Hi there -

I've read through this forum quite a bit and love the wealth and level of knowledge available..

I do have a question to pose - I am in a band called IVEY that recently recorded a self produced demo with a Fostex D-80 (a dinosaur, I know, but worked ('well' might be too strong of a word) alright for out endeavors) - However, when I recorded the vocals for the demo, they came out kind of trebbley and tinney -

My question is this - In a DIY kind of project, what is the best way to get natural sounding vocals?

We don't have a lot of studio technology at our desposal, and basically our recording equipment brakes down like this:

1 Marshal MXL Condensor Microphone
2 Shure AXS mics (cheap, i know but relatively effective)
2 TOA unidirectional mics (model I'm unsure of as they are salvages)
2 lesser quality radio shack type microphones (one is actually a V Tech)

Fostex D80 digital 8 track
Behrenger 10 Channel Mixer (It's small, but all i've got - we also have access to a 24 ch. Makie, but was too complicated to use in the time alloted)
Alesis Quadraverb GT (I use primarily for compression and FX - This is what I ran my vocals thru)

Though our equipment is not prestigious to any degree, I know there has to be a better way to reproduce vocals on a digital platform - My usual technique involved using a Shure SM58 B thru this quadraverb and eq-ing the vox afterwards, but I still get a trebbley sound that seems to sit 'on top' of the track rather than mixing with the sound the band makes - I had had better luck with this formula when I recorded with tape machines (remember those? )...

Any Ideas?

Thanks!!

Sean
IVEY

(Oh, you can also hear what this tragedy created at www.myspace.com/ivey - 'Where With All' and 'Said and Done' have vocals added)

What is the Quadraverb for? Reverb? You may want to hold off on that. I am not too familiar with that unit but I do know on some of those multi effect units that the presets are kinda bogus. I have in the past used a Yamaha thing for reverb for someone's headphone mix (don't ask) and I remember having to dial out all the high end of the reverb to make it sound halfway listenable.

OK, looking back at your post I see you are using it for compression. That is good. I was going to suggest a little touch of compression. I often use it in tracking really like a limiter... not too much but enough to keep it from pegging the meter.

Also, I have had better luck with large diaphragm condensers with vocals. I know some people will tell you that is a bad idea but I have had good luck with them (AT-4033, AT-4050). Though I have not used the Marshal mics, I would assume that may be your best bet from what you have.

My opinion....

Get closer to the mic for more pronounced proximity effect?
n

Those are definitely some good ideas -

The quadraverb does furnish a lot of reverbs, but i dont tend to use them very often - sometimes, I use overdrive to give the vocals an extra "kick", but not usually -

The MXL has done well for me in recording the ambient sound of the group, so by and large, that's what I have used it for - I have actually wanted to try it on vocals, but to date haven't, so I'll more than likely be giving that a try.. I would imagine the best room to do that kind of work in would be the bathroom -

Thanks for the ideas.. hopefully something good will come out of this.

Part of the question may involve the particular MXL mic. The 2001 is notorious for abrasive high end. Some others are less so. The 603 wouldn't be my first, or even close to first, choice for vocals.

Next question is how are you monitoring yourself? Does the recorded sound match teh sound in your headphones? Get it right going in, and it should sound right coming out.[/u]