Recording Rap Vocals

[kev_mat]

Which mics work best?
Which Pre-amps?
Which and what on the inserts?
anything else that peopl forget to do?

Editing:
what to add on
Do's and Donts

_____________________________

Any hlp will be greatly appreciated

PLEASE REAPLY SPECIFICLY TO ANY OF THESE Q'S

[cebolao]

i have rent a manley microphone and ua 6176 preamp for my current rap session. not only i was amazed, but the rapper, after a few "one two three mic check's" said he has never heard anythink like this happening to his voice.

[toolstudio]

Hi,

most of the time Sony C800G, Neve 1064 through Urei 1176LN


wolfgang


toolhouse studios, germany

[e-cue]

Hey Kev Mat, welcome to the forum. A lot of this stuff can be covered starting here:
http://gearslutz.com/board/search.php3

in bold would be my current (which will change next month) blind set up not knowing anything about who's comming in.

Originally posted by kev_mat
Which mics work best?

Sony800G, U87, U67, U47 tube, U47fet, Shure SM7b, RE20, SM58.

Originally posted by kev_mat
Which Pre-amps?

BAE Neve 3408, A Design's MP-2, Avalon 737, SSL E series or J series board Pre (yeap, I said it...)

Originally posted by kev_mat
Which and what on the inserts?

For mixdown? Waves Ren Comp, Gates Sta Level, BF LA3, Distressor, LA2A, GML8200 eq, Avalon 2055, I mean... this could be whatever. I can't really be specific unless I know what you mean. Try the search engine here.

Originally posted by kev_mat
anything else that peopl forget to do?

Make sure you have a quarter note delay set up when they track. Some rappers love it, some hate it when tracking. If they write out their lyrics and it's cool, try to get a quick photocopy- it will make punching in and out much quicker and easier.

Originally posted by kev_mat
Editing:
what to add on
Do's and Donts

_____________________________

Any hlp will be greatly appreciated

PLEASE REAPLY SPECIFICLY TO ANY OF THESE Q'S

Do feed their confidence. Don't be afraid to push them to get things better if you know they can't and you know them well. Do get a P.O. as soon as you can. Don't be afraid to use VocAlign on ad libs and doubles. Do roll off a lot of low end pre compressor. Don't let them blow blunt smoke or any other smoke into the mic. Do be prepared to switch the mic it omni if they jump around too much. Don't forget to make sure you don't have too much headphone bleed- it can kill music "drops" (mutes in music).

[jlotto]

Sony 800G or Neumann U87 into Avalon 737p

[PaRaNoId]

I have found that mic placement is everything with rappers. They do tend to move around alot and tend to have huge dynamic ranges. Ive had good results with setting up a few mics of similiar tones, slightly offset (pointing a few different directions) to catch every vocal even if the dude/dudette turns their head to the side or down or whatever. BTW i almost always have to limit/compress during tracking to get their onto tape/HD with usable levels. Hope some of this helps.

[Jan Folkson]

Most of the hip hop done here, at Sound on Sound is with a Sony C800G and Avalon 737.

[DAT]

We use ifet7 for rap vocals or sometimes e47 thru a dbx 160 thru a drs 2 or 737