I don't believe that for a second dude! This is vocal recoding 101. I can't believe you even watched 100 videos on vocal recording lol!!!! It is a very good video though :o)
I’ve been a sound engineer in Hollywood for 16 years and everything in this video should be absolutely studied by people that are just starting out. Great video!
Mike is a legend eh. Grateful to be able to help share his knowledge with you here. (we've done a few other little clips now in case they're useful to you also etc). Happy recording!
This guy is using a lot of older/budget equipment. he doesn't have a massive console, he doesn't have racks and racks of gear, but.... he really knows what he's doing!! His tips are far more valuable then half the crap coming out on youtube these days. Especially his tips on mic placement and usage, I can't tell you how many people abuse mics because of a video or two that they saw where the singers right up on top of the mic.
This guy is so clear and lucid in his explanations. He explains everything so well. He would make a brilliant teacher. He doesn't waffle on and really gets to the point. I also like the way he conducts himself. Excellent video!
I would like to add for some people that may not know is the mic you use will have a big effect on issues. For those that always use a condenser mic that mic will pick up a huge amount of the room. Try using a dynamic mic which will keep room noise very low especially if you have untreated room. In fact there are times that the vocal quality and tone of a singer can benefit more from a dynamic mic than a condenser or ribbon. Expensive mics don't mean the right match to the singer. Many hit songs on vocals were recorded on a less expensive dynamic mic. I hope this helps
When we talk about style over substance this guy is exactly the reverse. not flashy , not showy not full of himself but what he is saying is absolute gold dust. sensible advice and making 100% sense. I like the cut of his jib !
9:20 Singing across or slightly off axis into the mic to prevent plosives and pops; I've been doing this for years and it works great. Brilliant idea! Thanks for demonstrating this.
I heard someone explain the antiplosive trick as "aim the mic at the mouth instead of the mouth at the mic" and found it a PERFECT explanation to memorize and understand 👏. Great video!!!
Dude this is one of the best videos I have ever watched regarding this. I just scrolled down and found out that a lot of the people here agree with that. All this information is worth so much money, this knowledge is so densely packed and you can tell it's real by the way he explains everything because of his experience.
The more videos I watch on recording and production, the more my growing passion for the art form burns. 8 years ago at the age of 14 I pirated my first copy of FL Studio and started making god awful EDM. I had no idea that now at the age of 22 I would be making plans to build a proper home studio with a view to becoming a producer and mixing engineer. I feel like I have found my calling in life and my knowledge and experience is growing daily. I feel like I’ve learned and practiced enough now to start working on a professional level, and I haven’t felt so passionate about something in years. Thanks for this fantastic video, there’s absolutely no limit to what you can learn.
Dude, reading this just made me so happy. In 2001, I pirated a copy of "FruityLoops" (as it was named back then), and started making the quality of hip-hop beat you'd expect from a 4th grader. 10 years later, I was signed to a small label, making enough to earn a living if I worked hard enough. I still have a nice catalog of artists that I work with (Rittz, Jelly Roll, among others that you may have heard of), and I love seeing comments like these while I continue to learn and get better. Best of luck to you in the future, man.
Extremely helpful, although I’ve been a vocalist for many years both live and studio work I’m a total technophobe. I’m not totally happy with home recording results I’ve had so far. This video however is a game changer. Huge thank you to you both.
Laughed out loud on the 'Lispy' part of the conversation. Brought back memories of me trying to fine-tune the DBS 286 'de-esser' years ago!!! :-) I would add one other issue to your list. Vocalists moving back and forth while they sing - completely changes the volume and tone of the recording. Volume can be fixed but tone is a whole other ball game. Superglue all 'dancing' vocalists feet to the floor! :-)
Wow! Mike. I think i did some recordings with you in Walmer, Port Elizabeth years ago. I was in a band. Good memories. You new your stuff then. Imagine the knowledge you have now.
I absolutely loved Mike's knowledge he so graciously shared. I'm a Indie Gospel Artist. I'm about to purchase a mic and this knowledge was right on time. Bless you for your giving out of what probably took you years of schooling to learn.
Wooow... I have never learnt so much in 1 video than from Mike. This guy is so knowledgeable, experienced and most of all, humble. He hasn't the slightest bit of ego and talks of getting home audio, although he's got a professional recording studio. Hats off!!
"you can tell when someone's just bought a desser, everything is lisping and there are no S's" hahah mikeZ the man, great of david to let the master extol his knowledge, i hate interviewers that feel the urge to add their two cents every second... dave asked the right amount of questions and all i can say is thanks to both of you for making and sharing this awesome video
The sibilance thing is a great refresher, loved that example where the “see” is getting ducked. It’s unknowingly something I hear in most songs but have never picked up on.
Great video. I’m older and just starting out recording as I want to leave some music around for my kids to pass on after I’m not around anymore. Your tips were a great place to start. Thanks again. I’m now a subscriber….
hey Wayne! Love this comment and all the best with your recording - what an awesome reason for it! Reach out at any stage if you think I can contribute or you get stuck 😊
this is SO GOOD these tips are going to make a difference on NICU's upcoming debut album (self-produced) love how you keep it simple and on the key points, that really helps me. So many videos give me information overload and no takeaways. My takeaways from this video are mainly about avoiding unfixable mistakes that can ruin my otherwise "perfect" vocal take: - don't record too hot anywhere and clip - don't catch plosives - don't catch sibilance - don't catch ambient noise or reverb (this is the easy part, I built myself an incredible DIY vocal booth at home for under $500 :) If the performance is good and those errors aren't present, it's gonna be something favorable that we can work with further in the DAW or external hardware. appreciate this info, really feel lucky that you're sharing it for free. I promise it's making a difference out here EDIT: also HELL YEAH that Rode NT-1A is the same main vocal mic I have in my booth already!!! I feel so validated XD
I was told to practice speaking as though you’ve had an exorbitant amount of garlic, and you’re on an interview. It takes practice but it helps your popping. (In addition to off axis) This was great… and the interviewer did a masterful job. Really enjoyed this one! Thx for sharing.
Hi Michael, I agree. I've bought two brand new Røde NT2000's during a stock sale in my country (Belgium) for almost half the price and I can confirm that these two puppies are simply stunning mics. No need for an U87 at all. 👍😉 The NT2000's are the somewhat bigger brothers of the NTA1's. I record vocals with them, guitars, even soundscapes and field recordings in mid/side configuration and they do sound amazing. The details in the recordings are impressive. I can set the gain of my ZOOM H6 inputs to 10 and still hear no noise at all. You can hear an airplane coming from far away, in my headphone (Beyerdynamic DT1770) , long before you can hear them live. The sens of 3D in mid/side configuration is like in a cinema. With your eyes closed, you can point to where a sound is coming from, really joyfull stuff. For voices they sound very natural and clear, greetings Sven
Love this guy's attitude. On De-Essing: Learning how to make a side-chain setup/effect with a compressor and EQ will do amazing things for those Esses, it really has helped me tremendously and has perfected conquering this to make great vocals whenever this comes on as a problem with one of my own recordings, which all depends on what I need to bring out of the vocal I recorded when mixing...causing me to need to de-ess before hand, but can also depend on the mic I choose to use for a project, and/or micing techniques during recording. Either way, learning to de-ess affords you more freedom in all of these areas.
David Shanhun Fixed my whole world, adjusting dry gain and leaving wet at unity and then playing with the threshold of the compressor works beautifully for me. I use Reaper software in particular.
Thanks for keeping the video online despite all the negative comments about the quality of the audio. It's really useful and I really enjoyed the suggestions especially for mic position. 🙏
most welcome. My fault on mucking up the audio in this.. so it was either keep it hidden on my Hard Drive or share it all the same. So happy to see it's helping lots of other muso's suss their recordings 😊
this video is absolutely amazing! SO MUCH GOOD INFO! Especially since making music is hobby for me rather than a job, I don't have a lot of time to put into studying the technical aspects (even though i would love to dedicate more time), so this video is all gold!! And facinating!
As others have said. This video covers the topic better then most on YT. The whole time I'm watching this im thinking of an episode I just watched of Gunsmoke western. Throughout the whole episode there is terrible sibilance or something. It sounded like the echoing Jason noises. I noticed it right away. I had to convince my dad and cousin it was there. Once they finally noticed it they couldn't ignore it, like me. It was so distracting eventually we had to turn it. This is the episode in question if you ever feel the need to revisit the topic again.
This was super helpful, thanks! My mic stand doesn’t allow for tilting so I’m going to try turning it ever so slightly to reduce pops missed by my pop filter.
Probably the cleanest, most down to earth and informative video and explanation of technique that I've ever seen. Learned a lot from this, thank you very much :)
I agree with most of the things suggested in this video, except for a few things: 1) Using a reflective shield might cause more issues than it solves. Comb filtering in particular, where some less than perfect shields reflects certain frequencies from the direct signal (your voice) which the mic picks up. 2) All for the mattressing in the corner in a V- or U-shape. Standard, and excellent, practice. But don't sing towards the mattresses/corners - sing outwards in the room. The mic pattern is most likely cardioid anyway so having the back and sides covered is where money/mattresses/duvets should be spent.
Yeah, but regarding the #2, I've found (at least in my case) it's WAY better to do the opposite, because after all your voice won't bounce the hell out of everywhere, as clothing will absorb a lot of its energy. So to me, it's better to sing into a closet instead of doing the opposite trying to make the most of a cardioid pattern.
lots of great stuff here. Lovely little trick as the singer get s closer is to gently turn up the vocal in the Artists' headfones. Keeps them happier and lets them deliver rather than sing harder. Also, tilting the mic is great. Tilting down captures that lovely warmer tone , and tilting up is less so , but nice and light.
I think for a home studio he should also talk about mic choice. I have been a self-taught engineer for 30 years and I have a whole array of expensive vocal mics but on occasions, I have even recorded someone with an SM58 using a nearfield monitor as the sound just worked. It is all very well trying for a super accurate vocal sound but if it doesn't suit the voice and sit in the mix, you may as well try anything. I was amazed it worked and it taught me not to be so snobby about the way we record.
Possibly a good option for another video down the track- thankyou. Main thing with this one was to explain if some of these things don’t get sorted, then which mic you choose will be irrelevant haha (eg if you record everything clipped etc).
This reminded me of something I heard in a Paul Mc Cartney interview. He mentioned that there was a particular place in his home where he wrote certain songs, he just loved the way things sounded there. Ultimately, a little knowledge, some experimentation, and practice seem to be the way to go ...
Dear David Shanhun, I suggest you make a video series of conversations with this audio master. If you and the owner of Manuka studio deal with other topics related to recording and processing audio, I am convinced that the traffic on your channel will increase significantly just like the number of subscribers. I am a complete beginner in this field but I have learned a lot by listening to fantastic tips just like recording and processing audio tips and tricks. Greetings from Split, Dalmatia, Croatia, EU
Hi Zoran! That's been on my mind also - it's been awesome seeing how much everybody has appreciated this info and chat that we filmed, and I think it's on my radar to look at exactly what you've suggested. Out of curiosity - what would be on your mind that you'd want to learn - any specific concepts/tips/areas of knowledge you would appreciate?
@@davidshanhun ...I too am a Newbie to this...Here are a few of my ideas on this subject...1) Setting levels on your interface & DAW for PEAK performance(I'm told -9 to around -15 Db is good and leaves enough Headroom...2) Routing issues with Interface , into DAW , buses , sends ,etc.... Very much needed info for beginners as well ... 3) Different mics and their strengths/weaknesses and the "Best mics For" type of thing 4) Any Mixing Tips/Tricks , etc... He would be willing to divulge lol... 5)Instrument recording(Guitar) and BEST way to achieve sound you want...ie. Amp Sims , What Amps sound like this or that & Mic placement with those Amps ,etc.... Ya know man..ALL THE BASIC STUFF!!!! lol lol ....anyways , Thanks for the video and keep em coming to help all us new-comers out!!! Stay Safe...
ah bro that's gold haha! Mike is a legend mate - we've done a few other vids around vocals and guitars for recording/mixing etc that you might dig. Flick me a connect on Insta man!
Mike's one of the most genuine and generous people in the industry. So happy to be able to share this info with you all. Hope lots of awesome music gets created from it :)
Thank you so much for this. I make online video courses and the sound quality is really important to me, I've not been fully satisfied with my audio, but with these tips I am sure it will help a ton, so again thank you!
Last project was 'in studio' so all this was taken care of - I have a few personal projects - just trying to lift the presentation quality - they're still sketches per say - but I would like them to be best as possible for sound --- still learning - but that vid was very (very) useful. One of my traps - which you guys touched on for sound quality (but is a biggie for sound consistency) is 'mike position' - and how critical it is to maintain that position through the 'whole tracking' (lol) ... so here's me moving head/voice around the mike too much - coming at it from different angle during a single track/take (you know if you stop and re record a piece - theres a real need to get back to the exact same position) a minor change in voice angle can drastically alter the sound recorded - and can be very difficult to mix into an existing take.
This is gold. Seriously been watching so many shorter TH-cam friendly videos from people who I now realise aren't all that experienced. Some Qs too: 1. Any tips for mouth noise? Besides being hydrated etc is there anything one can do with mic placement etc that can help? 2. Thoughts on the Shure SM7b? 3. Is Manuka Studio still running in Orewa and is the $50 mastering offer still on?
Hey Edward! Mike is a legend and so generous with sharing useful info! Glad it's been helpful! I've found with mouth noise if I'm editing in post I go in and remove some of it - have found it most annoying with girls with super slick lip gloss haha! No particularly useful tips from me other than where it's a bit problem I've spent time removing it later! I've never used the SM7b but lots of people rave about it! What are you mainly recording? Manuka studios is still running - would be up to Mike to say yay or nay to the offer - flick him a message at manukastudios@slingshot.co.nz though 👌
I was able to reduce sibilance with a tip I found on the web. Basically I worked my way through the recorded audio file, finding every S, and reducing its amplitude by 50%. I probably could have removed some of the high end using EQ on it as well, but it wasn't necessary. It's time-consuming, but it works. You definitely don't want some global EQ to mess up the vowels, which is where the real meat of a vocal lives.
@@TheRealDirtySkillz I never tried one, but I'm worried about what it would do to the other parts of the music. Maybe I'll give it a try one of these days.
I just got my 414 XLS and am getting ready to work on technique! Good primer for me here. I'm considering the angle of mic placement for the plosives and wondering if the downward or upward angle may be selected according to the preference of voice type. For instance, the chest resonance of a tenor will show up more with the cardoid pointing toward the lower half of their body as opposed to the ceiling. And a breathy voice can sound even more so, I would imagine, if the mic favored the opposite direction where the nasal and lip smacking sounds may be louder.
Might be a case of experimenting with what works best for each different singer - if you're getting the tone you want then nobody will care how you got there in the end haha!
Awesome! There speaks true experience. I like the passion and the no-nonsense, too. Going to try out the mike adjustments first. Would like to see more in the future , learned a lot.
Was recording a buddy a while back doing some Chris Cornell Soundgarden style stuff. His mug was right up on the grill of a U-47 with no pop filter! I giggled and took a picture while he was doing it! Friggin bad ass Cause he was so #*@kin loud! Neighbor's a block down the road probably heard him! lol He is Very Pro doing those angle tricks and pushing into the mic / neve preamp as needed naturally. No pop filter needed! Yet another artist later, a very soft singer needed all the pop filters etc. As an engineer makes yeah smile when you get a bad ass in the studio that does not need that stuff!:)
I have found that recording my vocals in my closet is the best place. I have an isolation shield for the microphone; however, I get better results using that in my closet. The clothes help absorb even more ambient noise.
Best video ever about this topic. Answered so many of my burning questions as a guy with a deeper voice with proximity issues. Thanks a million. I am grateful!
years of solid experience, amazing teaching skills, and still uses the humble old NT1. Speaks volumes of the guy, and also about the so-called YT influencers who try to push expensive gear for nothing.
Damn, i have used my Pop Filter wrong all the time... And my vocal recordings also allways Turn Out Low End heavy and dull. Its wierd i allways thought i was far away enough. Thank you for this Video
Open your closet and you have a bunch of clothes hanging in there. Get your mic right up next to that clothes and sing into the closet. Also make your own DIY Kaotica eyeball and place over the top of the mic or just buy an Electron PF8 for $25 on eBay.
A real great explanation in half an hour. Thank you so very much. I knew about popps, sibilance and so on, already. But all the little hints alongside are precious for me. Greeting to New Zealand from Germany and keep healthy in this Corona age ... ;-)
Explain, if you stand at the distance of the microphone or speak not exactly into it, but somewhere to the side or not exactly in the center, are not the particles of the voice signal lost? I always thought that the more accurately you direct your voice into the microphone, the better it will record the voice
one of the comments on here from someone summed things up beautifully stating 'aim the mic at the mouth, not the mouth at the mic'. You are correct if you take this to the extreme and face completely away from the microphone, but using a condensor mic you'll hear how well it captures your vocals. I suggest recording two separate takes for yourself to hear if there's a distinguishable difference. You'll be the best judge on listening back to what sounds best for you! 😊
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
Learned more about my problem here then a at least 100 other videos I watched.
cool! I'm glad it was helpful to you!
I don't believe that for a second dude! This is vocal recoding 101. I can't believe you even watched 100 videos on vocal recording lol!!!! It is a very good video though :o)
@@davidshanhun This is my first one, so I guess thanks for saving me from having to watch 100 videos!
I have never seen a single video teach so much as this one. Mind blowing. Say thanks to him from me.
bro fr i took notes this shit is a god send
I’ve been a sound engineer in Hollywood for 16 years and everything in this video should be absolutely studied by people that are just starting out. Great video!
He somehow is able to break it down for total beginners without talking down to anyone. Really a master w no ego and an obvious love for his craft.
Mike is a legend eh. Grateful to be able to help share his knowledge with you here. (we've done a few other little clips now in case they're useful to you also etc). Happy recording!
This guy is using a lot of older/budget equipment. he doesn't have a massive console, he doesn't have racks and racks of gear, but.... he really knows what he's doing!! His tips are far more valuable then half the crap coming out on youtube these days. Especially his tips on mic placement and usage, I can't tell you how many people abuse mics because of a video or two that they saw where the singers right up on top of the mic.
hehe yep! I'll take the guy with understanding over the guy with the latest gear personally 😉
A lot of studios have big consoles and racks of gear because the client wants to see them. You’d be surprised how much stuff isn’t hooked up!
i agree totally hes down to earth you dont get that often
Thank you for sharing. It makes the research easier when people share their input.
This guy is so clear and lucid in his explanations. He explains everything so well. He would make a brilliant teacher. He doesn't waffle on and really gets to the point. I also like the way he conducts himself. Excellent video!
he's awesome eh!
I would like to add for some people that may not know is the mic you use will have a big effect on issues. For those that always use a condenser mic that mic will pick up a huge amount of the room. Try using a dynamic mic which will keep room noise very low especially if you have untreated room. In fact there are times that the vocal quality and tone of a singer can benefit more from a dynamic mic than a condenser or ribbon. Expensive mics don't mean the right match to the singer. Many hit songs on vocals were recorded on a less expensive dynamic mic. I hope this helps
This video should have 200 million views. Priceless knowledge.
When we talk about style over substance this guy is exactly the reverse. not flashy , not showy not full of himself but what he is saying is absolute gold dust. sensible advice and making 100% sense. I like the cut of his jib !
This is literally the most in depth and least intimidating educational video on mic placement and vocal takes. Thank you. Home studio gal here!
yay! Happy recording!!
Agreed!!
He somehow is able to break it down for total beginners without talking down to anyone. Really a master w no ego and an obvious love for his craft.
This is the most clear and detailed explanation how to improve my room recordings. Thanks. Two thumbs up 👍👍
Glad it was helpful! 👌 All the best with the new recordings!
9:20 Singing across or slightly off axis into the mic to prevent plosives and pops; I've been doing this for years and it works great. Brilliant idea! Thanks for demonstrating this.
Awesome Bob! These things are so handy when you know em eh!
I heard someone explain the antiplosive trick as "aim the mic at the mouth instead of the mouth at the mic" and found it a PERFECT explanation to memorize and understand 👏. Great video!!!
This is an excellent explanation!
@@davidshanhun yes, I found it unforgettable, isn't it?
@@fabiocaetanofigueiredo1353 yes!
Dude this is one of the best videos I have ever watched regarding this. I just scrolled down and found out that a lot of the people here agree with that. All this information is worth so much money, this knowledge is so densely packed and you can tell it's real by the way he explains everything because of his experience.
yeah Mike is amazing and feel lucky to be able to share his wisdom with you all!
The more videos I watch on recording and production, the more my growing passion for the art form burns. 8 years ago at the age of 14 I pirated my first copy of FL Studio and started making god awful EDM. I had no idea that now at the age of 22 I would be making plans to build a proper home studio with a view to becoming a producer and mixing engineer. I feel like I have found my calling in life and my knowledge and experience is growing daily. I feel like I’ve learned and practiced enough now to start working on a professional level, and I haven’t felt so passionate about something in years. Thanks for this fantastic video, there’s absolutely no limit to what you can learn.
I love this Nick! Love to see what you keep creating following your passion and enthusiasm brother!
Dude, reading this just made me so happy. In 2001, I pirated a copy of "FruityLoops" (as it was named back then), and started making the quality of hip-hop beat you'd expect from a 4th grader. 10 years later, I was signed to a small label, making enough to earn a living if I worked hard enough. I still have a nice catalog of artists that I work with (Rittz, Jelly Roll, among others that you may have heard of), and I love seeing comments like these while I continue to learn and get better. Best of luck to you in the future, man.
Extremely helpful, although I’ve been a vocalist for many years both live and studio work I’m a total technophobe. I’m not totally happy with home recording results I’ve had so far. This video however is a game changer. Huge thank you to you both.
This was incredible. I have had a horrible time with low end on my vocals. This was a God-send. Thanks to both of you!!
So happy to hear this! Happy recording 😊
Laughed out loud on the 'Lispy' part of the conversation. Brought back memories of me trying to fine-tune the DBS 286 'de-esser' years ago!!! :-) I would add one other issue to your list. Vocalists moving back and forth while they sing - completely changes the volume and tone of the recording. Volume can be fixed but tone is a whole other ball game. Superglue all 'dancing' vocalists feet to the floor! :-)
Wow! Mike. I think i did some recordings with you in Walmer, Port Elizabeth years ago. I was in a band. Good memories. You new your stuff then. Imagine the knowledge you have now.
Well put and very clarifying comments. And David, your kind, and I would say, humble attitude, was very nice and appropriate. Than you both!
Thank you 😊
i've never learned so much about recording in half an hour in my entire life. Thank you.
Ah that’s awesome to hear mate! Happy recording!
This was a fantastic interview! Mike looks like a fun guy to talk to!
Every minute of this video was worth to watch. Many thanks.
Appreciate the comment and trust you got some ace new skills for your recordings!
I absolutely loved Mike's knowledge he so graciously shared. I'm a Indie Gospel Artist. I'm about to purchase a mic and this knowledge was right on time. Bless you for your giving out of what probably took you years of schooling to learn.
So happy for the timing on this for you and wish you all the best. Mike is awesome eh! 👌
Where are you located????
Wooow... I have never learnt so much in 1 video than from Mike. This guy is so knowledgeable, experienced and most of all, humble. He hasn't the slightest bit of ego and talks of getting home audio, although he's got a professional recording studio. Hats off!!
"you can tell when someone's just bought a desser, everything is lisping and there are no S's" hahah mikeZ the man, great of david to let the master extol his knowledge, i hate interviewers that feel the urge to add their two cents every second... dave asked the right amount of questions and all i can say is thanks to both of you for making and sharing this awesome video
aww thank you. Glad that you enjoyed this!
The sibilance thing is a great refresher, loved that example where the “see” is getting ducked. It’s unknowingly something I hear in most songs but have never picked up on.
Great video. I’m older and just starting out recording as I want to leave some music around for my kids to pass on after I’m not around anymore. Your tips were a great place to start. Thanks again. I’m now a subscriber….
hey Wayne! Love this comment and all the best with your recording - what an awesome reason for it! Reach out at any stage if you think I can contribute or you get stuck 😊
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm grateful to have had an opportunity to stand on your shoulders.
I like the cadence in your approach when you speak about music production. Your delivery is very philosophical. I like that shit
Best half an hour I've spent regarding vocal recording. Thank you!
awesome!
this is SO GOOD
these tips are going to make a difference on NICU's upcoming debut album (self-produced)
love how you keep it simple and on the key points, that really helps me. So many videos give me information overload and no takeaways.
My takeaways from this video are mainly about avoiding unfixable mistakes that can ruin my otherwise "perfect" vocal take:
- don't record too hot anywhere and clip
- don't catch plosives
- don't catch sibilance
- don't catch ambient noise or reverb (this is the easy part, I built myself an incredible DIY vocal booth at home for under $500 :)
If the performance is good and those errors aren't present, it's gonna be something favorable that we can work with further in the DAW or external hardware.
appreciate this info, really feel lucky that you're sharing it for free. I promise it's making a difference out here
EDIT: also HELL YEAH that Rode NT-1A is the same main vocal mic I have in my booth already!!! I feel so validated XD
Really the best 30 minutes you can spend on studio production techniques. Must watch and save.
Cheers Dave!
One of the best audio videos of all times
Thanks. Mike is awesome eh!
agreed
David Shanhun he really is
I was told to practice speaking as though you’ve had an exorbitant amount of garlic, and you’re on an interview. It takes practice but it helps your popping. (In addition to off axis)
This was great… and the interviewer did a masterful job. Really enjoyed this one! Thx for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed this Kevin! 👌
Precious info :). So glad I didn't hear "you need a U87" to get the best vocal sound :)
haha love it!
Hi Michael, I agree. I've bought two brand new Røde NT2000's during a stock sale in my country (Belgium) for almost half the price and I can confirm that these two puppies are simply stunning mics. No need for an U87 at all. 👍😉 The NT2000's are the somewhat bigger brothers of the NTA1's. I record vocals with them, guitars, even soundscapes and field recordings in mid/side configuration and they do sound amazing. The details in the recordings are impressive. I can set the gain of my ZOOM H6 inputs to 10 and still hear no noise at all. You can hear an airplane coming from far away, in my headphone (Beyerdynamic DT1770) , long before you can hear them live. The sens of 3D in mid/side configuration is like in a cinema. With your eyes closed, you can point to where a sound is coming from, really joyfull stuff. For voices they sound very natural and clear, greetings Sven
Love this guy's attitude.
On De-Essing: Learning how to make a side-chain setup/effect with a compressor and EQ will do amazing things for those Esses, it really has helped me tremendously and has perfected conquering this to make great vocals whenever this comes on as a problem with one of my own recordings, which all depends on what I need to bring out of the vocal I recorded when mixing...causing me to need to de-ess before hand, but can also depend on the mic I choose to use for a project, and/or micing techniques during recording. Either way, learning to de-ess affords you more freedom in all of these areas.
Thanks for the de-essing compressing side chain combo 👌
David Shanhun Fixed my whole world, adjusting dry gain and leaving wet at unity and then playing with the threshold of the compressor works beautifully for me. I use Reaper software in particular.
Thanks for keeping the video online despite all the negative comments about the quality of the audio. It's really useful and I really enjoyed the suggestions especially for mic position. 🙏
most welcome. My fault on mucking up the audio in this.. so it was either keep it hidden on my Hard Drive or share it all the same. So happy to see it's helping lots of other muso's suss their recordings 😊
@@davidshanhun shit happens to everybody. More that ppl like to admit 😉 keep up the good work🙂
@@nomnomtutorials6884 thanks!
Excellent tutorial. Hats off.
Cheers!
this video is absolutely amazing! SO MUCH GOOD INFO! Especially since making music is hobby for me rather than a job, I don't have a lot of time to put into studying the technical aspects (even though i would love to dedicate more time), so this video is all gold!! And facinating!
stoked to hear this and thanks for taking the time to comment. Happy recording!
As others have said. This video covers the topic better then most on YT.
The whole time I'm watching this im thinking of an episode I just watched of Gunsmoke western.
Throughout the whole episode there is terrible sibilance or something. It sounded like the echoing Jason noises. I noticed it right away. I had to convince my dad and cousin it was there. Once they finally noticed it they couldn't ignore it, like me. It was so distracting eventually we had to turn it.
This is the episode in question if you ever feel the need to revisit the topic again.
Excellent video-learned a lot as a novice.
This was super helpful, thanks! My mic stand doesn’t allow for tilting so I’m going to try turning it ever so slightly to reduce pops missed by my pop filter.
nice! Happy recording!
humble knowledgeable guy I love it
yep that's Mike! 😊
Probably the cleanest, most down to earth and informative video and explanation of technique that I've ever seen. Learned a lot from this, thank you very much :)
awesome!
Thank you for confirming my bedroom theory, always get the best results - carpets, curtains, clothes = CCC -Recording 😉
haha yes!!
The interviewer would be me. Lol He looks like he loves listening and learning about this stuff.
it's gold 😍
Yeah, his eyes is still like 20 years old
Years of practical experience on this, thank you for sharing.
🥰
Thanks so much guys. Your guest is a wealth of audio wisdom. This was very helpful.
He is indeed! Super glad to hear it was helpful to you! 😊
I agree with most of the things suggested in this video, except for a few things:
1) Using a reflective shield might cause more issues than it solves. Comb filtering in particular, where some less than perfect shields reflects certain frequencies from the direct signal (your voice) which the mic picks up.
2) All for the mattressing in the corner in a V- or U-shape. Standard, and excellent, practice. But don't sing towards the mattresses/corners - sing outwards in the room. The mic pattern is most likely cardioid anyway so having the back and sides covered is where money/mattresses/duvets should be spent.
Sweet thanks for the good input Rick 👌
Yeah, but regarding the #2, I've found (at least in my case) it's WAY better to do the opposite, because after all your voice won't bounce the hell out of everywhere, as clothing will absorb a lot of its energy. So to me, it's better to sing into a closet instead of doing the opposite trying to make the most of a cardioid pattern.
Gained so much information from this video. I appreciate his focus on the simpler ideas, and wealth of experience.
awesome Joseph! 👌
Starting to engineer my own tracks now…this is very helpful
awesome to hear!
Fantastic..............don't need to watch any other video..........this one has it all........great job!
Thanks and happy recording!
lots of great stuff here. Lovely little trick as the singer get s closer is to gently turn up the vocal in the Artists' headfones. Keeps them happier and lets them deliver rather than sing harder. Also, tilting the mic is great. Tilting down captures that lovely warmer tone , and tilting up is less so , but nice and light.
Awesome thanks for this Jeff!
I think for a home studio he should also talk about mic choice. I have been a self-taught engineer for 30 years and I have a whole array of expensive vocal mics but on occasions, I have even recorded someone with an SM58 using a nearfield monitor as the sound just worked. It is all very well trying for a super accurate vocal sound but if it doesn't suit the voice and sit in the mix, you may as well try anything. I was amazed it worked and it taught me not to be so snobby about the way we record.
Possibly a good option for another video down the track- thankyou. Main thing with this one was to explain if some of these things don’t get sorted, then which mic you choose will be irrelevant haha (eg if you record everything clipped etc).
Love this. Simple, clear, and extremely useful. Thanks guys!
awesome. Glad you got so much out of it 👌
This reminded me of something I heard in a Paul Mc Cartney interview. He mentioned that there was a particular place in his home where he wrote certain songs, he just loved the way things sounded there.
Ultimately, a little knowledge, some experimentation, and practice seem to be the way to go ...
That's a cool little story - thanks for sharing that Eduardo!
WOW....A LOT of wise advice! My new technique is recording without a pop filter, I like how he explained how to do that!!!
awesome! Have fun with your new recordings!
Dear David Shanhun, I suggest you make a video series of conversations with this audio master. If you and the owner of Manuka studio deal with other topics related to recording and processing audio, I am convinced that the traffic on your channel will increase significantly just like the number of subscribers. I am a complete beginner in this field but I have learned a lot by listening to fantastic tips just like recording and processing audio tips and tricks.
Greetings from Split, Dalmatia, Croatia, EU
Hi Zoran! That's been on my mind also - it's been awesome seeing how much everybody has appreciated this info and chat that we filmed, and I think it's on my radar to look at exactly what you've suggested. Out of curiosity - what would be on your mind that you'd want to learn - any specific concepts/tips/areas of knowledge you would appreciate?
@@davidshanhun ...I too am a Newbie to this...Here are a few of my ideas on this subject...1) Setting levels on your interface & DAW for PEAK performance(I'm told -9 to around -15 Db is good and leaves enough Headroom...2) Routing issues with Interface , into DAW , buses , sends ,etc.... Very much needed info for beginners as well ... 3) Different mics and their strengths/weaknesses and the "Best mics For" type of thing 4) Any Mixing Tips/Tricks , etc... He would be willing to divulge lol... 5)Instrument recording(Guitar) and BEST way to achieve sound you want...ie. Amp Sims , What Amps sound like this or that & Mic placement with those Amps ,etc.... Ya know man..ALL THE BASIC STUFF!!!! lol lol ....anyways , Thanks for the video and keep em coming to help all us new-comers out!!! Stay Safe...
20 mins in and I only just realised we met today at Gig HQ! Thanks for this valuable vid 🙏
ah bro that's gold haha! Mike is a legend mate - we've done a few other vids around vocals and guitars for recording/mixing etc that you might dig. Flick me a connect on Insta man!
This was fantastic. Big-time thanks for being so generous with your knowledge!
Mike's one of the most genuine and generous people in the industry. So happy to be able to share this info with you all. Hope lots of awesome music gets created from it :)
Just saw this video and that was Excellent advice! Thank you both so much and I hope you are still doing well
Thank you so much for this. I make online video courses and the sound quality is really important to me, I've not been fully satisfied with my audio, but with these tips I am sure it will help a ton, so again thank you!
awesome! 😊
Absolute ""dynamite useful info"" thanks Dave Shanhun and Mike McCarthy - much love! Thanks for the production time and share Dave.
Cheers Brett! So glad it's useful to you mate that's why we made it! :) Are you recording much at the moment?
Last project was 'in studio' so all this was taken care of - I have a few personal projects - just trying to lift the presentation quality - they're still sketches per say - but I would like them to be best as possible for sound --- still learning - but that vid was very (very) useful. One of my traps - which you guys touched on for sound quality (but is a biggie for sound consistency) is 'mike position' - and how critical it is to maintain that position through the 'whole tracking' (lol) ... so here's me moving head/voice around the mike too much - coming at it from different angle during a single track/take (you know if you stop and re record a piece - theres a real need to get back to the exact same position) a minor change in voice angle can drastically alter the sound recorded - and can be very difficult to mix into an existing take.
This is gold. Seriously been watching so many shorter TH-cam friendly videos from people who I now realise aren't all that experienced.
Some Qs too:
1. Any tips for mouth noise? Besides being hydrated etc is there anything one can do with mic placement etc that can help?
2. Thoughts on the Shure SM7b?
3. Is Manuka Studio still running in Orewa and is the $50 mastering offer still on?
Hey Edward! Mike is a legend and so generous with sharing useful info! Glad it's been helpful!
I've found with mouth noise if I'm editing in post I go in and remove some of it - have found it most annoying with girls with super slick lip gloss haha! No particularly useful tips from me other than where it's a bit problem I've spent time removing it later!
I've never used the SM7b but lots of people rave about it! What are you mainly recording?
Manuka studios is still running - would be up to Mike to say yay or nay to the offer - flick him a message at manukastudios@slingshot.co.nz though 👌
Yeah I tracked in a church hall but for the main tracks I setup towards a corner and used reflection filters to control those takes.
nice
Very nice advice for a beginner like myself! Thank you for that! Really nice of you to give such professional advice for free
Glad you got so much value from it John! Happy recording!
Great interview. Very helpful. And reinforced some of what I've learned the hard way.
awesome!
Fab video guys very educational, will make sure i angle the mic
when recording from now on.. thanks guys
Nice one! happy recording!
This is the most informative video I have watched in the last year on here about music 💪🏽💪🏽😎
aww love this!
Brilliant advice, as I'm new to recording on PC using studio one Artiste I'm having trouble getting a decent vocal so Thank you
Awesome hope it's going better for you now 👌
Great advice...for those who will actually take heed.
this! 👌
I'm just starting out and this was so, so, so, so, SO helpful :') THANK YOU!
Awesome Anna! Happy recording!
This is a great video from a highly experienced man. Thank you.
Mike is superb! 👌
A whole lot of helpful content in under half hour. Fantastic vid.
Mike is a legend!
Absolute gold dust! All very clearly explained. Subscribed
Cheers for joining and happy recording!
Nice and clear explainations, thanks.
I will try this soon in my little home studio, probably also with a sound shield.
happy recording!
@@davidshanhun thanks
I was able to reduce sibilance with a tip I found on the web. Basically I worked my way through the recorded audio file, finding every S, and reducing its amplitude by 50%. I probably could have removed some of the high end using EQ on it as well, but it wasn't necessary. It's time-consuming, but it works. You definitely don't want some global EQ to mess up the vowels, which is where the real meat of a vocal lives.
Bro just use a desser vst.
@@TheRealDirtySkillz I never tried one, but I'm worried about what it would do to the other parts of the music. Maybe I'll give it a try one of these days.
Great recommendations. For the first time My recordings sounds good. Thank you!
yay! so happy to hear this!
I just got my 414 XLS and am getting ready to work on technique! Good primer for me here. I'm considering the angle of mic placement for the plosives and wondering if the downward or upward angle may be selected according to the preference of voice type. For instance, the chest resonance of a tenor will show up more with the cardoid pointing toward the lower half of their body as opposed to the ceiling. And a breathy voice can sound even more so, I would imagine, if the mic favored the opposite direction where the nasal and lip smacking sounds may be louder.
Might be a case of experimenting with what works best for each different singer - if you're getting the tone you want then nobody will care how you got there in the end haha!
People dont have enough patience anymore for a video this long and theyre missing out on this gold advice simplified.
aww thankyou :) haha yep - most things take more time than so many of us are willing to spend!
Awesome! There speaks true experience. I like the passion and the no-nonsense, too. Going to try out the mike adjustments first. Would like to see more in the future , learned a lot.
Thanks Gunnar. A few more videos with Mike in the pipeline 😊
i watched a lot of tutorials and this one explains well thanks for the video.
Thanks! :)
Was recording a buddy a while back doing some Chris Cornell Soundgarden style stuff. His mug was right up on the grill of a U-47 with no pop filter! I giggled and took a picture while he was doing it! Friggin bad ass Cause he was so #*@kin loud! Neighbor's a block down the road probably heard him! lol He is Very Pro doing those angle tricks and pushing into the mic / neve preamp as needed naturally. No pop filter needed! Yet another artist later, a very soft singer needed all the pop filters etc. As an engineer makes yeah smile when you get a bad ass in the studio that does not need that stuff!:)
This is really great stuff as I'm starting out with a cheap, beginner home studio. Thanks for the free advise.
Most welcome and glad to know we helped you get started!
very clear and easy to understand. thank you so much for this detailed explanation
most welcome :) Happy recording!
This was an excellent video - covering so many issues with recording at home with easy-to-understand solutions. Thank you!
I have found that recording my vocals in my closet is the best place. I have an isolation shield for the microphone; however, I get better results using that in my closet. The clothes help absorb even more ambient noise.
yep - closet is an excellent spot!
Best video ever about this topic. Answered so many of my burning questions as a guy with a deeper voice with proximity issues. Thanks a million. I am grateful!
years of solid experience, amazing teaching skills, and still uses the humble old NT1. Speaks volumes of the guy, and also about the so-called YT influencers who try to push expensive gear for nothing.
Rode K2 is the main studio mic, but great to point out that there really is nothing stopping you getting superb results with the NT1 👌
One of the best videos on the subject I've found.
Damn, i have used my Pop Filter wrong all the time... And my vocal recordings also allways Turn Out Low End heavy and dull. Its wierd i allways thought i was far away enough. Thank you for this Video
Hope you get some great new recordings with this info Philipp 👌
Open your closet and you have a bunch of clothes hanging in there. Get your mic right up next to that clothes and sing into the closet. Also make your own DIY Kaotica eyeball and place over the top of the mic or just buy an Electron PF8 for $25 on eBay.
awesome suggestion 👌
I have vocalists at the bottom of my stairs singing into my coats!!!!
@The Doobie Sisters and Sack Blabbath love this comment 💪
Very helpful video. Clear and simple explanations. Thank you very much.
Most welcome Fiaz 👌
Tremendously helpful, thank you!!! I'm working on my first multi-tracking acapella arrangement, and I learned a ton!
ooh cool! Let me know when you get it up - I love hearing this kind of stuff!
very useful and easy fix solutions that have improved my recordings, Big Thanx from your mate down under
Awesome to hear 👌
Thanks Mick you went down to the very detail, I am recording at home so will try your rules. Cheers!
Let us know how you go!
A real great explanation in half an hour. Thank you so very much. I knew about popps, sibilance and so on, already. But all the little hints alongside are precious for me. Greeting to New Zealand from Germany and keep healthy in this Corona age ... ;-)
I really enjoyed this interview - and learned a few things too. Thank you.
awesome!
Very nice. Bowing to 0 for this wonderful class.
love it! 😊
Explain, if you stand at the distance of the microphone or speak not exactly into it, but somewhere to the side or not exactly in the center, are not the particles of the voice signal lost? I always thought that the more accurately you direct your voice into the microphone, the better it will record the voice
one of the comments on here from someone summed things up beautifully stating 'aim the mic at the mouth, not the mouth at the mic'. You are correct if you take this to the extreme and face completely away from the microphone, but using a condensor mic you'll hear how well it captures your vocals. I suggest recording two separate takes for yourself to hear if there's a distinguishable difference. You'll be the best judge on listening back to what sounds best for you! 😊