Topic: Help recording better vocals...

[MSTaper]

Ok, I've been recording with my church audio cards>STC-9000>R-09 for a couple months now.

My results vary and I'm realizing that these mics pick up just what's coming in ( I guess that's true for all mics, but bear with me.)

I've recorded in a variety of venues, mostly clubs, some with low ceilings and brick walls and systems that might need to be tweaked a bit.

Is there any way to get a better recording when you have vocals that sound a bit strained or maybe even distorted? I've had this happen a couple times where I thought it might have been me running too hot or bad mic placement of my gain was too high. Then I spoke to folks at the show who admitted the vocals were a bit off.

I'm guessing that if a show sounds bad, as in the mix not being quite right, you're not going to get a great pull. Am I correct or are there any suggestions.

I can't always get in the sweet spot just because these places are small and I'm not going to set up where I KNOW people will be dancing, running around, etc. I've run my stc-9000 on 10db gain and 0 gain just to play around with varying results. I taped a show Saturday where immediately we could tell the vocals were off. Sure enough, the show, even though I recorded from the left side about 9' high, sounded good, but the vocals sounded exactly like they did live.

Enough rambling. any suggestions or have I answered my own question.

Thanks for all the great assistance I've received in the past.   rWc3523

[Belexes]

Your recording is only as good as what you receive from you FOH mix. 

What I have done is gotten to know some of the locals that run sound for bands and made suggestions for the mix, politely of course...I don't want to bruise their egos.  One band will let me mess with the faders on their behalf.  Their saxophonist runs sound, so when he is up on stage playing, I get to "fix the mix."   

[MSTaper]

Thanks, that's what I expected. Garbage in, garbage out, so to speak.

I've gotten to know a lot of the musicians here (helps to write about them!) and tell then what it sounded like. Sometimes they know it's bad. I feel bad for the bands when a venue won't let someone work with them to get a better sound.

Guess I'll just work on making the best of it. I might play with mic positioning, gain settings just for fun.

Thanks for verifying what I was thinking. rWc3523

[dorrcoq]

I use the same equipment you do, Russ, and I've noticed a few times that the vocals were clearer on my recording than how they had sounded like to me at the show.  Not sure if that is something to do with my ears, or what? 

[boojum]

I am assuming you are recording amp'ed music from the stacks.  If so you are at the mercy of their sound equipment.  My advice is to not record at a high gain/loud volume.  You can correct that in post processing with normalizing.  Normalizing raises the volume evenly to just under distortion, if you set it that way.  I stay about -2dB under 0.  When I record at a low volume I have lots of headroom and do not have the problem of sound distortion and brickwalling.  YMMV


Cheers

[MSTaper]

You're correct, Boojum. The last time out I went with a +10db gain on the STC-9000 and 0 gain for the second set (by accident actually, but I left it to see how it would come out), I also kept the recording volume a little lower than usually, maybe more than 2db below 0. I was happy with the sound. Wish I could post a sample. I'll figure out how and let y'all check it out.

I'm very happy with everything else I get, guitars, drums, bass, keys. If the mix is good, I can usually get a decent pull, of course all with the real live sound of drunk fans in bars in between!  If the vocals aren't turned up too high, it's cool.

I'm going back to the scene of a very sub par recording (I expected a lot more) this weekend for a pretty cool show, Glossary from Murfreesboro and a local band, Lauderdale. I'll go with lower or 0 gain, since the show WILL be loud, and a lower input on the R-09. Wish me luck.

Thanks guys! rWc3523

[Church-Audio]

You're correct, Boojum. The last time out I went with a +10db gain on the STC-9000 and 0 gain for the second set (by accident actually, but I left it to see how it would come out), I also kept the recording volume a little lower than usually, maybe more than 2db below 0. I was happy with the sound. Wish I could post a sample. I'll figure out how and let y'all check it out.

I'm very happy with everything else I get, guitars, drums, bass, keys. If the mix is good, I can usually get a decent pull, of course all with the real live sound of drunk fans in bars in between!  If the vocals aren't turned up too high, it's cool.

I'm going back to the scene of a very sub par recording (I expected a lot more) this weekend for a pretty cool show, Glossary from Murfreesboro and a local band, Lauderdale. I'll go with lower or 0 gain, since the show WILL be loud, and a lower input on the R-09. Wish me luck.

Thanks guys! rWc3523

Just remember on the 9000 + 30 is NOT for recording loud shows more for theatre shows and acoustic levels of 103 db or less.

Chris

[MSTaper]

Thanks Chris, I recorded a couple shows with +30, but have since gone to +10 or 0 with much better results.

Thanks, rWc3523

[boojum]

Volume: you can always add more, in post, but it is the devil's own job top take it away, in post. 

[MSTaper]

Yeah, I've found that to be the case. I've been experimenting ,sometimes by accident,  and I've run my recording levels somewhat lower just to see how it will come out. I've got a show in a building where my last recording was mediocre at best. But if they get the vocals right, it should come out OK. Happy T-giving! rWc3523