Help! To better my Vocal Chain For Live Performances

[HonaCostello]

bump bump bump *b2k voice*

[Kiwi]

Take a look at the TC Helicon VoiceLive products ... they give you pretty much everything you need. You don't have to go over the top - although if you want to sound modern, you may wish to use everything at once ...

Why would a wireless mic need a compressor more than a wired mic? Or do you mean they are headset mics? Headset mics desperately need compression and GATING, because the dynamics can get out of control, and you don't want the audience hearing every little breath and lip smack in between phrases ...

The TC gives you compression, EQ, Gate, tuning, harmony, distortion, modulation, Delay, reverb ... the works.

If you just want compression and gating, I can highly recommend the Drawmer MX30 for cheap, foolproof quality.

[mingustoo]

I would think getting a small mixer to run your mics, scratch mixer and Macbook through would be a good place to start. Then grab a FMR RNC and put it either on an aux insert for just vocals or in the main insert to squarsh it all together. Easy and cheap.

[Steve_B]

Are you touring with your own PA, or will you be relying on what is provided at each venue?

Do you have your own sound guy mixing?

[HonaCostello]

If you just want compression and gating, I can highly recommend the Drawmer MX30 for cheap, foolproof quality

So I would run this from the wireless microphones to the mixer?

Link to Microphone
VocoPro Professional Vocal Systems

I would think getting a small mixer to run your mics, scratch mixer and Macbook through would be a good place to start. Then grab a FMR RNC and put it either on an aux insert for just vocals or in the main insert to squarsh it all together. Easy and cheap.

I already have the equipment I named and my dj used these for his live shows, we just have a problem with the vocals.

Are you touring with your own PA, or will you be relying on what is provided at each venue?

We have our own PA, like 4 speakers and 2 sub-woofers but some venues say we have to use theirs. Would that be an issue? Our set up times for some of the venues are 30-45mins. That should be enough to eq everything right?

Do you have your own sound guy mixing?

Nah, We're doing it on our own as of now. I'm a music engineer so I understand eq's and what not but I know Live sound is a whole different ball game with sound acoustics, etc. We'll probably learn to do better as the tour goes on.

[vinvanda]

you might want to look into upgrading your mics, shure wireless systems are very good, maybe more than you have the budget for though?

[Steve_B]

Isn’t the Rane mixer a DJ style thing? Presumably then you are using the 5800 as a microphone mixer?

I would agree with mingustoo and get a small mixer so that you can give each mic its own channel.

Concentrate on what you need for your own PA set up and adapt for when you are using the venue’s PA.

[Manfrensengensen]

Get a live sound mixer that has channels for each mic, inserts and auxes for effects, and get better Mic's.

Those Mic's are basically a Karaoke Mic, 4 Decent wireless mics would cost $2000.00 or more.
Those are like $399 for the whole kit. You get what you pay for.

[matthewkoshak]

Howdy.

Use the house P.A. As well as the House Engineer. And be polite... Once you're nice to the guy, if he's at all a decent human being, he can walk you through what he's doing. Most engineer's dont mind talking about their trade. I don't anyway. So, ask questions before you bring the PA. In fact, ask, "why it's good that you didn't bring you're own P.A to the club that has one already hung." They will tell you. Trust me.

Not sure if your aspirations here are to be a performer, engineer, or both, but if you're an engineering student who understands the basics, and you want to apply those concepts to a LIVE environment, my seasoned advice to you then is to find a gig at a small club or shit pit around wherever it is you live and dig in... learn through doing. It's literally the only way to be taught to deal with the completely different set of fundamentals and problematic situations that go along with live balance engineering. From gainstaging to mixing/listening techniques to the completely different take on trouble shooting, it's different well across the board from anything you learn in, say, "Intermediate Recording 2" at any trade school teaching audio engineering.

Most importantly though, the experience will teach you how to think like a live engineer; immediately, efficiently, confidently. Practically. Intelligently.

With a bit of experience you'll see how impractical the idea of bringing your own PA on tour is. My advice is sell it 9along with your current Mics) and spend the money on new mics. 4 channel whatever mixer>RNC on the stereo buss after that if you still need it, BUT, know that once you start to play actual venues, there will be outboard gear there for the house guys to use. Compressors, gates, EVEN FX!!! Just please don't pull the "I'm a studio engineer so can we do this and that with it." schtick. Most live guys know what they're doing I promise. A Lot of them are lazy, but they do know whats up and how their room sounds. It's REALLY not that hard to get REALLY good at it if you have a pair and a couple hundred shows to mix by yourself btw.)

Also, work on your technique. It goes farther than words can even relay here. A well delivered vocal is EVERYTHING to us out front. Give us FOH guys great stuff to work with, you will get even better stuff back.