Gettinga Shure SM58 to sound like a Lamb of God album

[MechanEvil]

Let's play "My studio burnt down and all I have is a recording interface, software plugins and a Shure SM58 and I want to sound like the Lamb of God vocalist".

Alternatively, we can play, "I have a Shure SM58. It's the best damn mike in the world bar none. That's why it's the only one I have"

Like I was saying, I have Cubase 6, no outboard gear and my purpose is to record a demo, not self-produce an album. I also have aforementioned SM58, in case you forgot.

I realise how difficult it must be for some people to break with tradition and not suggest I buy more gear (or take a hike), this is "Gearslutz" after all. But I seem to lose more money than I make being slutty and I've decided to control my urges for my own good.

If you're smiling by now, I'll redirect your attention to said issue. How does one make an SM58 sound like a device worthy of a speed/thrash/death metal demo album (anyone heard the LoG demos? It'll give you a reference point on how crap some of them sound in terms of sound, but it will give you an inside advantage on what record companies are not really looking for in a demo).

I sing obnoxiously loud in my house, so I figure the first thing I need to do is compress, then equalise and then de-ess, though I really don't find too many sibilant things to say when I'm screaming my guts out. Unfortunately, I don't know what else I could possibly do, or how to make the signal chain in my head translate well.

You advice will be greatly appreciated. Like all free advice :P

Regards,
Jimmy Rage/Arvind Jayaram/Reggae Mangle

[DaveE]

The sm58 is going to be the least of your problems. You sounding like Randy would be the main factor in replicating that vocal sound. Assuming you can pull that off, you'd still have your work cut out for you dialing all of the instruments and mix, not to mention the LoG albums have pretty extreme mastering.

Since it sounds like you're new at this, you'd probably face less agony (and have more fun) just creating your own original sound. Where are you located? I bet there is a gearslutz somewhere near you that can help.

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by MechanEvil

Let's play "My studio burnt down and all I have is a recording interface, software plugins and a Shure SM58 and I want to sound like the Lamb of God vocalist".

Alternatively, we can play, "I have a Shure SM58. It's the best damn mike in the world bar none. That's why it's the only one I have"

Like I was saying, I have Cubase 6, no outboard gear and my purpose is to record a demo, not self-produce an album. I also have aforementioned SM58, in case you forgot.

I realise how difficult it must be for some people to break with tradition and not suggest I buy more gear (or take a hike), this is "Gearslutz" after all. But I seem to lose more money than I make being slutty and I've decided to control my urges for my own good.

If you're smiling by now, I'll redirect your attention to said issue. How does one make an SM58 sound like a device worthy of a speed/thrash/death metal demo album (anyone heard the LoG demos? It'll give you a reference point on how crap some of them sound in terms of sound, but it will give you an inside advantage on what record companies are not really looking for in a demo).

I sing obnoxiously loud in my house, so I figure the first thing I need to do is compress, then equalise and then de-ess, though I really don't find too many sibilant things to say when I'm screaming my guts out. Unfortunately, I don't know what else I could possibly do, or how to make the signal chain in my head translate well.

You advice will be greatly appreciated. Like all free advice :P

Regards,
Jimmy Rage/Arvind Jayaram/Reggae Mangle

Have talent /Compress / layer / compress some more / layer / compress / layer some more / add some delay / compress and have I mentioned compress yet?

[MechanEvil]

I used LoG as the reference because I heard they did an album using an SM58 for vocals (inspiring!) and that is pretty much what I'm going to use, as of now. Not trying to sound like Randy Blythe at all, even though it is a sound to aspire for! I know the value of originality! He's got a very dry, rasping kind of voice, sort of like I have a bit more of a wet, rasping voice. He is loud though and I'm not the whisper kind of metal vocalist so it seemed like a point of reference.

My standards of good are as high as anyone else's, but my main ambition is to put together a convincing demo. In that respect, I want the vocals to sound the best they possibly can, though I emphasise that my objective is not to outdo the studio I hope to eventually record in. Often run into flak about how poor my demos sound compared to other bands, which is why I thought it wise to ask the doyens of Gearslutz.com for advice!

I built a budget studio of my own because I know that sometimes music doesn't click. It's a private studio, I don't record anyone else (at least since the band disintegrated) and I like the idea of being able to record for the rest of my life, God-willing, because it's something I enjoy doing!

Compressing and layering sounds like good advice. I also like the fact that you stressed on doing it more than once. I'll shape my vocals using the inserts on Cubase 6, a channel strip. In fact, that gave me the idea of maybe routing that channel to another channel to get double the inserts, besides some sub-EQing. Maybe route within the interface some more to thicken. Thanks!

After I'm done with getting a good 'tone' with the vocals, it sounds like you'd suggest some additional post-processing. Any tools/plugins/methodologies I should read up on/familiarise myself with?

Here's a link to my music page: MechanEvil | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos

There's only one track with vocals up there, "Charge of the Heavy Brigade". Unfortunately, the vocals are really poor, not at all how I sound. Dot dot dot but it's difficult to convince anyone with a demo like that

I really want to get across how I sound to the guy who *will* hear my demo.

- Jimmy Rage

[DaveE]

I listened to your page. The guitars are drums are a much bigger issue than the vocals. I can't really guess what you've done, but the guitars are a big blur. I'd start by using less distortion on them.

[Jeff Hayat]

Originally Posted by MechanEvil

I used LoG as the reference because I heard they did an album using an SM58 for vocals (inspiring!) and that is pretty much what I'm going to use, as of now.

There is SO MUCH that goes into getting a good recording (or even getting a recording to sound like another) that the following is nothing but the truth: just because you have the same mic the artist used, is not going to help you sound like that artist.

Why not concentrate on sounding like you as opposed to someone else?

[MechanEvil]

@Jeff Hayat: Agreed, gear alone does not one a musician make. I dig it! That said, as mentioned, I cited LoG as a reference because it's an album I heard was recorded using an SM58! I doubt anyone knows what the exact signal chain for that mike was and what processing was applied after the track was recorded. In that sense, I am not even remotely aiming to duplicate that sound! Rather, I am using that sound as a starting point for where I am trying to end up Entirely from a demo point of view!

@Chris Lago: I totally agree. I don't sound anything like him. Nor am I trying to. Apologies if my first post was too off the mark in suggesting I want to mimick his voice! I want to sound very different, just have that same *big* recording "tone"

@DaveE: I concur! Unfortunately, my knowledge of recording is very limited and as a result, my trial "demos" have suffered, very sub-standard from a sound point of view, so much so that I'm scared a record label would ignore the material. In that respect, I've been doing a lot of reading and more trials just to garner more knowledge of the procedure! Thanks for the criticism of the drums, I have a lot more to do before I get these things to sit right in the mix. Will definitely work on the tones some more and the truth is, I already have, since I've heard some of my peers' recordings sound so much better than mine.

As someone mentioned, "layer"

- Jimmy Rage

PS: Did anyone hear those LoG demos? Some of the Mega demos are excellent to listen to as well and so is the Death demo, though I don't have that one and can only listen to it in lo-fi youtube sound

[Ward Pike]

Good grief... didn't you get the memo?

You first have to soak it in a quart of Jack Daniel's, for a minimum of 8 hours.

[Jeff Hayat]

Originally Posted by Ward Pike

Good grief... didn't you get the memo?

You first have to soak it in a quart of Jack Daniel's, for a minimum of 8 hours.

OMG - talk about a waste of JD!!!! Shame on you!

[Ward Pike]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hayat

OMG - talk about a waste of JD!!!! Shame on you!

I'm so ashamed... facepalm

[rksguit]

Originally Posted by ShadowAMD

Have talent /Compress / layer / compress some more / layer / compress / layer some more / add some delay / compress and have I mentioned compress yet?

Now I get it.......Layne Staley rip off here I come[kidding not]

[Duardo]

I cited LoG as a reference because it's an album I heard was recorded using an SM58! I doubt anyone knows what the exact signal chain for that mike was and what processing was applied after the track was recorded.

As others have pointed out, the microphone is just a small contributor to the "sound" of the recording...as is the signal path in general...but it would help to know what other gear was used on the vocal chain. The SM58 can sound great on vocals, especially when used with a high quality preamp. It (and dynamic microphones in general) is very much affected by the preamp it is used with.

[dano69]

I don't know if you have the budget for this, but if you could come up with the cash to produce one song at a professional studio, you would learn tons. In fact, I'd venture to guess the money you'd spend at a pro studio would be worth way more than spending the same amount on gear and trying to figure it out on your own.

Dan P.

[MechanEvil]

@duardo: There is absolutely nothing between the SM58 and my Fireface 800! I have been looking at the option of getting a decent mic preamp like the Art Pro MPA II or a TPS II, but my major worry is the law of diminishing returns and considering I'm already in the negative zone as far as my budgeted expenditure on this studio has been, I am loathe to spend more at this juncture. Hell, I don't have the money. Otherwise I'd be gunning for a Shure SM7B, which I hear works great on metal vocals. But even then, I'm sure I'd need a preamp... and the circle goes on and on and on. As far as I'm concerned, the gear acquisition syndrome has got to stop. Which is why I'm interested in techniques using the equipment I already have "It's just a demo", but at the same time, I have to package it so that any A&R executive that listens to it says, "Wow, it's just a demo"

@dano69: Agreed, but in India (where I come from) there isn't much in the way of professional studios for heavy metal recording, more like devotional music and bhangra. In an earlier band, we did a recording at one of those places and it came out like *pishy*. I have heard of a couple of guys that used to do this stuff professionally and pretty well, though they used programmed drums. Plus, I haven't heard of anyone that got signed after recording with them and I believe they fell out recently, so that option is a no-go. Another option would be to go for a professional course, but I haven't got any time on my hands, since I'm already pushing 30, unmarried, hovering precariously above the debt line and obstinate about "the need to practice". Hell, I recently started learning drums on an e-kit that I plan to use for recording non-programmed drums and that trumps everything these days.

@rksguit: If that signal chain applies to Layne Staley, then it can be surmised that Layne had talent! Great band, was listening to Dirt on my way to work yesterday.

@Ward Pike: If I soak my tongue in a quart of Jack Daniel's for eight hours, would that suffice?

- Jimmy Rage

[dano69]

I see. I thought you were in the US. Carry on and best of luck.

Dan P

[MechanEvil]

Peace.

- Jimmy Rage

[Sean TM]

they record at sound of music in richmond va...start there

[MechanEvil]

MMM, Richmond Virginia. Perhaps then I will have arrived. Maybe Bill Gates will pop into the studio, haha

- Jimmy Rage