How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

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Witiko
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Re: How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

Post by Witiko » Tue Oct 09, 2012 12:11 pm

steve wrote:Thanks for the upload, but could you post a "raw" (completely unprocessed) sample.
It was basically unprocessed, I had just applied the Noise Removal effect prior to posting it. :)
steve wrote:Sorry about some of the clashing chords, it was done very quickly ;)
It sounds great, considering it's a completely unrelated tune. :) If anything, the voice is maybe a bit quiet and cancelled out by the overlaying music, but other than that it sounds very good.
kozikowski wrote:In other words, forget the oddball bass boost, your voice is fine as it is.
I was merely curious with regards to how it was achieved. Did they use an extraneous bass microphone, whose output they boosted and then mixed with the main mic, did they use a VST or is it just equalisation magic? I do not know, yet it's an effect so widespread in professional records that it's hard to believe that someone else wouldn't know. :)

steve
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Re: How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

Post by steve » Tue Oct 09, 2012 1:41 pm

Witiko wrote:I had just applied the Noise Removal effect prior to posting it
If you listen carefully you can hear "the room" (reverberation and the "colouration" of the frequency response) during the singing, but it cuts off abruptly between words. The problem with that is that to then apply Equalization and artificial reverb, it's more difficult to get the EQ right because you can't hear the "room tone" and the tails of the reverb sound "disconnected" from the audio (because the input level to the reverb has suddenly dropped close to zero, chopping off the natural reverb).

I would normally do a first pass of EQ before any Noise Removal, then fix any clicks / pops etc (there is an over-emphasized "k" sound somewhere near the middle that becomes very pronounced when lifting the high frequencies), then apply gentle noise reduction. Increasing the "Attack / Decay" slider a little in the Noise Removal effect can help to avoid clipping off the natural reverb.

It is usually better to avoid too much natural reverb by having plenty of sound absorbing material in the room. When processing the audio, you need to work with the natural reverb, not against it.

Witiko wrote:considering it's a completely unrelated tune
It's funny how well it works isn't it :)

Witiko wrote:Did they use an extraneous bass microphone
Probably not. They probably just used one "large diaphragm condenser" microphone with a "cardioid" pick-up pattern, placed about 10 cm in front of the singer with a "pop shield" between the mic and the singer. The closeness of the microphone will tend to accentuate the low frequencies, but a "pop shield" is essential to prevent blowing on the mic.

High stools can be useful when close mic'ing as they help to prevent the singer moving too far without affecting their breathing. Some singers prefer to stand, but for inexperienced recording artists you need to be careful that they do not move too much or the tone will change and ruin the recording.

Close mic'ing, equalization, compression, reverb. These are staple techniques for vocal recording. Professional studios usually do not apply noise removal, but may use a slow release "gate" to remove "shuffling" noises in pauses. Where noise is concerned, prevention is much better than cure.
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steve
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Re: How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

Post by steve » Tue Oct 09, 2012 1:44 pm

steve wrote:Close mic'ing, equalization, compression, reverb. These are staple techniques for vocal recording.
Sadly "auto-tune" is also becoming a staple technique - I hate it. If someone cannot sing in tune they should not be singing professionally :evil:
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Witiko
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Re: How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

Post by Witiko » Wed Oct 10, 2012 1:00 pm

steve wrote:and the tails of the reverb sound "disconnected" from the audio (because the input level to the reverb has suddenly dropped close to zero, chopping off the natural reverb)
Yup, I have noticed.
steve wrote:They probably just used one "large diaphragm condenser" microphone with a "cardioid" pick-up pattern
In other words - a microphone of sorts I will never be able to afford. :)
steve wrote:Close mic'ing, equalization, compression, reverb. These are staple techniques for vocal recording.
I see!
steve wrote:Sadly "auto-tune" is also becoming a staple technique - I hate it. If someone cannot sing in tune they should not be singing professionally :evil:
I wouldn't be so hateful. It does have its place if you're going for a vocaloid/electronic feel. Although it's definitely overused in the main stream production.
Last edited by Witiko on Wed Oct 10, 2012 2:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

steve
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Re: How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

Post by steve » Wed Oct 10, 2012 1:47 pm

Witiko wrote:In other words - a microphone of sorts I will never be able to afford. :)
Prices start at around $50, although they go up to thousands.
Witiko wrote: It does have its place if you're going for a vocaloid/electronic feel
Yes, the "T-Pain" effect was interesting to hear "once". ;)
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kozikowski
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Re: How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

Post by kozikowski » Wed Oct 10, 2012 3:12 pm

Directional microphones have Proximity Effect where your bass goes up as you get closer. It's the "rock and roll band at the local watering hole" effect. As you drive up to find parking all you can hear are the bass guitar and Woof Woof Woof vocals.

Also known as an SM58.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SM58

I have done straight recordings with one of those. That's it behind the blast filter on the right.

http://www.kozco.com/pictures/boothFini ... op-mic.jpg

Combined with this...

http://www.kozco.com/pictures/boothFinished/mixer.jpg

To produce a voice track for a video feature.

Yes, those are furniture moving pads. I would not buy another FP24 field microphone mixer. They cut too many corners in the design to make it small.

Koz

kozikowski
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Re: How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

Post by kozikowski » Wed Oct 10, 2012 3:14 pm

Oh, and that's the PVC Pipe shock mount.
http://www.kozco.com/tech/pvcShockMount/shockmount.html
Koz

kozikowski
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Re: How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

Post by kozikowski » Wed Oct 10, 2012 3:30 pm

I'm remembering that shoot. We were doing voice tracks for a cartoon bidding. Multiple people around the company with very different voices were invited to read for the parts. "You're the girl sniggle 'Onni' with the high squeaky voice. Read from the second paragraph."

That black cloth is Duvetyne. It's nothing on a roll. It's dead black -- absorbs light like a sponge and it's acoustically dead as well. If you want to make a portion of a set or stage "go away," drape it in Duvetyne. It's also good for keeping computers from getting scratched.

Koz

Witiko
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Re: How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

Post by Witiko » Wed Oct 10, 2012 4:03 pm

Wow, so much useful information! Thanks, Koz. :)

kozikowski
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Re: How to bring the bass vocal range up in the mix

Post by kozikowski » Wed Oct 10, 2012 5:59 pm

Most people remember their vacation to Honolulu. Koz

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