What is the best way to record vocal for metal bands?

[cafemusicstudios]

Hi guys,

I'm wondering anyone can help me. I'm having a recording session with this hardcore metal band this weekend. I think I can manage recording the band but I'm bit worried how to record the vocal.

Their singer has those shouty vocal style which I never had a chance to record. when I see the those band on stage, they cover the mic with their palm but you won't do that in the studio, do you? I'm worried how can I get THE sound for those vocals. Any ideas or suggestion will be appreciated


Many thanks

[dangoudie]

SM58, SM7 or 441.
They should be fine with recording it just like any other vocal.
If not then give him a 58 and make sure you TELL HIM not to cover the mic.

[Aisle 6]

You can still use a quality LDC mic, but spank the crap out of it with a gutsy compressor on the way in.

[jimcroisdale]

Hi,

Perhaps you could sit the singer down beforehand. Make him a nice cup of tea and have a talk about some of his problems and worries - see if you can get to the bottom of some of that angst.

Maybe then he'll be less shouty and thus easier to record.

Jim

[Chris Williams]

One thing you can try is having them hold a sm7 and sing like that. If you want to use a different mic with pop shield etc it actually helps to give the singer a hand held mic so they have something to squeeze and feel more comfortable.

[@¶,*ƒƒƒ&™]

Why do metal bands think there's some intrinsic method to recording what they do?

Record the vocal the way you'd record any vocal. There are no tricks. It's recording with all the same caveats, Mic, Preamp, compressor, etc.

[cafemusicstudios]

Hi,

Thanks guys for advices! I think I give it a shot with SM57 for the mo. What you think of MD409? I always have a good result for male rock vocal.

[cafemusicstudios]

Just reporting I ended up with...

I ended up using SM7 through Theremionic Cultures Early Bird and DBX165a Comp and result was amazing!

I think it's best to use dynamic mic with tons of compression. Hope this may help others who looked at this thread..

Again, thank you so much guys for useful advice!

[Penny]

I use the SM7 most of the time. I like running it into a tube pre (I don't turn it up very high at all) for some guys it will add just the right amount of edge to the sound

One of the singers I work with uses a 57 but when he holds his hand around the diaphragm just right it distorts in a way that makes Satan smile.

Sometimes just using a tube condenser mic set about 1 to 2 feet away sounds brutal. It all comes down to the screamer