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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 213
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 213 |
Yes I don't think I will be using that de-breath plugin. I don't think the pros use that. I will also shut down these plugins until after I recorded. Someone advised me. At least I did get some compliments though lol. I can use those. I just did get a private message critique however. But it wasn't painful because I am sure it is true. I need to keep working on my vocals. I just do the best I can. Sure if I was rich I would get some formal training. I did buy Brett Manning's Singing Success cd's but I quit after 6 cd's thinking ok I will take his advice on what he has said so far but train by just by rehearsing. I should get back to his course.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Joined: May 2000
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"Pros" can and will use anything and everything at certain times, as the job may dictate.
Perhaps the better terminology as regards Plugins would be "De-Esser". There's a good one included with PGMusic Plugins, BTW, as a Preset in the Compressor/Expander.
A De-Esser can also be put together by someone in the know, using the Compressor/Expander plugs of choice.
My personal preference, though, is to try to reduce the objectionable Sibilance sounds while in the Tracking phase, to whatever extent possible. This might include use of Pop Screen(s), change of Mic type, distance, Mic direction towards piehole (sometimes turning an overly sensitive mic sideways and singing ACROSS it instead of directly into a sensitive diaphragm can go a long way here), things like that.
Hearing your voice from those demos, this engineer would be reaching for a Cardioid Dynamic mic of good quality rather than one of those cheap imported Large Diaphragm Condenser mics that get way too much attention from noobs.
Electrovoice RE-20 The King. $$$ Time proven, consistent, paired with a good mic preamp the recording results can be amazing. But not a mic that can double in Live Performance for the singer all that much, so read on, I do like being able to get to know and use one mic for all purposes such that one can develop a "signature" sound.
Shure SM-57 with the Shure-designed long foam boot (a terrific mic for the male baritone jazz and pop singer, btw, when paired with a terrific mic preamp - don't sell this mic short just because it is available everywhere and does not break the bank, The Shure Bros employed good physics in those wonderful old tried and true designs.)
Audix OM-5 -- A personal fav that has a bright top end without all that sensitivity on the lip smacks, great choice IMO for Male Baritone and Tenor voice for both home recording and for live performance. Higher output than the good old Shure, too.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 213
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 213 |
Thanks Mac,
I am using a Sure SM7B. To me that is a pretty nice mic. They are very good radio mics. So if you are a talk show host there you go. I am not sure if they are the best for singing. But I saw a picture of one on the Cubase website I think it was. Just for looks for some page they made. I believe that is where it was. So I guess it could be pretty popular for the average everyday singer. It is a 350 dollar mic.
I haven't used a De-Esser yet. I should look at that Compressor Expander I think. So I guess you are saying there is a De-Esser on that also. I will check into it. I am sure my S's could be fixed up some. Tonight I wasn't singing much. I was playing around with this Casio WK-3000 Keyboard I bought on Ebay for 130 dollars delivered. I just ordered some new Midi cables for it. I had some but only found one. Looked for a long time for the other one. So I just went to Monoprice and they are only 2 bucks and something cents each. Shipping is cheap so they were 7 dollars for the pair. I will have to work on the piano playing. I am not a pianst yet but taking the thing to my parents house and playing some chords and working on some arpeggio wannabe classical improvisation I fooled them into thinking I actually could play lol. The truth is I can't play any of the Great American songbook or any other song I really want to play. I am just starting out. It's all coming together. By the time I hit 50 I will be a virtuoso!! and the Sinatra's redheaded stepchild!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,926 |
Sly,
BIAB can take you a long way toward any musical goal you have. It is a serious learning tool for any instrument, but especially piano. If you really want to learn to play there are all kinds of tools available. With piano you get notation, so you can learn to read, too.
I'm mainly a bassist and guitarist so won't say much more except to ask for suggestions (which you are quite good at!). I will say that I made more progress in a year of practicing guitar with BIAB as my backup band than I had in many, many years before that.
Sounds like you're having a bunch of fun, too!
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
SM7B is a dynamic mic (actually based on the SM57 root technology but just a tad more sensitive and with a better internal isolation system along with built in bass rolloff).
A good choice, IMO, for your voice, I've always viewed the SM7B as Shure's equivalent to the famous Electrovoice EV-20 in a lot of ways, so there ya go.
Don't be hesitant to try placing a good Pop Screen with flexi mount for positioning same between you and that Mic, sometimes I have done that to better iron out Sibilants, lip smacks and the like.
And maybe back off the PAD input a bit, if that's the mic used in your demo recordings. Sometimes a bit less sensitivity sounds much better. Experiment. And if your Mic Preamp does not feature an Input Pad, well, boo.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,071
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,071 |
Hi Mac
I think SR is using a Roland QuadCapture, so he should have pre-amp control, but I recall that it also does have an Auto-Sense function to automatically set levels, and if he's using that feature, maybe over-riding it might be beneficial.
Did you mean using an external pad, or through the pre-amp? I think there's no pad on the mic itself.
regards
Trevor
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Did you mean using an external pad, or through the pre-amp? I think there's no pad on the mic itself.
regards
Trevor
Any good Mic Preamp or Mixer w/Mic preamp inputs on it should have a Pad control at the very input, this is not another volume fader, it is there to adjust the sensitivity at the Input by placing resistive padding across the Mic's generated voltage. As for "Auto" level adjust, I've never met one that worked very well for anything other than spoken voice. --Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,071
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,071 |
Thanks Mac
Yes, I understand the technique that a pad provides, essentially a passive resistor network in a series / parallel shunt config, but I don't think that pre-amp has one. Good tip about the auto-sense. Thanks.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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