If you grew up in the golden age of hip hip than you know this album, although not usually mentioned as, is a true classic.
I was listening to it today and one thing stood out to me...
The vocals..
Before an engineer or even a psuedo-engineer jumps out at me and says "the vox are horrible, over processed garbage" or "nothing special"... Remember this is hip hop and in the early 90's much of it was pretty rough around the edges. As it should be!
The track whose vocals really stand out is PHAT.. Go listen to it and especially Stickys verse (3rd).. I wonder if the same vocal chain is applied to all 3 rappers.. Stickys really stands out to me... Sounds like a subtle delay and reverb? Thoughts?
But I want peoples insight on the album and overall thoughts....
Before an engineer or even a psuedo-engineer jumps out at me and says "the vox are horrible, over processed garbage" or "nothing special"... Remember this is hip hop and in the early 90's much of it was pretty rough around the edges. As it should be!
Heh...I'll take these vocals over the modern, hyper-clean style any day.
Listening on the laptop, sounds a bit distorted (in a good way), maybe some kinda quick slap delay.
If I were gonna try to recreate this sound, I'd start with a 58, run it through a thick or hairy preamp (an old UA 610 would do quite well), and throw on a dollop of PCM 42.
Heh...I'll take these vocals over the modern, hyper-clean style any day.
Listening on the laptop, sounds a bit distorted (in a good way), maybe some kinda quick slap delay.
If I were gonna try to recreate this sound, I'd start with a 58, run it through a thick or hairy preamp (an old UA 610 would do quite well), and throw on a dollop of PCM 42.
Oh, and just for fun, here's Fredro Starr:
a 58? I was thinkin a 57 for sure but I suppose both would suffice fine.
I have no inside knowledge on this album, but 1992-93 major label (def jam) hip hop. I doubt if they used sm58/57's. I would think Neumann u87/u67 or AKG 414 into mic pre on console and dbx compressor (or something of that ilk). My guess would be recorded/mixed at Chung King.
I have no inside knowledge on this album, but 1992-93 major label (def jam) hip hop. I doubt if they used sm58/57's. I would think Neumann u87/u67 or AKG 414 into mic pre on console and dbx compressor (or something of that ilk). My guess would be recorded/mixed at Chung King.
the liner notes on that specific track say Recorded and Mixed by Troy Hightower at Apollo Studios
Studios: 1212 studios, Jamaica, NY; Apollo Studios, New York, NY; Chung King, New York, NY; Platinum Island, New York, NY; Powerplay Studios, Lic, NY; Soundtrack Studios, New York, NY.
Studios: 1212 studios, Jamaica, NY; Apollo Studios, New York, NY; Chung King, New York, NY; Platinum Island, New York, NY; Powerplay Studios, Lic, NY; Soundtrack Studios, New York, NY.
wowzers.....
Looks like it will be a longshot to narrow down where PHAT was recorded.. But Hightower recorded and mixed the track and Bullard was asst engineer
GET THESE GUYS ON GS..
Lol jk... But yea.. Those vox are pretty inspiring to me... I like them
I have no inside knowledge on this album, but 1992-93 major label (def jam) hip hop. I doubt if they used sm58/57's. I would think Neumann u87/u67 or AKG 414 into mic pre on console and dbx compressor (or something of that ilk). My guess would be recorded/mixed at Chung King.
I'm not speculating on what they did; it would be impossible to say (and frankly, kinda pointless). I'm saying, if I were asked to re-create that sound, that's how I'd go about doing it.
Anyway, 57s/58s are used on the lead vocals of major label records all the time.
I'm not speculating on what they did; it would be impossible to say (and frankly, kinda pointless). I'm saying, if I were asked to re-create that sound, that's how I'd go about doing it.
Anyway, 57s/58s are used on the lead vocals of major label records all the time.
I hear you sir on recreating that sound.
I read about artists using sm58's on lead vocals but in all my years of doing major label projects since the 90's I have never seen anyone use one. My lil brother used to use a 57 for vocals when he got his first bedroom setup. Didn't sound bad.
Troy Hightower emailed me back on some of the equipment used in Apollo Studios...
I only asked him what the mic and chain used were. Here was pretty much all I could get out of him!
Quote:
Mr. xxxx,
It's been so long ago. Let me see...... The large format console was a Neve VR 70 and the microphones used were a Neumann U87 and a Shure SM 58 believe it or not.
The reaction to the Ts, Ks, Cs and vowels is a dead give away.
Their vocals sound there but they are very dead as far as how the energy translates into the recording. Which smells like a well recorded dynamic.
Either that or they used a U87 from real far away which could be a possibility as well.
But its kind of odd if you think about it since if it is a dynamic, the vocals don't sound all that dynamic at all. Especially the articulation of the vowels and the plosives. Really dead in that range. But it is a good sound.
Remember when an SM57 was the common mic for recording vocals for hip hop and then if you had a 414 you were BALLIN? LOL
Peace
Illumination
Artists recently recorded with JJ Audio Mics: The Goonies (Hip Hop/Experimental)(My Band)
Ronnie Spector, Baby Bash, Paula DeAnda, Z-Ro, Slim Thug and the list continues to grow...
The reaction to the Ts, Ks, Cs and vowels is a dead give away.
Their vocals sound there but they are very dead as far as how the energy translates into the recording. Which smells like a well recorded dynamic.
Either that or they used a U87 from real far away which could be a possibility as well.
But its kind of odd if you think about it since if it is a dynamic, the vocals don't sound all that dynamic at all. Especially the articulation of the vowels and the plosives. Really dead in that range. But it is a good sound.
Remember when an SM57 was the common mic for recording vocals for hip hop and then if you had a 414 you were BALLIN? LOL
Peace
Illumination
thanks for the insight...I just bought a 58...LOL
Random question....How would you tackle compression with a rapper/rappers like Onyx that pretty much scream every word? track with compression?
The reaction to the Ts, Ks, Cs and vowels is a dead give away.
Their vocals sound there but they are very dead as far as how the energy translates into the recording. Which smells like a well recorded dynamic.
Either that or they used a U87 from real far away which could be a possibility as well.
But its kind of odd if you think about it since if it is a dynamic, the vocals don't sound all that dynamic at all. Especially the articulation of the vowels and the plosives. Really dead in that range. But it is a good sound.
Remember when an SM57 was the common mic for recording vocals for hip hop and then if you had a 414 you were BALLIN? LOL
Peace
Illumination
Random question....How would you tackle compression with a rapper/rappers like Onyx that pretty much scream every word? track with compression?
If I was recording Onyx I'd first reach for a dynamic like an SM57/58 or an SM7 and depending on their distance from the microphone, I'd definitely slam their vocal with either an 1176 or an LA2A or both. If they are the type to move around alot then definitely I want to keep the compression set to stun and do everything in my power to keep them within a certain range of the microphone.
I think an SM57/SM7 to a 1073 with an 1176 will do some wondrous things for that sort of thing. The compression is really what you hear the most besides the actual guys voice. They are definitely belting their performances out LOL So you don't necessarily need all that much gain, treat em like mammal guitar amps and keep your bullet proof vest on at all times HAHA!
Worked in recording studios since I was 16, went to college and studied computer science and electronics along with Philosophy/Informal Logic. Started microphone company in 2009.
BTW a 2254 as a compressor would work really well, that "broadcast" compression would do wondrous things with a dynamic on a screamy vocal.
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it's like mint condition too...
