Bluebird & Rap Vocals

[TRYUMF]

I got the bluebird mic and I love it when I sing it really gives me what I want but when I rap it gives me to much high pitch grainy sound I got a eq on my preamp wut freq should I have to cut or is this something else?how can I get smooth lows instead on grainy high when I rap?

[atma]

you might try getting it modded by Michael Joly at oktavamod.com

[traumerei1838]

try broader stuff first.

maybe a thicker pop filter

put a pencil in front of you (i've never tried that... didn't the beatles do that?)

try a broad-band de-esser.

don't go splitting hairs just yet. you'll drive yourself crazy

maybe you just need a different mic for different colors

and yeah, read about that joly dude. apparently he is tops.

[Artichoke]

I have a bluebird too. Try directing your vocals slightly above the mic.

[Storyville]

Originally Posted by Artichoke

I have a bluebird too. Try directing your vocals slightly above the mic.

My experience tells me the opposite. Place the mic slightly above the mouth, backed off and aimed down at the chest.

But the best way is to listen to yourself in the headphones and find a good angle and distance based on that.

[Alxi]

Originally Posted by Storyville

But the best way is to listen to yourself in the headphones and find a good angle and distance based on that.

I haven't tried the mic in question but this might be the answer to most vox recordings problems ( giving you have a good mic and an ok room ) Moving around the mic 'till you hit the right spot is definitely the key to a great recording. Just standing in front of it wishing it gives you want you want might not do it.

my two humble cents

-Alxi

[bp104]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE MY BLUEBIRD MIC, IT HAS SINGLE HANDEDLY INCREASED THE QUALITY OF MY RAP VOCALS BY A HUNDRED AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE THE MOST ABOUT IT IS THAT I CAN SWITCH ANGLES FROM WHICH I SPIT INTO IT FOR DIFFERENT COLORED SOUNDS, IT IS COMPLETELY AWESOME FOR RAP VOCALS OR SINGING, THAT COMBINED WITH MY EMU O4O4 USB AUDIO INTERFACE (WHICH HAS SOME PRETTY DECENT PREAMPS) MAKES FOR THE BEST RECORDINGS I HAVE EVER MADE IN MY LIFE, IT'S TAKEN ME FROM FRUSTRATED FROM SHITTY DEMO RECORDINGS TO HAVING ALMOST PRO STUDIO SOUND THAT GETS BETTER AND BETTER THE MORE I LEARN TO USE IT AND MIX.

I JUST LOVE THE BLUEBIRD I CAN NOT SING IT'S PRAISES ENOUGH

[TRYUMF]

Thanks for the answers I will try that I'm gonna also turn the mic around to see what happens Thanks Again!

[Kwic_Draw]

Originally Posted by Storyville

My experience tells me the opposite. Place the mic slightly above the mouth, backed off and aimed down at the chest.

But the best way is to listen to yourself in the headphones and find a good angle and distance based on that.

+1 on both points.

Listening thru the cans is the best way, but aimed a bit towards the chest is a great starting point to help cut the sibilance. then play with the proximity effect. ive heard some nice, lush rap vox thru the bird and a focusrite isa. especially for smoother or articulate spitters. souded GOOD.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by TRYUMF

Thanks for the answers I will try that I'm gonna also turn the mic around to see what happens Thanks Again!

Are you serious???

[Storyville]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Are you serious???

In figure 8 and omni mode this is a commonly used trick for filtering out some of the high end, as the back is usually not as bright. However, you have to be careful of the mid range resolution as some mics have a more functional back end - particularly ribbons. Condensers are a crap shoot.

Only problem is the bluebird is cardioid only - so, like Philly, I have to express my doubts as to how effective that will be.

[gtrguru]

Originally Posted by Storyville

My experience tells me the opposite. Place the mic slightly above the mouth, backed off and aimed down at the chest.

I agree with the height, but aim at the mouth. I guess it's splitting hairs, but aim at the sound source you want to record not the chest. What if it's a female MC with a big chest?? I'm just sayin...

[gtrguru]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Are you serious???

Damn I missed this one.

[TRYUMF]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Are you serious???

O Ur always helpful

[illacov]

Originally Posted by Storyville

My experience tells me the opposite. Place the mic slightly above the mouth, backed off and aimed down at the chest.

But the best way is to listen to yourself in the headphones and find a good angle and distance based on that.

I will add on to Story's suggestion with this as well.

Find a good angle and distance whilst monitoring WITH compression engaged.

Compression is usually what exacerbates the sibilant tonality of a microphone. In some situations if you have a mic that initially isn't all that sibilant, then if you place it without hearing what the compression will do to it, you're in for a surprise once you decide to go for that stupid fresh, gignormous phat, full bodied Schwepervessant raspberry ginger ale crisp compressor, in post. More likely than not, Suzy Sibilance will rear her ugly head.

And if your mic is too bright to begin with, she'll bring Hannah Harsh and Carrie Crap-Ola with her.

PS Story has a built in spectrum analyzer inside his head, it accompanies his positronic brain. So he can PRE DETECT sibilance without needing a compressor. I envy him, but also I don't mind plugging him in at night when we close the studio for the day. It does suck pretty bad when Chris Lago (his evil android twin brother) comes by with the Borg and tries to autotune EVERYTHING.

"Resistance is futile."

Peace
Illumination

[illacov]

Originally Posted by gtrguru

I agree with the height, but aim at the mouth. I guess it's splitting hairs, but aim at the sound source you want to record not the chest. What if it's a female MC with a big chest?? I'm just sayin...

Tell her the mic uses a special pick up pattern and ask her for her phone number.

HEY YOOO!! THANK YOU I'M HERE ALL WEEK!

Peace
Illumination

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by TRYUMF

O Ur always helpful

thanks!!
I love to help those who REALLY deserve to be helped.thumbsup

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by illacov

I will add on to Story's suggestion with this as well.

Find a good angle and distance whilst monitoring WITH compression engaged.

Compression is usually what exacerbates the sibilant tonality of a microphone. In some situations if you have a mic that initially isn't all that sibilant, then if you place it without hearing what the compression will do to it, you're in for a surprise once you decide to go for that stupid fresh, gignormous phat, full bodied Schwepervessant raspberry ginger ale crisp compressor, in post. More likely than not, Suzy Sibilance will rear her ugly head.

And if your mic is too bright to begin with, she'll bring Hannah Harsh and Carrie Crap-Ola with her.

PS Story has a built in spectrum analyzer inside his head, it accompanies his positronic brain. So he can PRE DETECT sibilance without needing a compressor. I envy him, but also I don't mind plugging him in at night when we close the studio for the day. It does suck pretty bad when Chris Lago (his evil android twin brother) comes by with the Borg and tries to autotune EVERYTHING.

"Resistance is futile."

Peace
Illumination

The pythagorean hypotaneuse of the quintessential extrapolation of the relative algorithmic encumberance divided by the square root of the lateral equation derived by the trapezoidal circumferance of the hyperbolic centrifuge,will help you arrive at the final consequential polarity relative to the penultimate measurement of the vociferous oratorial conclusion...feel me???

[illacov]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

The pythagorean hypotaneuse of the quintessential extrapolation of the relative algorithmic encumberance divided by the square root of the lateral equation derived by the trapezoidal circumferance of the hyperbolic centrifuge,will help you arrive at the final consequential polarity relative to the penultimate measurement of the vociferous oratorial conclusion...feel me???

That's some shits straight out of Brother from Another Planet!

PS Don't forget to unplug Story.

Peace
Illumination

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by illacov

That's some shits straight out of Brother from Another Planet!

PS Don't forget to unplug Story.

Peace
Illumination

[PettyCash]

Originally Posted by illacov

Tell her the mic uses a special pick up pattern and ask her for her phone number.

HEY YOOO!! THANK YOU I'M HERE ALL WEEK!

Peace
Illumination

If so, be sure to pack a better sense of humor in your lunch bag for tomorrow.

[illacov]

Originally Posted by PettyCash

If so, be sure to pack a better sense of humor in your lunch bag for tomorrow.

Come on, you know how hard it is to make a corny ass joke like that? And make it work for engineering humor?

Peace
Illumination

[Storyville]

Originally Posted by gtrguru

I agree with the height, but aim at the mouth. I guess it's splitting hairs, but aim at the sound source you want to record not the chest. What if it's a female MC with a big chest?? I'm just sayin...

Then I aim at her phone number.....

....?

edit: DAMN, Langston beat me to it!

edit edit: Chris Lago is my evil twin brother??

edit edit edit: Sibilance, while annoying, can be extremely useful. If a voice is captured well, but getting surprisingly sibilant in the mix it's a good chance that the attack setting on your compressor is too fast. Logic will tell you that if you set the compressor faster you will clamp on more of the attack of the sound which is where the "effs" and "esses" hang out. However, those upper frequencies need far less level than lower frequencies to stand out. Compressors have circuits, not ears - since there's less energy in the esses, the comp doesn't slap em around as much so they poke out. Also, the fast attack makes them "spikey" sounding which is accacerbates the matter. Slow down the attack and it will keep the lower frequency assonant sounds more even with the "esses" and those won't be perceived as being exaggerated. Then you just need to determine whether or not the overall tone to the vocal is balanced correctly.

edit edit edit edit: apprently I run on batteries now.

[Gdupproductions]

Originally Posted by TRYUMF

I got the bluebird mic and I love it when I sing it really gives me what I want but when I rap it gives me to much high pitch grainy sound I got a eq on my preamp wut freq should I have to cut or is this something else?how can I get smooth lows instead on grainy high when I rap?

Musician's Gear Double Pop Filter and more Microphone Accessories at GuitarCenter.com. might be a solution Or Record your vocals and EQ em in the software you recorded with....somewherre between 10 khz annd 20khz