Recording a Singer with Pre-mixed Tracks

craftech wrote on 7/22/2010, 10:10 AM

Hi,

I am primarily a Vegas Video user, but an actress asked me if I could record her singing for her website. I have some questions I was hoping someone here could answer.

1. Since background noise might be a problem, I am not sure if I need to rent a studio space in NYC for this or if there are less expensive alternatives.

2. I have the following equipment:

a. Tascam DP-008 recorder

b. An AT 4047 SV studio mike with a separate phantom power supply to power it.

c. A pop filter

d. Vegas 8.0 c

e. A bunch of PocketSongs tracks some of which sound fully orchestrated, others just piano. Some of the midi-sounding ones sound bad though and I won't use them.

3. When I figure out how to eliminate the background noise, how would you suggest I set up the equipment for recording her?

4. And how would you recommend I do the mix?

Thanks a lot,

John

Comments

Geoff_Wood wrote on 7/22/2010, 1:58 PM

In general terms:

1. Drop the backing track onto the timeline
2 . Select you audio interface, using an ASIO driver if available, in Options|Audio Device.
3. Add another audio track and set for single channel recording.
4. Enable 'Input Monitoring' on the new track if she needs an aural queue through the headphones.
5. Google 'vocal mic recording technique' or something similar for hints on mic setupup and recording tips. There may be something on www.soundonsound.com that might help.
6. Set levels to accept her maximum volume, and hit 'Record'.

There are also online tutorials here, specific to V9:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/support/trainingvids.asp?prod=vegaspro

geoff

musicvid10 wrote on 7/22/2010, 8:43 PM

Without seeming flip, hire a band. Tracks suck.

Live musicians adapt to vocalists better than vocalists adapt to tracks.

craftech wrote on 7/23/2010, 5:37 PM

Thanks Geoff. Actually I want to use the Tascam recorder to record her voice and then use Vegas for the mix. The Google search has turned up quite a bit about Home Recording. Thanks. I am sure it will provide the answers I am looking for.

John

craftech wrote on 7/23/2010, 5:39 PM

hire a band
=================
She has a cost limit that would prohibit it. But I agree, it would be much better.

Thanks,

John

farss wrote on 7/26/2010, 3:50 AM

"Actually I want to use the Tascam recorder to record her voice and then use Vegas for the mix"

Why?

You could play the backing track out of Vegas into her cans and record her into the Tascam and then mix it all back in Vegas, in theory.

The problem is the singer will not be able to hear herself and that's kind of important. I've also found the volume they hear the backing and themselves in the cans can make a big difference to how well they can sing. Might be different with professional vocalists but I've had one guy having a go who was hopeless until he got more foldback in his headphones.

For what it's worth I've used a Rode NT1A with a Reflexions filter behind it in my pretty "live" living room. Add Vegas , an old 486 and a M-Audio Firewire 410. I used the spare channel into the 410 for a "control room" mic so we could communicate without drama. The 410 has two headphone outputs which is also handy, one for me and one for the vocalist.

I've used the same setup for doing ADR as well. Just replaced the NT1A with a Sanken CMS-10 to kill any "room". I'm certain any of the more recent USB or firewire audio boxes would give you much the same outcome.

Bob.

Alf Hanna wrote on 1/5/2011, 2:45 PM

Revitalizing this old thread to ask a question. FARSS, what was the setup for your m-audio firewire? I just was given one, and wondered how to set it up with Vegas or Sound Forge. I can hook up the firewire in (or did you use the ADAT? I have updated drivers from M-Audio (not sure how well they'll work).

Any advice?