Black Keys vocal recording techniques?

[DJ ALX]

can anybody ID the microphone used for this recording?

i realise it might be a mic just for the video clip and they might've recorded it with another mic so the next question is this:

can anybody suggest what gear is used to get the vocals sounding like that?
i think i hear distortion on the vocals. is it from a distorter like a pedal or evan a guitar amp? vintage reverb on the vocals? vintage or cheap mic used?

any help is welcomed.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnzIrRykilA


I dont know if i posted this in the right forum but its more close to black music (hence rap + hip hop).

peace

[zone7shawty]

lol @ black music

[Jon Harter]

It looks like it's maybe a KM 84 in the video.

[TheSwab]

I'm curious as to the exact method they use as well. I know you can get the same effect by using McDSP's FutzBox, but I doubt that's what they use. They strike me as purists so they would probably want to use hardware for the effect. You could also achieve the sound through eq and use of distortion plug-ins. But that FutzBox is where it's at. I really did that thing.

The copperphone

The Copperphone - Placid Audio

is a microphone that gives that boxy sound and would be a good fairly cheap addition to a mic locker.

[down_town]

Hey - this interview should have everything you need to know about the making of..
Liner Notes: Mark Neill’s Track By Track Description Of The Black Keys’ New Album Brothers | The Black Keys Fan Lounge
also check this thread out -http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/493405-new-black-keys-lp-brothers.html - Tchad Blake even drops in.
cheers

[HazeBros]

muscle shoals sound has some serious history in old rnb.

[illacov]

If I had to choose I would say its a Shure Green Bullet or a one of the other infamous Harp Mics.

Shure Green Bullet to something like an Ampex 351 on overload city or a similarly overdrive tube preamp. Sort of like what Little Walter used to accomplish running his harmonica into a guitar amp but with human voice sans harmonica.

I think it relates to hip hop on some 2nd cousin level. Black Keys were part of the main production process for the Blakroc project correct?

They did some damn good hip hop that actually sounded like hip hop

HELLO

Not bad for some Rockers from Ohio

BTW those dynamic harmonica mics into a nice tube amp or a tube amp sim (sacrilege!) makes for some cool ass vocal effects and then some. Sort of like Puffy's "Hate Me Now," distorted transistion voices on Roids.

Peace
Illumination

[ncoak]

Originally Posted by zone7shawty

lol @ black music

please...it's called 'race music'

[MisterMark]

I know at a time when the Black Keys were first getting started Dan Auerbach did buy a couple of Copperphones from us.

I don't exactly know what songs he ended up using them on, but he did send me a demo of him using it on a song called "All You Ever Wanted". The album version sounds quite different and it doesn't sound like he ended up using it.

None the less, here is a pic of him using the Copperphone in the studio:




I think there are some more photos of it on their website here:

Photos | The Black Keys

-Mark

[Steab]

Apart from the vintagy recordings, the biggest part of the distortion you hear is Soundtoys Decapitator.

[coyotekells]

Originally Posted by Steab

Apart from the vintagy recordings, the biggest part of the distortion you hear is Soundtoys Decapitator.

Fact. From Tchad Blake's mouth.

[madehumble]

The Black Keys make great music.

[Slap]

I think this is what you're looking for

Check out the sound samples here:

Flagg | Home

[Stackx]

^^ haha that must be the mic that gets you the "drake effect"

[yosemitesam]

/\ For real, I know you're probably talking about Drake's voice, but sometimes they high pass his vocals pretty aggressively. I never understood that.

Sent from my DROIDX using Gearslutz App

[Danny Downer]

Originally Posted by yosemitesam

/\ For real, I know you're probably talking about Drake's voice, but sometimes they high pass his vocals pretty aggressively. I never understood that.

Sent from my DROIDX using Gearslutz App

Some people would say so his voice doesn't scare away the kittens hes cuddling while recording...

I wouldnt... but some people would....

[Koachie]

Slightly off topic but Soundtoys just release a new plugin called Little Radiator. It gives an instant Black Keys vibe. I've tried it on drums and vocals so far and it puts you right in the ball park. The plugin is based on a model of a Altec tube pre-amp - similar to the one the Black Keys use to record. Check it out if you haven't already.

https://www.soundtoys.com/sxsw2012/&rc=378-4635-404

Use the code: 378-4635-404 to get the download.

[ianbryn11]

Originally Posted by MisterMark

I know at a time when the Black Keys were first getting started Dan Auerbach did buy a couple of Copperphones from us.

I don't exactly know what songs he ended up using them on, but he did send me a demo of him using it on a song called "All You Ever Wanted". The album version sounds quite different and it doesn't sound like he ended up using it.

None the less, here is a pic of him using the Copperphone in the studio:




I think there are some more photos of it on their website here:

Photos | The Black Keys

-Mark

I've used the copperphones on a recording once... A band called "rations" who only record vocals through that mic. They brought it to my place for the recording. It was rad! Great dirty mic for vocals. Sat perfectly in the mix.

Oh, I'll also add that the record was tracked entirely live with the copperphone on vocals in the room with 2 guitar amps, bass amp and drum kit. No bleed problems whatsoever... Kudos on a cool mic!

[SEED78]

Originally Posted by down_town

Hey - this interview should have everything you need to know about the making of..
Liner Notes: Mark Neill’s Track By Track Description Of The Black Keys’ New Album Brothers | The Black Keys Fan Lounge
also check this thread out -http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/493405-new-black-keys-lp-brothers.html - Tchad Blake even drops in.
cheers

thats a good read.

'Too Afraid To Love You' is my fav off Brothers - I'd ignore hip hop forever if I had the chance to make music like that!! the drums p+ss on any hip hop tracks I've heard recently! the harpsichord + vocals are next level - stunning track

[bigyo]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Why is this thread in the Hip-Hop section? Other than Blakrock this is rock music!

[uncle muscles]

Originally Posted by Steab

Apart from the vintagy recordings, the biggest part of the distortion you hear is Soundtoys Decapitator.

That's what I was just about to say. For christs sake, It's right there in tchads artist preset expanders!