EQ and Vocals

Reign wrote on 3/11/2004, 7:23 AM

I'm just wondering if you guys think that there is a universal (or commonly good) set up for vocals as far as cutting frequencies below a certain point and cutting all freq. above a certain point...

Sometimes it seems there is too much bass in the vocals I record and you can hear it in the speakers cause they will drown out the kicks a lil for example...

thx

Comments

drbam wrote on 3/11/2004, 7:43 AM

Yes you want to roll off the low end of your vocals - sometimes a lot - and anything else that may be occupying the same frequency space as the bass and kick. Start with around 160 and experiment from there. Make sure to experiment it while listening to the entire mix. Once you get it *right,* its not unusal to find that if you solo the vocal or guitars, they sound like crap by themselves. ;-)

drbam

Reign wrote on 3/11/2004, 9:14 AM

I guess that's what I don't understand. When you look at an EQ and you say roll off around 160...why do u go with 160?

Rednroll wrote on 3/11/2004, 9:45 AM

Too much bass in your vocals is usually due to the proximity effect. This happens when you close mic something (ie within 1 ft). The proximity effect increases the amount of bass in a vocal and only happens when using directional (cardiode, hypercardiode, bi-directional)microphones. Usually 160Hz and below. Most studio quality mics have a bass roll-off switch to reduce this bass added due to close micing. You'll see 75Hz and 150Hz roll-off positions. Micing within 6inches you'ld probably use the 150Hz setting, micing within 1ft., you would use the 75Hz setting and when micing greater than 1 ft. you put it in the off position. Some mics have a buikt in bass roll-off which is always on, which means this mic is only intended to be used for close micing use.

"why do u go with 160?"
That's not only the area that is effected by the proximity effect, it's you bass frequencies and you said there was too much bass. I'ld suggest you start plying around with a graphic EQ and start to overly boast and cut frequencies, and soon you will be able too listen to audio and know exactly what frequency needs to be adjusted.

Reign wrote on 3/23/2004, 7:30 AM

So if I had a condenser mic would that fix that problem of too much bass?

Chienworks wrote on 3/23/2004, 7:58 AM

A condenser mic can still be directional or omni. It's the pickup pattern that matters, not the transducer type.

stakeoutstudios wrote on 3/24/2004, 1:37 AM

too much bass is often caused by the proximity effect - backing away a bit from a good condenser or ribbon mic can yeild good results.

cosmo wrote on 3/24/2004, 8:15 AM

Would anyone agree with me that to get a truly awesome vocal recording, one must not only have the proper mic and EQ settings, but a vocalist who knows how to physically use the mic? It seems to me that one of the most important things is for the vocalist to know how to use the microphone and the space around it? Kinda how a good vocalist knows how much to back off a mic when they reeeally get to whailing. Just a thought to throw in the mix here.

The best results you'll ever have start with a great performance.

stakeoutstudios wrote on 3/26/2004, 1:21 AM

Yeah, of course a good vocalist is helpful! However, I've turned a lot of straw into gold in my time... (or at very least silver)