The reason your vocals DON'T sound PRO (Amateur Vocal Fix)

‼️ FREE PRO Vocal Checklist: www.thebandgui... ‼️
If you've been struggling to get a pro vocal sound... it might not be your mixing. In this video, I'm going to show you what's REALLY making your vocals sound amateur, how to identify it, and how to FIX it.
Check out Chandler here: shor.by/UWbl
#mixingvocals #recordingvocals

[@TheBandGuide]

‼ FREE PRO Vocal Checklist: www.thebandguide.com/provocalchecklist ‼

[@kinghengkeithleung3931]

Wow, this video is the most helpful one on this topic so far! Unlike so many other tutorials that the "Before" examples already sound so polished, this example of room sound relevantly shows the problems I face when recording vocals. Thank you!

[@jesterlew]

This makes a lot of sense. I used to record at a studio but I recently started recording at home and hated how my voice sounds. It always sounded thin, whereas when I was recording at a studio, my voice sounded so much better. I often end up spending hours re recording and messing with the EQ compared to when I used to record at a studio, I barely do anything and usually only takes a few takes. I always thought it was because I had a cheap mic at home. I use an iso vocal booth which I thought would be enough but after watching this video, I realized that it’s not. Now I need to get acoustic panels.

[@cootacash]

I’m going through that same process right now use to recording and going to the studio all the time then earlier this year been recording at home and I cannot get that sound quality I’m exactly use too , I treated my room , now im just stuck ok trying to get better education wise on everything and now questioning upgrading my interface etc lol it’s a mess right now but not giving up just going through it looking for answers and steady practicing

[@KaveManBrown]

I'm 3 minutes in and this is a game changer for me. Thank you brother, I just subscribed! 💪🏾💯🙏🏾

[@nigelcarren]

Colin, your timing with this is spooky!!! Here in the French countryside I have found a pro mastering engineer hidden in the woods. So I brought my track I NEED mastering. The plan is for him to master my GarageBand track using stems... But I haven't done this before. After he listened to my Insane Opus for the first time, (eg: 52 tracks of choir), I fantasized he would pat me on the back and declare me a genius... But... Instead he said: "Jeez!!! Sounds like you recorded that in your kitchen!!!" He was correct! I have now made a great little 'screaming booth' and bought a better mic. My AKG C-1000s has issues with my G#6... So does my cat! 💪😾🤣😂🤣 Cheers for this, always meaty goodness here! Best wishes from the woods mate. 👍🇬🇧🏆

[@StarWarsMatcha]

I naturally built a “vocal-fort” out of a twin memory foam mattress pad, set up my favorite mix on a stand then used blankets and pillows to fill the space, but at the end of the day it’s all subjective AND it all art, so.. we just gotta do what we gotta do to find out what works best for us and our music in order to hear what we want. I say experiment, also when recording harmonies or multiple vocal tracks, mess around with the distance and how far you’re projecting things, also experiment by completely singing in a totally different direction than where the microphone is after you’ve got other takes recorded that you like. Shhh 🤫 it’s pretty interesting.. and a total art form in itself really. You’ll See, for those that haven’t tried that yet. 🤘🤘🤘

[@TheBandGuide]

I agree with ALL of this!

[@Theactivepsychos]

This is exactly what I need right this minute. Excellent.

[@johnbeagley1195]

Very useful tip! Thanks!

[@MrLeggo101]

This video, changed my life and all tracks movin forward. Not having a teacher, mentor, etc this was the biggest headache since I can get mixes/masters to hit like a pro's song but voxs feel poopy BIG THANKS ! Phi

[@toddcollins6746]

Really nice video Colin and timely! Been having this discussion with a friend and got the exact same advice but I wasn’t exactly sure why - so it was cool to see you prove it. To make things more confusing I have read that folks like Steven Tyler have recorded vox in a bathroom/shower at home to get that natural reverb in the mix on purpose. So cool to see how it falls apart under compression and almost sounds like you’re on the phone.

[@jasassin]

I recently bought a portable Vocal Booth that sits on the mic stand (sE Electronics RF-X Reflexion Filter) and it’s a game changer. I also add a blanket in a V-shape from behind me, to in line with my mic (so I’m ‘in the V’) just need to fix the roof bounce. I also use a pop filter on the mic.

[@openboundariesofficial]

Honestly, I've found that my voice was always lacking presence, and I always thought it was my mic. This...this is a game changer

[@cootacash]

Update : the closet is sounding much better ! With all my acoustic soft panels moved in , with blankets and some soft fury material jackets hung up feeling more confident! Still have along way to go bc my standards for my qaulity are super high and I aim to get my sound like as if. I went to a studio so I can just record as much as I want and put out more music but more happily with my sound . Will def keep watching for more tips . This was a good tip ..

[@russellwarren2236]

Another brilliant video Colin. Illustrating the problem compressing a bad vox recording is like a light bulb moment for me! Would you get a similar result with a small microphone reflector filter sitting behind the mike if you can’t treat the walls in your room?

[@KayanP]

i think i need to accept that no matter what I do to get a good recording and master it properly, it still wont sound good because of my mic :/ I don't mean an expensive mic, just something that isn't integrated with my headset, essentially I have no mic

[@thekeyroads]

Really Life Changing and also quite noticeable 😢

[@treyduncansings]

Great info! Thank you, sir!

[@krikionis8330]

Currently I find out that it is really enough for me to record using laptop camera/microphone. Sitting in chair, and computer monitor is by more than my hand distance. Then with laptop camera/microphone I start to record everything using camera option. In the same time I using same microphone but Game Bar option and video from KZbin. Therefore, each time I get two recordings using same laptop/microphone. One recording usually somehow records only my voice and environment (sometimes also start to record in a bad way KZbin video sound) but is good for my introspection (both voice, trying to sing and environment) and Game Bar option provide me recording that I can upload to KZbin if I am happy with the result. When I listen both recordings and decide that recording with Game Bar option is decent for me then I upload it as it is to KZbin. If other recording is quite good for me then I have ability to upload it to KZbin in the future if I decide that I want people to see me and my environment, as well as me trying to sing without music (probably good for musicians only).

[@Thereisonlyone464]

Holy cow, is that my problem?? I’ve been doing live streams and feeling so intimidated/insecure by my own voice (been singing 18 years) my mic is in an open room with some treatment behind me but nothing else.

[@JohnLynagh]

Cool tune. Great lyrics !

[@tazstidson4231]

.. Another great video, really helpful... Awesome.

[@TheBandGuide]

🙌🏼 thank you!

[@DarkDrWokenstein]

I think I need to be a better singer

[@TheBandGuide]

😂😂 I won't even dare sing... so I feel you!

[@TheHiddenPathToHeaven]

Great pain can make us open up vocally 🙏🕊️ just open up and self control helps a lot find your passion

[@terryrollins1973]

Thanks Colin! 🎙🙌

[@Thereisonlyone464]

How would you set this up for doing a live stream, just me singing and playing keys? I have a vocal booth but it’ll be pretty tight to do lives in there lol. Any suggestions?

[@ferdinandoscala]

Great video, thanks! I was asking myself: in which way microphone - dynamic vs. condenser - can help having a better recording despite the room? When starting recording, I was aware of the wall reflection potential of my room. Therefore, my choice was to opt for a dynamic microphone - a Shure Beta SM 58 - instead of a condenser one, like a Rode NT-1 or other. Was that a more correct choice, considering my room conditions?

[@TheHiddenPathToHeaven]

That’s whyyyy it sounds better with my windows all the way down verses all the way up !!

[@dannydaniel8975]

What I did was I got a small standard box, filled it with that acoustic foam panel stuff, then placed the box over the mic, cut a hole in the box where the mic capstan is, sang through the cut out hole and "presto" no more room reflection! Sounds crazy, but it worked!

[@lamborghinicentenario2497]

how small is the box?

[@dannydaniel8975]

@@lamborghinicentenario2497 Actually, I don't do that anymore I bought one of those portable closets from target and l like that much much better

[@CypressSpring]

I use this same thing still lol

[@dannydaniel8975]

@@CypressSpring The box or the closet from target

[@CypressSpring]

@@dannydaniel8975 built a box with soundproof padding in the box

[@Andlovethebomb]

another gem of a vid!

[@DJSimmons]

Very interesting 🤔💭 Thanks for this, I was about to buy a better mic thinking that's the issue, but I'll try this out and see what happens

[@TheBandGuide]

I’ll bet you it does!

[@borntosoar-music]

I have been scratching my head with this. I thought it was because I am only just getting to gripping with mixing my vocals but I realise I am spending most my time trying to mix harsh sounds and passing cars (near a main road) I am going to try making space in a cupboard store. You mentioned having clothes in there, does this mean I will have to treat an empty cupboard with some kind of soft surface? Thanks mark

[@connerfennell9638]

I’m using a small closet with some shirts hanging up, but I think I’m going to fill it with clothes as much as possible and maybe put some treatment on the wall behind me. Great video! Thank you!

[@TheBandGuide]

Love it!

[@DionnesDiscography]

Great video tutorial! I haven't even gotten around to learning compression and mixing yet. I'm still working on getting a clean vocal. I just got a Focusrite 2i2 but when I have to hit high notes or belt, the sound is clipped and jarry. Soft notes are fine, but how do I get better recording of, say, a power ballad from Steve Perry? It keeps getting clipped in Focusrite, even when I turn down the knobs below 5.

[@TheBandGuide]

If you’re recording at a low level and it’s still clipping, you might just need to back off the mic a little bit just on loud words. Or turn your head so it’s not pointing directly at the mic on the loud words

[@jeremycefaratti1768]

Thanks for this Colin. I have a couple questions. One of the biggest problems I run into when laying down vocals (or guitar) tracks is the distance from my source to AI to DAW is pretty limited, so that I can only get about 5 feet from my computer, which makes setting up any kind of acoustic treatment difficult. Do you have any suggestions for tackling this. I'll take any suggestions from your other viewers too. I did download the Logic/GB remote last week to see if I can get a little further away with it. The greatest limiting factor is still my headphones cord length.

[@TheBandGuide]

Definitely! Just a budget headphone extension cable (usually 5-10 bucks) is worth its weight in gold!

[@jeremycefaratti1768]

@@TheBandGuide Sure, if you wanna do it the easy way!

[@TheHiddenPathToHeaven]

I DO BELIEVE WHICH IM ABOUT TO SET UP AND TEST IT, but I think I was to close to my microphone and the microphone caught the audio of the beat coming out of my head phones, doubling up the bass making it rattle and vibrate on certain vocals and words idk though it could be to small of cords of the fact I’m in a truck on a iPhone idk

[@davidnle]

wow..what a difference...I can hear it

[@JAMZ1960]

My grandfather asked me if I could sing “Far Far Away”? & I said I didn’t know that tune & he said “My Boy”

[@Arkiki782]

Im wondering why my vocal didn't sound full body even after processing it. Now i know even raw vocal sound full and clear when recording in a well treated room.

[@Exspazament]

Pre amp setup is where I struggle the most. Lol too much gain can pick up so much unwanted noise.

[@LyricLukas]

No way it’s the “Don’t ask me how I did it I just did it was hard” guy

[@shawnthrillfly2033]

Been trying to work around this for a while using 2 moving blankets and yet still no difference.

[@zakk4888]

hey Collin Does GarageBand have side chain functionality? like if I use a third party plugin that has SC will it be compatible with GarageBand

[@TheBandGuide]

Responded to your email with this but wanted to reply here in case anyone else sees it! Unfortunately sidechaining is reserved for Logic Pro X.

[@Babypowderbeats]

thanks

[@itsjustvinney]

Does it matter where you place your mic if you have a mic stand with a soundproof backboard?

[@JaeBTundra1]

Mic placement is a big deal in how you will sound.

[@webstertheproducer]

Thanks A lot.

[@Vrmickyperry]

So when rappers record on hotels with no closet but still get professional takes, how's that work?

[@Losprofetapoeta]

Thank you

[@YoungEzMusic]

That rapper lowk sounds a lil like how I used to sound in my old songs 😂😭

[@davidpanzer6746]

What about live?

[@Exspazament]

This!

[@TheBandGuide]

I'm glad it was helpful!

[@RobRuffMusic]

Buy the waves ns1 and youll sound like your in a recording booth even if you record in a tunnel

[@inlandbott]

that’s singing!?

[@TheHiddenPathToHeaven]

His song 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@wildrosecece]

Can you sing under a blanket?

[@grunntalll]

hey thats a good idea!

[@TheBandGuide]

This can definitely work! A thicker blanket would catch more frequencies. A sheet wouldn’t really make any difference

[@wildrosecece]

Need to build a blanket teepee.

[@decemberboy1000]

I'm going to try under my duvet

[@danielthecreator86]

i ain neva been madonna 🗣️

[@z4QuonOfficial]

click for vocal presets:kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3TTZJl_p8ucr6c

[@wolfhard2420]

That is why small rooms suck

[@CtheR_offical]

Yea um. That is not true at all if you rather teach people how to mix instead of make them waste money then I would be down to watch but this is just bs bro. There’s been so many people who legit recorded out of a potato and made hits it’s all about your mix your mix can fix just about anything besides peaking, and if you think I’m lying, bro section 80. Was made with a broken ass audio technica AT4040

[@TheKatchutes]

Is your “friend” in the closet ACTUALLY you…!? 😂 Sounds exactly like your voice hehe