JeepeeRock
Assisstant
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
Posts: 32
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| Can't record decent vocals |
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Hi, maybe this question will sound weird, but anyway...
When I record my vocals, I can't get a decent sound (and it's not signer fault:))
What is weird, is that when I hear myself on the soundcheck and even record playback, the vocal is warm, smooth, clear, perfect.
When once the vocals are recorded, it seems thin, muffy and not good at all. And when I try to add some effect, the sound is even worst.
Here's my setup:
My mic is a shure 58
Mackie 1202: I use it for the pre-amp.
Mbox 2
Pro-tools 7.3
Someone has an idea?
Thank you!
Pro-tools |
Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:19 pm |
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wailingalleycat
Forum Manager
Joined: 07 Oct 2003
Posts: 694
Location: Jersey C.I (UK) |
HI,
this is an odd one, firstly let me clarify, when you listen back through your headphones whilst recording it sounds fine? but then once its recorded and played back the sound is bad?
For the sake of troubleshooting connect your mic directly to the mic input on the Mbox 2, put on a pair of headphones, load up pro tools and drop the track its routed to into record ready. Now with the headphones and mic turned up, sweep the "mix" control on the mbox from fully left to fully right and back. is there a big difference in the sound? bare in mind there is inherent latency when the control is fully anti-clockwise or partially clockwise.
Also when you are recording do you monitor through your mackie mixer or out of the Mbox? |
Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:12 pm |
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JeepeeRock
Assisstant
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
Posts: 32
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quote:
Originally posted by wailingalleycat
HI,
this is an odd one, firstly let me clarify, when you listen back through your headphones whilst recording it sounds fine? but then once its recorded and played back the sound is bad?
[JP] Exactly!
For the sake of troubleshooting connect your mic directly to the mic input on the Mbox 2, put on a pair of headphones, load up pro tools and drop the track its routed to into record ready. Now with the headphones and mic turned up, sweep the "mix" control on the mbox from fully left to fully right and back. is there a big difference in the sound? bare in mind there is inherent latency when the control is fully anti-clockwise or partially clockwise.
[JP] I'll try this and i'll come back to you
Also when you are recording do you monitor through your mackie mixer or out of the Mbox?
[JP] Through my mackie
[JP] Thank you!
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Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:20 pm |
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djl
Newbie
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 7
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the sm58 makes for a good live mic not so much for recording vocals though. your set up sounds nice up to the mic if you looking for somthing in the same price range as the 58 you could try the mxl condenser mics by marshell. they sound pretty good for the price. your problem could also come from the fact you are using a pre amp on a dynamic mic though i havent had much problem with doing so, i know shure is pretty strong against it. for the pre are you using it to boost your signal or are you adding phantom power? |
Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:55 pm |
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wailingalleycat
Forum Manager
Joined: 07 Oct 2003
Posts: 694
Location: Jersey C.I (UK) |
| Phantom power |
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quote:
Originally posted by djl
your problem could also come from the fact you are using a pre amp on a dynamic mic though i havent had much problem with doing so, i know shure is pretty strong against it. for the pre are you using it to boost your signal or are you adding phantom power?
I assume you meant to say "you are using phantom power" instead of pre-amp there. every mic needs a pre-amp. just thought id point it out to avoid confusion. |
Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:31 pm |
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JeepeeRock
Assisstant
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
Posts: 32
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Thanks all for your help. It seems that I should get myself a new mic. My Shure Sm58 does not seem to do the job. The result is not bad, but it still not what im looking for.
ciao! |
Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:35 pm |
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djl
Newbie
Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 7
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i was assumeing the use of an external pre to boost it instead of the internal pre amp he should have on the m-box. just woundering if the phantom power was on or not. but yes all mics do need a preamp. sorry if i caused any confusion on that  |
Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:20 pm |
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JeepeeRock
Assisstant
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
Posts: 32
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but is it good to use both pre-amp? because my mackie output goes into my mbox xlr input. |
Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:23 pm |
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Rmuse
Family Friend
Joined: 13 Nov 2006
Posts: 109
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| SM58 not the problem |
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Hey there JPR,
I tried that exact setup (SM58 - mic pre - M-Box - ProTools, and got a nice signal. I also did the mic directly into the MBox and also worked okay, but the signal was not as strong (needed the mic-pre). I don't think it's just the microphone. If you are getting a good signal to the session and it's not playing back like you hear on input, that is strange.
Can you try a different microphone? The Shure 58 should work just fine. I certainly wouldn't apply phantom power although I've done this on accident and nothing bad happened. Anyhow, see if you can try a different mic. WailingAlleyCat's suggestion of checking out the mix control on the MBox is a good one. I never heard latency until I tried the mix control just last night. The beauty of a stand alone recorder (for me) is that I've never had latency issues as in a DAW. I thought I had some delay plug-in on ProTools. I had to dig out an instruction book to figure out the latency. What an epiphony!! Being old-school does have lots of 'a-ha' moments as I am learning ProTools.
Cheers |
Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:26 pm |
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