ADELE vocal chain

[theBackwardsman]

Does anyone have any intel on what the vocal chain was on 21?

[theBackwardsman]

Ok, I guess no one here knows for sure.
But why I'm asking is because I'm gonna record an AMAZING female vocalist with a simular range and tone as Adele.

I'm gonna do it in a pro studio but don't have the possibility to AB lots of mics, but just beg to use on of the most expensive mics. I really want to do her voice justice and I love the vocal sound on Adeles album.

This voice is really powerful so don't the recording want it to come off as harsh in any way.

Anyone more experienced that could ID what chain might have been used, or at least mic?
I know it's a stupid question, but might help on the way.
All I've got in my own locker is SM7, but I think I want a little more detail than the SM7 can offer this time

[binarymilton]

there's some info on her live vocal mics here:
Sennheiser Australia - New Zealand: Press / Press Releases / Sennheiser-Endorsed Artist Adele Takes Two Grammys Back to the UK

not quite the same thing, I realise.

I'd be very surprised if she wasn't using one of the usual-suspect expensive tube condensers in the studio.

[Todd]

If the chain has Adele in it, its going to sound really really really good.

You'd need some seriously shoddy equipment to screw that one up.

Its so nice to see people that can actually sing really well, still on
the charts.
There's hope.

[theBackwardsman]

Originally Posted by Todd

If the chain has Adele in it, its going to sound really really really good.

You'd need some seriously shoddy equipment to screw that one up.

Its so nice to see people that can actually sing really well, still on
the charts.
There's hope.

I do agree, but you can hear that the recording chain has done her justice as well.

I would not be so eager if this vocalist I knew weren't so damn good.
Really want to accentuate her talent.

[theBackwardsman]

Originally Posted by binarymilton

there's some info on her live vocal mics here:
Sennheiser Australia - New Zealand: Press / Press Releases / Sennheiser-Endorsed Artist Adele Takes Two Grammys Back to the UK

not quite the same thing, I realise.

I'd be very surprised if she wasn't using one of the usual-suspect expensive tube condensers in the studio.

I do have access to a u47 FET, I have not had the opportunity to work with this monster before. How well does it generally work on dynamic female vox?

[Chris Lago]

Looks like a u87ai. Add a a clean pre and it'll do the job.

[andonwego]

The thing about Adele I noticed immediately, on her famous song, is that when she really opens up the volume kind of doesn't move -- to the point it really drew attention to itself. I've only noticed this problem to this degree on the last few Queen records before Freddie Mercury died. He opens up the vocals and -- no level change. That kind of amount of compression shocks me. I was wondering if they tracked Adele in that open beautiful way and then the label wanted a radio mix and master.

Because if they did, a lot of her vocal sound is likely from serious compression and you'll have to take into account how the vocal was manipulated in the mix. And if they just tracked her very compressed to begin with, that will need to be taken into consideration.

I mean you could start with a heavily driven 1176...but it's likely more than one compressor, and a combination of hardware and plugin.

[theBackwardsman]

Yea, it's heavily compressed.
Altough I'm a fan of heavy vocal compression and am used to it.

I will probably track clean and print with la3 afterwards if it suits her, just to be on the safe side.
Otherwise I'll stack compressors ITB.

But I really want the clean source to be as good as possible

[narcoman]

Well, compression and great vocal technique. Working with a (well known) jazz singer right now who, when she "opens up" it remains focussed and controlled yet SOUNDS enormous.

[Blast9]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Looks like a u87ai. Add a a clean pre and it'll do the job.

Chris I wouldn't say its a "clean" sound - it has nice detail, but you can hear the "driven" quality of the harmonics on the Rolling in the Deep chorus, and the next song Rumour has it, and even Turning tables... whatever mic it is you can hear the warmth of proximity effect on Rumour Has it and Turning Tables

-

OK... my wild uneducated guess - U74 > V72 type pre > driven 1176

[theBackwardsman]

My favourite vocal sound on that record is set fire to the rain, ofc the sick performance helps, but that's my main reference!
The high end sounds so smooth and tubey, bright but not harsh. That's how people describe the 251 so if that's the case I'm out of luck.

[Blast9]

Originally Posted by theBackwardsman

My favourite vocal sound on that record is set fire to the rain, ofc the sick performance helps, but that's my main reference!
The high end sounds to smooth and tubey, bright but not harsh. That's how people describe the 251 so if that's the case I'm out of luck.

Yes it sounds a bit "leaner" than the ones I mentioned.. Bit more hi-fi... Could well be a C12 type mic

[StephenJames]

I'm sure there's one of those telefunken thingy's in this footage. Around the 1:29 point.

[theBackwardsman]

woah, found this
BBC - Newsbeat - Adele producer Fraser T Smith gives studio tour

No video-policy on work.. :( can someone watch it for me

[binarymilton]

that video doesn't tell you anything, unless you want to hear about her pet dog.

[theBackwardsman]

sigh..

[Blast9]

I did see an Avalon rack unit though!

[kats]

TBH, felt that some of the vocal recordings on the album 21 had a bit too much hash in the upper mids that I didn't think flattered her voice.

[axlepaas]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Looks like a u87ai. Add a a clean pre and it'll do the job.

...by the color of the mic, looks like the TLM193....i could be wrong tho.

[TRW]

Not sure about the tracking chain, but mix was apparently a fairchild 670 and bricasti m7 reverb.

-T

[PTP]

Originally Posted by kats

TBH, felt that some of the vocal recordings on the album 21 had a bit too much hash in the upper mids that I didn't think flattered her voice.

Funny, that's exactly the thing what makes this recording so special to me, loving the mids, haha.

[theBackwardsman]

Same here, that's not my definition of harsh though

[kats]

Yet we all noticed...

[binarymilton]

...we're probably not listening to it coming out of the speaker on our mobile phones, sitting at the back of a bus, on our way back from school though...

[theBackwardsman]

Can't really spot sarcasm in english, so whatever you're trying to do..it's not worth it.

[Blast9]

Lol imagine if that WAS the de facto mixing ref. Wouldn't need to spend money on room treatment or monitors!

[binarymilton]

Originally Posted by theBackwardsman

Can't really spot sarcasm in english, so whatever you're trying to do..it's not worth it.

don't worry, it wasn't sarcasm, and it wasn't directed at you.

it was a reference to the London (British?) phenomenon of teenage kids sat at the back of the top deck of a bus publicly "entertaining" their fellow travelers with their music by playing it as loud as their mobile phone's tiny speaker will allow.

and, if they're feeling really generous, singing along.

or, worse, if they're aspiring rappers, "freestyling".

[rectifier]

Originally Posted by binarymilton

don't worry, it wasn't sarcasm, and it wasn't directed at you.

it was a reference to the London (British?) phenomenon of teenage kids sat at the back of the top deck of a bus publicly "entertaining" their fellow travelers with their music by playing it as loud as their mobile phone's tiny speaker will allow.
.

AKA 'sodcasting'.

[aidyhall]

Album artwork has a photo of her singing into a 251, in what I think were the Rick Rubin produced tracks, judging by the similarity of the studio to the photos of Rubin and Adele together in his studio. The other producers on the album doubtless used different mic's. Hard to go wrong with a 251 ...