Vocal tone - BR80 Settings

[Hilary]

Hi guys - I'm happy with my vocal tone on the internal mics but have never really liked the tone with my Rode NT1-A. I've been reading up on it and apparently the modern mics (in particularly the Rode) are designed to brighten up vocal tones - well I have a naturally very bright tone and don't want it any brighter, which is probably why I'm never happy with the sound. They also say it can make the lower register seem very thin, which I would also agree with. They recommend other mics to buy or vintage mics but I don't want to spend anymore money.

I was wondering if there are any settings anyone can recommend on the BR80 that might go some way to help this - all I can think of is the eq button on the BR mixer menu (lower the high and raise the low?) - also am I right in thinking it only comes into effect when it's mastered?

Thanks

[Geir]

How do you connect your Røde mic to the BR80? Through a mixer and to the line in?

In my experience the Røde mic should not give you a thinner sound compared to the buildt in mics. Indeed it should give a fuller sound.

If you are using the line-in, then the Røde mic will be recorded dry, no FX from BR80, but I expect you have effects on when recording with the buildt in mics.

[Hilary]

Hi Geir - the microphone picks up a much fuller sound (all the nuances) than the internal mics - here's the link

http://makebeats101.com/rode-nt1a-review/

and the quote that I'm not articulating very well

"One thing I noticed about this large diaphragm condenser is that it's bright. As a matter of fact, it's probably one of the brightest microphones I've ever used. If the vocalist already has a high pitched voice, this microphone will make their vocals sound even sharper — not exactly the optimal sound for a song. I've also found that the NT1-A has a tendency make singers with a deep, bassy and baritone voice sound thin.

Basically, if your vocal tones fall within either end of the frequency chart (either extremely high and trebly, or extremely low and bassy), I'm not confident that this is the right mic for you."

----
I'm plugging the Rode directly into the BR - interesting what you are saying about no FX because I'm sure I've used double voice and the harmonies before on the vocal COSM and it recorded ok (on my original Fat Duck and the Bear)? - oh I'm going to have to check that out now!

[AndyR]

Do you guys have parametric EQ on a BR-80?

I'm always messing with my lead vocal (in the mix, not when recording it).

There are 3 magic frequencies for a vocalist:

Hi - 5000Hz (brightness - make it brighter or duller)
Mid - 3000Hz ("breath" and hardness - make it harder or softer)
Lo - 200Hz ("body" - warmth and dullness - make it fatter or thinner)

Boost or cut them as necessary, I try to stay within +/-3 db changes. Start with a Q (bandwidth) of 1.0 for each of them.

I've heard that 200Hz is the standard frequency for male singers - you need to experiment a bit to get the right one for a female singer.

The other thing is "proximity" - how close to the mic do you get? Closer gives warmer, but more chance of overload and breath-popping. (Eg. I'm within 1 to 2 inches of a large Condensor, with a pop screen, singing sideways to the mic, to get "warm and intimate")

This can give you some breath "clump" noises if you're that close. You can reduce those by cutting below 50-80Hz (without reducing the fullness of the voice as 200Hz).


BUT - as I understand it - messing with the EQ after the event is not nearly so good as "getting the right mic for the singer/song"...

Thing is, I can't afford the right mic for every situation - and that's just recording me!!!!

[Hilary]

If you are using the line-in, then the Røde mic will be recorded dry, no FX from BR80, but I expect you have effects on when recording with the buildt in mics.

Oh I must be missing something crucial here - I've attached a test vocal 1 plain, 2 delay and 3 reverb and I'm sure the effects are working from the BR on 2 and 3 (please ignore the clipping).

Andy I've no idea what a parametric EQ is but there's a little board where you and +/- the dbs so I'm guessing probably not. I haven't a clue what to do in Audacity for EQs so I that's got to be top of my To Do List to learn about that.

[AndyR]

If you've got it on a BR-80, Parametric EQ is your "best friend" once you've got to grips with it.

I strongly suspect that Audacity has got it if you're using that later in the chain.

I've got some crib sheets I found on the web that I use all the time (and they're what taught me what to do). There are links to these somewhere here on Songcrafters (mebbe search for "EQ Primer"?) ... but unfortunately I'm meant to be working at the moment... (My last post got truncated cos I was called away to actually do some work!! )

[Hilary]

Oh thanks - yeah me too,

If I had a £1 for every time I got distracted I'd be a . . . I wish I had a puppy

[Hilary]

I guess my next question is -

can anyone recommend a free parametric 7 band EQ plugin - or even a cheapish one I can buy - that's compatible with Audacity?

I've actually managed to download one but it's not very good!

[henwrench]

can anyone recommend a free parametric 7 band EQ plugin - or even a cheapish one I can buy - that's compatible with Audacity?

   I've had a look a long while back, couldn't find anything particularly useable or good.
       A good thing to really try and do is focus on the source. Don't ever forget, an EQ, no matter how good/expensive, CANNOT add something that's not there in the first place. Good use of EQ involves cutting frequencies, where possible don't add.
      As Andy R suggested, play around with mic placement, rooms etc. Try placing the mic way lower than you'd think and sing 'over' the mic rather than into it....

                                                            hwnwrench

[Hilary]

I agree with all your points Henny - re source - I like the tone on the internal mics so I don't think it's my actual voice although you have to know which songs to walk away from! I have looked at mic placement (till I'm blue in the face) and I've also looked at some tutorials re EQing and they also say about cutting the frequency - which at present I am unable to do on Audacity (something that I'll look into).

Now I think I know what the problem is there are vocal techniques I can do to do err reduce it's natural brightness. Surely there's a plugin I can buy or maybe look into running it through a mixer, or an editing package that has decent EQing (apologies if Audacity has and I just haven't found it yet).

I suppose I can always stick to the internal mics