MIXING HIP HOP VOCALS WITH GML 8900 HELP!!!

[STARSKI]

Hey starski is mixing his album and we're mixing on an SSL 4000G and will be renting a GML 8900. This is a rap album so the vocals need to be crisp and up front. Any advice on settings or useful tips would be appreciated.. All vocals were tracked with a Brauner Valvet BE>Neve 1290 Pre>Cranesong IBIS for low cut>Tube Tech CL1B for about 5db of comp>UAudio 2192 convertor. The studio has a PT HD setup into the SSL. Any tips or advice would be cool. Also what kinds of delays are you guys using for the vocals in place of reverbs.

Thanks-
Skiterbop

[raal]

Originally Posted by STARSKI

Also what kinds of delays are you guys using for the vocals in place of reverbs.

AMS DMX - could help give the upfront crispiness you're looking for.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by STARSKI

Hey starski is mixing his album and we're mixing on an SSL 4000G and will be renting a GML 8900. This is a rap album so the vocals need to be crisp and up front. Any advice on settings or useful tips would be appreciated.. All vocals were tracked with a Brauner Valvet BE>Neve 1290 Pre>Cranesong IBIS for low cut>Tube Tech CL1B for about 5db of comp>UAudio 2192 convertor. The studio has a PT HD setup into the SSL. Any tips or advice would be cool. Also what kinds of delays are you guys using for the vocals in place of reverbs.

Thanks-
Skiterbop

I don't know who suggested a GML 8900 but if you've never used it your in for a tough time.

[u b k]

crisp and up front sounds like a job for old reliable: 1176.


gregoire
del ubik

[Clueless]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

I don't know who suggested a GML 8900 but if you've never used it your in for a tough time.

+1 to that. When I first got mine it spent a day on the bench hooked up to all sorts of scopes. The scopes kept saying "it's compressing, just like the knobs say", but nobody could hear it. It is the true stealth compressor. But then again, for all I know the next multiplatinum hip hop record is the one that has a picture of a GML 8900 and a huge parental advisory label saying "Comprezzed Wid Diz Slutty Mutha F*kka". Shudder.

[MBishopSFX]

1176??? Why use a blunt instrument instead of a real tool?

a good starting place for the 8900 on vocals (of any style):

RATIO control to SOFT KNEE
COMPRESSION THRESHOLD at -15dB (vary as needed)
OUTPUT GAIN at +5dB
TIMING at 30ms (10 o'clock)
RELEASE HYSTERESIS switch to OFF
CREST FACTOR to +8dB

then experiment with changing the RATIO to other settings as needed.

With an 8900, you'll be able to pull a vocal way forward without it sounding "hammered." It will hold up to radio station hyper-compression down the road much better, too.

[u b k]

Originally Posted by MBishopSFX

1176??? Why use a blunt instrument instead of a real tool?

you are completely right, of course, my bad.

i invite you, and anyone else so inclined, to send me your 1176's and any other 'fake' tools you have laying around, i will begrudgingly accept them. this, of course, will free up precious rack space for the more enlightened among us to fill with 'real' tools.


yours in fraud etc.,

gregoire
del ubik

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by u b i k

you are completely right, of course, my bad.

i invite you, and anyone else so inclined, to send me your 1176's and any other 'fake' tools you have laying around, i will begrudgingly accept them. this, of course, will free up precious rack space for the more enlightened among us to fill with 'real' tools.


yours in fraud etc.,

gregoire
del ubik

Hi Ubik,

Do you know who Michael Bishop is?



Man i don't understand...

Some of the posts i see from the NYC gearslutters makes us look like...

[lucey]

Starski I really liked that "For the Passion" rap ... same record?

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Some of the posts i see from the NYC gearslutters makes us look like...

I thought it was fun spirited and not offensive ...

[u b k]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Hi Ubik,
Do you know who Michael Bishop is?

Man i don't understand...

Some of the posts i see from the NYC gearslutters makes us look like...

señor thrill,

i'm familiar with mr. bishop's work, but i'd hesitate to say that means i 'know who he is'... i barely know who i am from moment to moment. i have tremendous respect for his accomplishments and abilities.

if i'm reading you correctly, you are implying that my response was somehow disrespectful, inappropriate or less-than-deferential given who i'm responding to. but i wasn't responding to a "who", i was responding to a "what", namely, the implication that the 1176 is not a "real tool", whereas the gml is.

as an unabashed fan of the 1176 and it's particular brand of "hammer", i responded, and i did so in a way that (i hoped) was lighthearted while taking a serious poke at the dismissive tone of the original post. honestly, jesus himself could descend today and tell me the 1176 is a less-than-ideal tool for modern hiphop vocals, and i'd still feel compelled to respectfully disagree.

though, for the record, jesus wishes it to be known that he prefers the neve d series.


gregoire
del ubik

[MBishopSFX]

Originally Posted by u b i k

as an unabashed fan of the 1176 and it's particular brand of "hammer", i responded, and i did so in a way that (i hoped) was lighthearted while taking a serious poke at the dismissive tone of the original post. honestly, jesus himself could descend today and tell me the 1176 is a less-than-ideal tool for modern hiphop vocals, and i'd still feel compelled to respectfully disagree.

though, for the record, jesus wishes it to be known that he prefers the neve d series.


gregoire
del ubik

No offense taken here! I didn't mean to offend any users of the 'hammer' either. I used 1176 'hammers' on just about everything for 20+ years. I'm thrilled to now have the control and transparency the 8900 offers, though.

BTW, jesus told me in a vision last night that he now prefers the Joe Meek stuff, especially when going for the "voice of god" effect.

[STARSKI]

so uh yeah back on to the topic guys???

[u b k]

Originally Posted by MBishopSFX

BTW, jesus told me in a vision last night that he now prefers the Joe Meek stuff, especially when going for the "voice of god" effect.

indeed: joe meek shall inherit the earth.


gregoire
del ubik

[MBishopSFX]

Originally Posted by STARSKI

so uh yeah back on to the topic guys???

Did the starting-place 8900 settings work?

as far as vocal delays go: combos of QRS Room Simulator, TC 1290, or multi-engine TC-6K are all terrific. There are loads of other DDLs and short room 'verb setups that would work well, but this is where I start. Music genre doesn't matter. Good is good. You just adjust to fit the style at hand.

I'm happy to see you're mixing in the analog domain and looking for compressor/DDL/reverb hardware to employ. The software "sounds-like..." versions just cannot compare, IMO.

[mtstudi@pacbell]

I , like the previous posts love the GML 8900, using similar settings that of Mike Bishop. I have also ran the 8900 in tandem. Channel one set for light compression, channel two set as a limiter. That worked great for a in your face vocal.
I am also a fan of 1176's, although, they do produce a character, color or charm if you like.


Hey Starski,
went to your website, saw you had a Universal Audio LA-610 pictured in a rack, I have had some good experiences those on vocals.

www.bluethumbproductions.com

[STARSKI]

That's not a UA 610 it's a 2-1176, which i like to use tracking my drums but not so much on my vox.

[mtstudi@pacbell]

Originally Posted by STARSKI

That's not a UA 610 it's a 2-1176, which i like to use tracking my drums but not so much on my vox.

I am sorry, I miss spoke. at a quick glance I thought it was the UA 6176 (the Mic Pre/Compressor) on your Bio page. Not the 610. 6176 sounds great on vx.
www.bluethumbproductions.com

[Jules]

Welcome to August 2005!

[raal]

Originally Posted by MBishopSFX

Did the starting-place 8900 settings work?

as far as vocal delays go: combos of QRS Room Simulator, TC 1290, or multi-engine TC-6K are all terrific. There are loads of other DDLs and short room 'verb setups that would work well, but this is where I start. Music genre doesn't matter. Good is good. You just adjust to fit the style at hand.I'm happy to see you're mixing in the analog domain and looking for compressor/DDL/reverb hardware to employ. The software "sounds-like..." versions just cannot compare, IMO.

have to say i also love the soundtoys stuff.

any more 8900 tips?

thank you.