"low fidelity" vocals

Itsmorning · 20th July 2011

So most people on here like some really high fidelity full spectrum vocals.

But I'm finding that a low fidelity sound offers alot of room for creativity and breaking from the norm.

Does anyone use any unusual set ups for this? Recommended effects?

For instance the deftones had a really cool gritty sound on alot of their tracks. I'm guessing alot of saturation, something that i've been messing with.

Another track that comes to mind is bob schneiders vocals at the beginning of "big blue sea". That's most likely a low cut high cut telephone effect.

Any electronic artists come to mind? I can't think of any, so please recommend.

Also Lets keep this seperate from from vocoder, autotune, delay, reverb, and chorus effects unless they are being used in abnormal ways.

Thanks for everyones input!

duggabax · 20th July 2011

sometimes I do the following

voice to mic

microphone to mic preamp to sampler

sampler to mixer

mixer to speakers

I make sure the channel the sampler feeds to is set very very low. I still hear my voice coming over the speakers, and it leaks into the microphone too. also, since the audio is going through the sampler, there's a very little bit of this kind of digitised feedback...gives it kind of an edge. sample that.

then you can do things like double-trigger the sample, modulate the volume or pitch slightly with white noise...concentrate on the mid frequencies so it sounds a bit like it's coming through a telephone...

cryophonik · 20th July 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itsmorning

Recommended effects?

- Bitcrusher
- Multiband distortion (check out OhmForce Ohmicide)
- Comb and formant filters can be used for some cool lofi FX, especially in combination with the ones above
- Spectral and granular FX

One little gem that you can use for some wild lofi FX is SpectrumWorx.

Itsmorning · 20th July 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by duggabax

sometimes I do the following

voice to mic

microphone to mic preamp to sampler

sampler to mixer

mixer to speakers

I make sure the channel the sampler feeds to is set very very low. I still hear my voice coming over the speakers, and it leaks into the microphone too. also, since the audio is going through the sampler, there's a very little bit of this kind of digitised feedback...gives it kind of an edge. sample that.

then you can do things like double-trigger the sample, modulate the volume or pitch slightly with white noise...concentrate on the mid frequencies so it sounds a bit like it's coming through a telephone...

That's what I'm talking about. Very cool.

Itsmorning · 20th July 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cryophonik

- Bitcrusher
- Multiband distortion (check out OhmForce Ohmicide)
- Comb and formant filters can be used for some cool lofi FX, especially in combination with the ones above
- Spectral and granular FX

One little gem that you can use for some wild lofi FX is SpectrumWorx.

Very nice! I hope I can demo some of these.

TMurphyMusic · 20th July 2011

Reamp vocals through guitar pedals (I have a Big Muff Pi that I exclusively use for this, since all of my guitar tone gets done in GuitarRig)
Write a distortion module in Reaktor or Absynth
Use a low-quality microphone (Radioshack?)

Itsmorning · 20th July 2011

How about using grain delay as long pitch shifting and delay dont go overboard.

cryophonik · 20th July 2011

Maybe try recording the vocals through an actual telephone? I've always thought about trying that, but haven't done it yet. Hmmmmm....I have a singer coming over tomorrow....

Heathfinnie · 21st July 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by cryophonik

Maybe try recording the vocals through an actual telephone? I've always thought about trying that, but haven't done it yet. Hmmmmm....I have a singer coming over tomorrow....

Which reminds me of the plug-in "speakerphone"

Psynthman · 21st July 2011

Use low-fi recording equipment? There's no real secret to sounding lo-fi, just use some cheaper gear. Unless you're trying to do that " Professionally done lo-fi " stuff, which kind of defeats the purpose...

Dudley · 21st July 2011

run the vocal through a guitar amp and blend with the original signal for some bite..
but really Speakerphone offers about a million different ways to get original lo-fi sounds.

offki · 21st July 2011

D16 Group Audio Software - Beyond Perfection - Home

Decimort and Devastator, very cheap too.

Ohm force stuff is better but takes longer to get right and costs more.

20th July 2011	#1
Itsmorning Banned Joined: May 2011 Posts: 389 Thread Starter	"low fidelity" vocals So most people on here like some really high fidelity full spectrum vocals. But I'm finding that a low fidelity sound offers alot of room for creativity and breaking from the norm. Does anyone use any unusual set ups for this? Recommended effects? For instance the deftones had a really cool gritty sound on alot of their tracks. I'm guessing alot of saturation, something that i've been messing with. Another track that comes to mind is bob schneiders vocals at the beginning of "big blue sea". That's most likely a low cut high cut telephone effect. Any electronic artists come to mind? I can't think of any, so please recommend. Also Lets keep this seperate from from vocoder, autotune, delay, reverb, and chorus effects unless they are being used in abnormal ways. Thanks for everyones input!

20th July 2011	#7
Itsmorning Banned Joined: May 2011 Posts: 389 Thread Starter	"low fidelity" vocals How about using grain delay as long pitch shifting and delay dont go overboard.

21st July 2011	#12
offki Gear for Lives. Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Brighton UK Posts: 1,808	D16 Group Audio Software - Beyond Perfection - Home Decimort and Devastator, very cheap too. Ohm force stuff is better but takes longer to get right and costs more. __________________ The secret impresses no one. The trick you use it for is everything.

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20th July 2011	#2
duggabax Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Vancouver Posts: 712 1 Review written	sometimes I do the following voice to mic microphone to mic preamp to sampler sampler to mixer mixer to speakers I make sure the channel the sampler feeds to is set very very low. I still hear my voice coming over the speakers, and it leaks into the microphone too. also, since the audio is going through the sampler, there's a very little bit of this kind of digitised feedback...gives it kind of an edge. sample that. then you can do things like double-trigger the sample, modulate the volume or pitch slightly with white noise...concentrate on the mid frequencies so it sounds a bit like it's coming through a telephone...

20th July 2011	#6
TMurphyMusic Gear nut Joined: Jul 2011 Location: NYC Posts: 109	Reamp vocals through guitar pedals (I have a Big Muff Pi that I exclusively use for this, since all of my guitar tone gets done in GuitarRig) Write a distortion module in Reaktor or Absynth Use a low-quality microphone (Radioshack?)

20th July 2011	#8
cryophonik Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 752	Maybe try recording the vocals through an actual telephone? I've always thought about trying that, but haven't done it yet. Hmmmmm....I have a singer coming over tomorrow....

21st July 2011	#10
Psynthman Gear addict Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 354	Use low-fi recording equipment? There's no real secret to sounding lo-fi, just use some cheaper gear. Unless you're trying to do that " Professionally done lo-fi " stuff, which kind of defeats the purpose...

21st July 2011	#11
Dudley Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 199	run the vocal through a guitar amp and blend with the original signal for some bite.. but really Speakerphone offers about a million different ways to get original lo-fi sounds.