help with female voice :HIGH SPL`s

[MooWahmBah]

..any help on a studio mic that handles LOTS of spl for a female voice (pop-rock).We`re tracking a CD ...she insists on singing close to the capsule and there`s tube saturation or capsule saturation ( distortion?) on some notes [groove tubes /alesis AM 62?tube mic into Amek 9098 into pro tools].....2 questions .....What`s the "minimum correct" distance from the mic when singing at loud spl`s ?????? and 2 .... Any well known sturdy mics for this usage . I`ve read that the Lawson for instance (or any 47 capsule?) will not handle the spl as well as some others .We`re on a budget and the studios neumann 103 crumpled to the force ! At this point I`m looking at another studio but would like to select one according to their mic selection thanks ,. Paul

[espasonico]

It also depends on the room you are recording. If the room is not a problem then I use the Pop-screen to keep the singer at a distance. Sometimes I put a mic for the singer to stay close but record the good one placed back.

Also make sure it´s the mic and not the pre. You can try the pad if the mic´s got one. If it´s the capsule then try what I said first or use anothe mic.

[MooWahmBah]

thank you espasonico....the room is quite nice ...she leans into the popscreen which seems to be about 2-3 inches away from the capsule . She also has good technique in backing off the mic on loud passages ...BUT even with no red leds anywhere ,there`s a thicker quality to some notes that feels like saturation ...or saliva ? or a hoarse rock tone? ...so I`m confused ...could you please tell me how far away you place your second mic behind the "dummy" mic .Pardon my inexperience on this and thanks for the concern ....Paul

[espasonico]

10" should be a good compromise.

Have you heard her without the mic ? Try staying next to hear and make her sing for you to listen what is coming out. Maybe it´s her voice what sounds distorted.

[AlexLakis]

Originally Posted by espasonico

10" should be a good compromise.

Have you heard hear without the mic ? Try staying next to hear and make her sing for you to listen what is coming out. Maybe it´s her voice what sounds distorted.

Yeah, if there's no red, and she's a decent distance from the mic, it might just be her voice that's sounding like clipping. Heard it from a few different vocalists. Getting in the tracking room and sticking your ear down her throat should clear things up...

[MooWahmBah]

Yeah ...that`s the problem ...her voice has that quality .To me that masks the possibility that the capsule is distorting without clipping the leds ...Much like a tube amp saturation ...Oh .I have a -10db running ..thanks guys .Paul I`ll try to enforce the 10 inch distance .Wish me luck

[MooWahmBah]

"Powerful singer is good, eh?"




Oh YEAH !!!!! Makes the drummers dig in ! Everyone should be able to spit a little too!