@ Floyd

Floyd, I think getting good vocals outside of a professional studio is possible but it takes a lot of work. As John Mayer famously put it, "I can play guitar in my sleep, but vocals are a b....."

I think that about says it.

I know mine are far from perfect, but I have learned a lot from you and others here in three years. For one, just as you advised me to double or triple the drums, I at least triple if not quadruple the main vox and use different effects on each track. I probably spend more time on the vox than anything else and I use a mic stand shield to trap as much of the sound as I can.

Then, I have found, you really have to "ride that fader" when the music goes up and down to keep the vocals in that sweet spot. By thumbnail, I set the main volume of the mix, give myself some headroom, and make sure the vocal stays a good 1.5 or 2dB above the mix. It is really hard. It has taken me many years just to figure out which effects work best where.

Yeah, vocals are a beast. We all just have to buckle down and keep studying them I guess.

smile