HOW TO RECORD GREAT VOCAL in a bad room

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Today I share how to get a great vocal in a bad room. I have perfected the art of this recording on a limited budget at times and throughout lockdown. These tricks have produced radio charting singles in Australia.
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[@literaltrash2275]

You should do this thing I’m seeking *only* some engineers doing- taking a song’s vocal acapella and trying to figure out what processing went into it (certain echo’s, reverbs, vocal layering ~harmonies and backing vocals~ EQing/ compression). Otherwise great work 👍🏼👍🏼

[@mrbadmouth]

Really needed this. My room was treated by a blind and deaf person , and that person was me lol

[@TheSteveKinney]

ha ha ha. that got me. that's amazing. Cheers mate!

[@pamelak.4794]

Nice job! Cool song snip-it too! 😁

[@SM57]

Thank you👍

[@PioPeterDsouza]

Brilliant! Thanks.

[@TheSteveKinney]

You got it mate! Thanks for watching, cheers!

[@BobbyHuff]

Well done man!

[@TheSteveKinney]

Thanks Brotha, Looking forward to your next video!

[@HuttyTheKid]

Awesome!!

[@TheSteveKinney]

Thanks Hutty! Cheers mate!

[@Hiprich]

Excellent tips. Respect ✊🏿

[@TheSteveKinney]

Thanks so much! Cheers mate!

[@gregsteffey1266]

Great information Steve! A couple things... so now I want a SM7B, LOL. How does it do on guitar cabs? That is my main recording instrument. Also the bathroom may be a terrible tone to some but as I have learned with guitar the worst tone I could imagine could be the perfect tone for the right song. Keep putting out these great videos! Any thought to do a video on home studios and what analog pieces you would recommend? I see you have a few pieces of gear on the desk. I am all digital plug ins for now ( true tube amp geek though) but was thinking about getting a mic pre amp. Any you recommend? Any other items you prefer that are non digital?

[@RepeatAgain979578]

Hey Steve, great and useful video here, i need to get the c vox c suite For the mic part, i think the big problem is most people go far away from their condenser mic in a bad room or not well treated room , of course you will hear more room. This is why mic like the sm7b seems to be better because you are closer, but if you treat that early reflexion first, ( what is a better choice i think), you will get a far better result. Oh and as i read it somewhere, mics are not smart, so if you get the proper setting you will get exactly the sound you have configured i think

[@TheSteveKinney]

This is a great way of looking at it! Great comment. Cheers!

[@ManofGreenday2902]

For using my vocals in an untreated room, I use Waves Clarity Vx and Clarity Vx Dereverb combined. It may not get rid of the breathing parts, but it does eliminate the dead air. I use Clarity Vx first, then the dereverb next.

[@TheSteveKinney]

Dig it!!

[@IAMKRITAGYA]

Does this works fine???

[@gregsteffey1266]

Have you seen the new Waves Clarity Vx plug in? I think that could be really useful for a home studio. You should do a video on it to see if there are any issues with using it or how it may alter the tone quality.

[@RatchetnessOldie]

Awesome, I have the Aston Halo and SM7B to try out for recording! I do have a question: When you mentioned putting a mic too close inside the Aston Halo, is there a specific Frequency (200hz, 600hz etc) to look out for that it messes up each time? Or does it vary? Also, would you say an SM7B with an Aston Halo is a good combo for recording in untreated rooms? Or due to the SM7B being dynamic, does it make much of a difference being inside a reflection filter? Thank you for posting this, helped me a lot already!

[@TheSteveKinney]

Hey Mate! Amazing question!.... There isn't a specific frequency. That's going to depend on the key of the song, the singer, the amplitude of the note, how far the mic is positioned inside the Halo etc. It will vary. SM7B is great with sooo many things. This would be one of them - it would probably handle being shoved pretty far back quite well - simply because you can be RIGHT on the mic. So that's gonna help. It's just ironic, the closer to the halo you can get - the better the job it will do - but also can increase the likelihood of resonance build up. ... Just gotta play around with it, but it will do a good job with that combo! Cheers!

[@RatchetnessOldie]

@@TheSteveKinney Thank you for your response! That really means a lot to me, that was more helpful than you'll know!

[@TheSteveKinney]

@@RatchetnessOldie right on mate, cheers!!

[@chopp2163]

Hey Kenny great video still waiting on A 737 Avalon from UAD video thanks

[@TheSteveKinney]

Right on Chopp! It’s getting close to the time where I make some new videos dude! Got a couple on my list. I’ll likely work this one in.

[@aaronpeacey9673]

Cheers

[@honestnerd]

Thanks for sharing. Not audio related, but did you record with the A7C here? Even in 1080p it looks super crisp, what's the secret? Special lens? Topaz AI enhanced?

[@mexps8093]

I found it will be easier to you if you use a noise gate instead of cutting the spaces between phrases, although it will need more work to adjust the parameters so it won't cut the singer's voice

[@TheSteveKinney]

This is exactly why I don’t use a gate though. If I DO use a gate - it’s typically not a hard gate. More of a -3db or -6db gate where it reduces but not eliminates. Sounds much more natural and still highly useful.

[@toreansmith7867]

Nice content

[@TheSteveKinney]

Thanks Torean!

[@ricardogf5294]

What about the SM57?? Is it good for vocals?? I know it's designed for instruments, but I've also heard you can get a pretty similar sound to the SM7B and since I can't really afford an SM7B, I was wondering if that's a good option, or maybe you could recommend something in that price range??

[@TheSteveKinney]

Hey brotha! Look into the behringer perception series mics. You can find a lot of them around that price point. And it’s a large diaphragm condenser. Might even be able to go the route of the PD-70. The 57 just has a very specific sound that is hard to get around.

[@saklaktak]

Thank you for great informations. Does shure sm7b audio chain requires any preamp btw?

[@TheSteveKinney]

Yeah - you’d definitely need a preamp on it. That can be a personally choice for which one. Someone people also like to add a cloudlifter too. Cheers mate.

[@justxhillin6674]

I prefer the Autotune before C-Suite. I’ve recently decided to start recording without Autotune though and instead am using Oxide tape, which I also put before C-Suite. What’s your opinion on that?

[@TheSteveKinney]

Ahhh! Yeah - I think you have the right idea here with how you're approaching it. I still don't know which way C-Suite works a bit better. Just from an analytical standpoint - the way my mind thinks about it - is that I'd want corrective stuff to be right after my mic pre but before my harmonic kind of stuff like tape. Just the way I personally think about it. So I'd probably go Preamp > C-Vox > AT > Tape. That said - whatever sounds best is king. I'd also probably only commit to the Preamp at first. However, because UAD Console is amazing - what I could do is have my vocal send off to an Aux channel and have C-Vox there and record both the dry signal and wet signal at the same time and then do an A/B in post to compare with a null test to see which method works best. Hope that makes sense. Cheers mate!

[@firstnamelastname9743]

would a rode nt1-a mic in a untreated room work good? Alittle more elaboration, i have a pop filter and a reflection filter all ready to use. And im recording more emo rap style music anyways which is more gritty and includes several vocal layers to clean everything up and blend it all in. any thoughts on this? could this mic work good in a untreated room?

[@TheSteveKinney]

Yeah. With a reflection filter, and getting closer on the mic, you’d be good. Just watch out for the proximity effect.

[@SevanGuitars]

You can't compare the room sound that a mic will pick up when you sing closer to the mic.

[@TheSteveKinney]

I’m largely over exaggerating to get the point across. In either case - even if you were right on the mic - tube condensers are just outta this world when it comes to ambient noise.

[@TrueShayari]

Sir, I am beginning. I want to record my written poetry professionally. In which my line will go in high tone and will also come in low tone. Tell me such mic and audio interface. So that I can record and mix later. But my room is not sound proof. My total budget is $300. A shopkeeper told me that you cannot do recording with dynamic mic. Please tell me what should I do. Which mic and audio interface should I buy? After buying which I do not regret.

[@TheSteveKinney]

yeah - I would say - many interfaces would be great for you. It's the mic in this case that will make the biggest difference. Something like the sm7b or the UA sd1 would be great. They are awesome at off axis rejection, so - room isn't going to be much of an issue at all.

[@jaavedfilms8172]

How do i use autotune realtime with UAD do i first put my mic preamp with neve 1073 and then nex insert would be c vox to get rid of room noise and then auto tune real time insert is that what you would do.

[@TheSteveKinney]

Yeah - you have the right idea here for sure. Personally, I'd probably not print c-vox or AT, just so you have flexibility after the fact. You could easily add them in post and then do a bounce in place to save on DSP.. this way you have both the original unprocessed and the processed for mixing, but a fall back incase you wanted to change anything.

[@billesposito2112]

Steve where do I find your templates? For vocals in LUNA I'm all set up with Apollo and LUNA . GAIN STAGING is a little tricky with the Unison slot. Do your templates set the gain? I never bought one before.

[@TheSteveKinney]

Hey bill! Thanks for the show of support and the question. Short answer: yes and no. Long answer: Luna doesn’t have channel presets just yet. As soon as it does, I’ll be building packs and rebuilding the existing ones to have a free update to those who already purchased. Etc. The current ones will work with Luna - but only on console tracking mode. Thus - you’d have to have console open as well as Luna. Similarly to if you tracked in logic, etc. Now. Specifically with respect to gain staging. Heritage packs handle gain staging in the more traditional sense. As you go through the chain - each input and output should be compensated - unless I was specifically trying to hit an “input” harder on one of the plugins. Console classics pack - is much more general, kind of set turn it and maybe tweak an eq. The gain stages were kind of set without compensation between the chain, because the plugin modules were all “digital” and so it they didn’t module the inputs getting hit harder. The “digital” inputs don’t really have headroom problems once in the analogue signal is converted to digital. So as long as the final output on the last module is compensated- your signal should be good with that chain. Hopefully I explained that good. Happy to answer any other questions. Cheers mate!

[@billesposito2112]

I should have said your vocal chains. I just need a couple good ones . Maybe one smooth for softer stuff like ballads and one with a little more aggression. Dsp management is tough with a solo . If I knew I would have got a twin. Let me know when u get a second. I can't remember what video it was that you had your link at the bottom.

[@TheSteveKinney]

@@billesposito2112 just check out www.thestevekinney.com You’ll get a splash screen that says presets. You can try out the free api preset and see if you wanna try the others. It’s a pretty good one. One of my go to’s for a long time.

[@Fatalis069]

I had the Aston halo for a while with a u87 ai the Rest of the room was Treated aswell with basstraps and Other thick panels still somehow when using the aston it Sounded bit weird well my room is very small might be that the problem? Any ideas for small rooms to record in?

[@TheSteveKinney]

It’s tricky.. placement is everything in a small room. Usually not in the center is better. The Halo thing is alright, I’d say if you’re using it... not using it super close to the mic is gonna yield the best results.

[@Fatalis069]

@@TheSteveKinney i Tried alot of Things also a friend measured my room but He had no time so it was not that good. When i put on the halo it sounds like it gets dry from one sid e but suddenly the roomsound gets even more prominent then without ... might be a u87 Problem heard that this mic will be a nightmare in suboptimal rooms. Actually Went from aston to the GIK PiB the big one.. anyways good channel Keep it up

[@Fatalis069]

@@TheSteveKinney might be my own Imagination of a good dry vocal wich im after.. wich i prob wont get in my room without going realy hard

[@TheSteveKinney]

@@Fatalis069 the first phenomenon you describe where it gets dry, but the other “side” of the room is more prominent in a way, is exactly the kind of thing that happens. What it is - is that you’re blocking an initial reflection to a certain degree - and then the other reflections follow. The thing that will make a big difference is being able to block reflections on the side of the mic where the mic is picking up. So .. behind you while you’re singing. That will help quite a bit. Because it’s that reflection that’s bouncing back late.

[@Fatalis069]

@@TheSteveKinney yeah das Kind of the problem with the small room its like 7 or 8qm i hear legit every little hard surfsace i mean i have like 10 panels and 8 traps. Tried to Cover some with Foam but honestly Foam sucks. Guess thats the worst room i Worked in, if i put away just 1 panel sound goes full metallic.. reinforced concrete. But thanks for the Fast respond mate.

[@mexps8093]

I noticed that you are using a TV as a monitor so please tell us more about your experience and if you are feeling comfortable with this TV and the resolution you are using

[@TheSteveKinney]

LOL. Certainly looks like a TV. It’s actually an Acer 43” 4K computer monitor. Pretty cheap. It’s been solid, can’t complain at all. Might as well be a tv lol It’s nice though. I typically keep it at 4K. Cheers mate!

[@prod.phober7659]

I have created small vocal booth before and it sound so good but theres a whistle sound always appear in my raw vocal, then i try to record vocal eithout the vocal booth but in my untreated bedroom ....it sound great in raw vocal but when it goes to the mixing part ...my vocal was ruined , it cant handled the eq that normal musician do

[@TheSteveKinney]

That sound you’re referring to, is it in the track that’s recorded in the small room? Or in the small booth?

[@prod.phober7659]

@@TheSteveKinney yup in the track , in the small booth

[@prod.phober7659]

@@TheSteveKinney diy small booth like a size of closet where i can sit

[@TheSteveKinney]

@@prod.phober7659 yeah - it’s very tough to treat the small booths. I was really surprised when auralex came in. The plastered mine with the 2” foam wedgies. And it did a really damn good job. But you’re right - you have to be very aware of what it’s actually doing to the sound. For sure.

[@prod.phober7659]

@@TheSteveKinney yup man thats true, bw thankyou for the info man🙏🏻

[@oinkooink]

My room is 8x9ft. Good?

[@TheSteveKinney]

Good for vocals? Sure - you’d still want to treat it as best you can at some point.

[@purpleheart69420]

so do you think a SM7B would work on a completely untreated room?

[@TheSteveKinney]

100% will do an amazing job - gotta be up on the mic though! can’t be too far back. Add a bit of noise reduction from c-suite vox before Eq, compression etc -will yield amazing results. Similar mics would be re-20 or Aston stealth Cheers!

[@jojo-fj7lw]

@@TheSteveKinney thoughts on cloudlifter + sm7b??

[@TheSteveKinney]

@@jojo-fj7lw it’s a fantastic choice. Do it.