the instruments.  Basically, my question is how should I set the preamp to make the vocals more prominent in future recordings?  Also, what can I do with the recordings I already made in order to make the vocals louder?  I tried using the Dynamic Processing Effect in Adobe Audition, but I couldn't get that to help.

Here are clips from a couple recordings:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=84JNJIZ7 - recorded with preamp.  I sat right next to the speakers.  mp3 file

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KOOSHDIE - wav file.  same clip as above.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=09AC6JK4 - no preamp.

I don't know if this will make a difference in the recommendations, but I should probably add that I only tape Broadway shows and orchestral performances.

Thanks.

[ethan]

How did it sound in the room to your ears?


Do you have Cards or Hypers? I'm guessing the omni's are picking up too much reverberant and reflective sound and not enough direct sound from the PA.

[BayTaynt3d]

I don't think how you set the preamp is playing a very big role in this. The mics just pick up what they "hear." If you set the preamp too high, you'll clip, and if you set it too low, you'll get more hiss after normalizing in post, but either way, the balance of the vocals in the mix will probably be about the same. It's all about where you set your mics and what the balance in the room actually was. Vocals can be a bitch...

[(((KB)))]

... what can I do with the recordings I already made in order to make the vocals louder?...

I posted a fequency chart a while ago in reference to Post Production and eq'ing.
http://taperssection.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=60093.0;attach=34232
For vocal fundimentals It says:
Bass: 87-392 Hz
Tenor: 131-494 Hz
Alto: 175-698 Hz
Soprano: 247-1175 Hz
You will probably end up boosting more than just the vocals, but it's nice to know what Feq. ranges to play with.

-K