What would be for you the best vocal chain ?

[cinealta]

Originally Posted by Kenny Gioia

My favorite vocal chain would be...Karen Carpenter singing into a U47 tube with a Pultec Eq and an LA3a compressor.

Stock U87, broken pattern selector, stuck in Omni, reflections from CR glass, Quad 8 pre, 1176, EMT plate. Timeless.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Baz

But Karen sounded perfect singing into that old 87 that was apparently stuck in omni I wouldn't change a thing for those vocals

;-)

Originally Posted by cinealta

Stock U87, broken pattern selector, stuck in Omni, reflections from CR glass, Quad 8 pre, 1176, EMT plate. Timeless.

[Andrew Kinsey]

Originally Posted by hart07

i would like to get a nice vocal chain to enter in my PTHD.
My music would be rock or Electro ( house, dance pop)

actually i got a mic pre amp 1073 BAE , BSS DPR 402 ( de-esser) and 192 I/O analog ( converter) to PT10HD.

reagrding the Mic i look at a Wunder audio GT with M7 capsule ( i read any positive feedbacks)
and regarding the compressor i don't know ( Neve 2254/R, Distressor, or Tubetech CL1-B or CL2-A )?

thks for your advices

My favorite chain with the CM7 is going into a 1073, with the HP filter engaged at 80hz, and a little 12k boost which really just puts the icing on the cake.

As far as compressors go, the Distressor will be a bit more agressive than the 1176, which for house and electro you will most probably like, especially on drum hits, synths, and bass.

If were talking strictly vocals however than the 1176 is going to be smoother and more open than the Distressor. Then you could follow that up with either an LA2A, or CL1B which can be especially usefull for vocalist with big dynamic ranges as to not over compress in any one unit.

Then of course theres got to be another layer of compression once its ITB!!

[atticmike]

U87 clone, as good as the original even with a tad more high end

[SoundHouse]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

I've kinda arrived at mine after trying a ton of different combos...
Miktek CV4 into a Heritage 1073 into a Retro Sta-Level...

Bingo

Don't have the Heritage 1073...yet, but I'm using the Miktek CV4 into a MA5 into a Sta Level. You definitely have to try different combos. That's what makes it fun .

[chessparov]

The cheapest chain I "fell in love with" (humble singer here/non-pro "AE") is SM7>Little Labs LMNO. Which will run under $2000 brand new for both.

Otherwise Pearlman TM-1 is a top fave, along with the AEA R44 for chocolate-y ribbon goodness, as the budget increases.

Chris

[mikkelkiilerich]

Originally Posted by eleo

good singer --->appropriate Mic--->appropriate Mic Preamp--->appropriate Compressor with--->appropriate Threshold settings--->appropriate EQ--->appropriate Converter--->Done!

Come on! This is GEARslutz, not SMARTASSslutz.
Help the guy or read on

Mikkel

[alohachris]

Aloha,

I record myself on acoustic instruments & vocals. I'm in my mid-60's now & of course, one's voice changes with time. So I've auditioned & used many vocal studio mic's in the last 15 years to keep up with my voice's changes as it ages.

Currently, I favor this vocal chain:

Microtech Gefell UM-900 (usually in Omni)
Pendulum MDP-1a tube preamp
UA 1176 compressor/limiter

alohachris

[u b k]

Originally Posted by Baz

But Karen sounded perfect singing into that old 87 that was apparently stuck in omni I wouldn't change a thing for those vocals

I'll do you one better: Karen sounded perfect singing into whatever mic was in front of her. A few minutes watching old live clips on youtube bears this out.

Some singers, they got the juice. Others, not so much...


Gregory Scott - ubk

[hasbeen]

Telefunken 251 or C12 to Langevin 5116 (not B) to DBX 902 to BA6A to Melcor or GML eq.

[piperopigeon]

i've settled on the CV4 - germanium - manley pulteq - distresser - brute.

[AllBread]

I'd start with David Gilmour's voice and then use whatever I had laying around!

[vernier]

Vintage ribbon through vintage tube pre is my fave, usually.
.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fQDG-TsKBs

[Ward Pike]

Originally Posted by hart07

i would like to get a nice vocal chain to enter in my PTHD.
My music would be rock or Electro ( house, dance pop)

actually i got a mic pre amp 1073 BAE , BSS DPR 402 ( de-esser) and 192 I/O analog ( converter) to PT10HD.

reagrding the Mic i look at a Wunder audio GT with M7 capsule ( i read any positive feedbacks)
and regarding the compressor i don't know ( Neve 2254/R, Distressor, or Tubetech CL1-B or CL2-A )?

Let's consider what the OP has now and what his applications are.

Rock and Electro are both pop forms which need the vocal to cut through but not be "way out front" of the supporting music.

Microphone choices should be modern sounding - crisp and punchy. As much as I prefer a vintage U87 over a newer U87ai, the U87ai would certainly perform better in this context as would a variety of other choices (Brauner VM1, BLUE Kiwi, C414uls or even xls). The classic LDC tube or SS types might not be as effective. Remember to high-pass at 80 or even 160 if you're getting too much chest sound. The Omni mode is good advice as the cardioid mode will exaggerate the chestiness with proximity effect...especially with male vocalists.

Preamp needs to be fast and clear without a lot of baggage of mud to drag around and need to deal with later. The GAMA is on my short list for this kind of application, but in the meantime his 1073 clone will do the job perfectly.

Compressor is very important here. Yes I concur with others who have suggested a CL1b but even more effective for the music types he will be working on is an LA2a and an 1176. I find the LA2a first for rounding and smoothing then into the 1176 for limiting is the best approach but I don't use either for more than 3db of gain reduction.

Then he's going into the 192, which is a fairly good converter and well matched with PT10 - although the new Avid HD i/o units are light years ahead of them!

As for de-essing, the built in PT de-esser will do the job nicely for you, set at around 8khz with 4db of GR. Post EQing in the mix will be easy based on the above recommended chains.

Mileage will vary, but you asked for advice!

[Pinboxer]

What do you guys think of the RPN 5015H, or the UA-LA610. And how important is it to EQ vocals on the way in as aposed to after ?

[andychamp]

Originally Posted by Pinboxer

(...)And how important is it to EQ vocals on the way in as aposed to after ?

That depends on how familiar you are with the voice being recorded, the recording chain & environment and the arragement the voice will have to fit into.
Few matters will divide the community like this one will, and IMHO it's material for a whole 'nother thread (of which there are already many here on GS).

[Rev. Eslam]

Originally Posted by Pinboxer

What do you guys think of the RPN 5015H, or the UA-LA610. And how important is it to EQ vocals on the way in as aposed to after ?

IMO it is more logical to process the sound after recording it.
BTW welcome to the Gearslutz forum Madam. :-)

[pianomog]

Vintage 47 neve 1073 Vintage la2a

[natpub]

For a great voice, a hand-picked Neumann M49/b > GML2020 > Weiss AD

As voices go below great from there, I look at increasingly more forgiving preamps and compressors.

For most male rock, U47>BAE1028>1176 blackF

[jono]

Lucas CS-4 --> Earlybird --> something/depending: 1176 or distressor or retro 176

[Slikjmuzik]

I used to use about a $4-5k chain, which consisted of a AR-51, a Manley Dual mono mic pre going line level into a Focusrite ISA220 for filtering, compression and EQ. I still have the ISA, but got rid of the Manley for a Daking IV pre which I feel was a smart move. I'm now using, mostly a Studio Projects T3 in which I swapped out the stock capsule for a microphone-parts CK12. I also swapped out the tube for a JJ ECC83. This mic easily holds its own with other high end mics and I like it better than the Manley Cardref now too. I have it running into either a Vintech 1272 or my Burl B1 500 series which is then going into my RJR VCA comp with Lundahl output trannies, which is then going into my Blacklion EQ with no boosting or cutting. That is then going into my Ross Martin converter.

Now there have sauce with flavor for days boys!!

[hart07]

Ok to resume
Neumann u 87ai_ 1073_distressor or cl1b or la2a or urei1176ln_192I/o
That's right?
Thks

[soundgear]

Im going to have to go with SSL for 4000 ALEX ,
A bunch of really expensive stuff that iv never used or heard before , because the good expensive stuff I use now just doesn't seem good enough. Its gotta be something in the signal chain thats holding me back. As soon as I find the best combination of great to suck when Im singing through it I will let you know . Damm its gotta be the pre . or the comp or mic , I replaced those 5 times each so its gotta be the acoustical treatment. Thats it , I found it , the acoustic treatment. I haven't waisted to much money on that yet.

Get a great mic a great pre and comp the rest is up to you !

Unless you track bands, then you will need 16 of each.
24 of each if they have a horn section .
So on and so on

[Johnkenn]

Originally Posted by Remy Leloup

With a great black female vocalist

I 've got STELLAR results with : Neumann 269 ( ac 701 telefunken tube ) > Phoenix audio DRS 2 > Compressor : myself riding level with one finger > IZ Radar Classic..... NO EQ > then Lexicon 480 L ( little bit of predelay ) then large wood room (3.1 seconds)

Result was at home : vocal signature which reminded me the first album of Whitney Houton singing ballads !!!

ps : Neuman 269 is EXCEPTIONAL for Female vocalists especially when it comes to Ballads , nothing can touch this " satiny and warmth "

Your vocal chain is racist!

[Johnkenn]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

I've kinda arrived at mine after trying a ton of different combos...
Miktek CV4 into a Heritage 1073 into a Retro Sta-Level...

Btw - I think since I posted this, I switched from a Symphony to a Hilo...and I SWEAR its better. All gas is dead....(until I have more money)

[axisdreamer]

Pearlman TM-1 into Electrodyne 201-A tube pre into Distressor into Adat HD24 xr stock converters..

[automatom]

I believe the best chain is the shortest one with only good components. I've arrived at the Gefell UM900 into the VT1. No tracking compression.

On mix down it might go through my Portico II.

Everything else is performance.

[pan60]

The other-day I was loving the BLUE BlueBerry into the A-Designs EM_BLUE, Sometimes it the P-1. Deferent mics I migrate from one to another at times I seem to come back to the Blue for a lot.