Irish Alison Krauss quality female vocal - mic suggestions (clip)

soundonground · 4th December 2009

Hi,

Would like to hear you suggestions on mic choice for the singer featured in the clip on the link page.

The mic budget isn't that high, but I will go the extra length to ensure I get the best vocal sound. The vocal performance is guaranteed to be 1st class.

Any ideas (and if so, mic preamp suggestions for a given mic will be appreciated too)?

Here she is:

BackLaneMusic - Sets - SoundCloud

soundonground · 4th December 2009

PS. I was thinking of an M147 - the M149 is way out of my price range, and although I've heard that there's no real relation between them, I'm after a good Neumann quality sound.

What do you think?

soundonground · 6th December 2009

No suggestions at all?

soundonground · 8th December 2009

Can't believe noone who listened remarked on the exceptional vocals in the track???

Oldone · 15th December 2009

I listened and thought....great voice... a whole generation of talent recorded in subpar fashion. The file is almost brittle sounding on the high end. She deserves a good studio and being recorded to tape. That would do her justice.

natpub · 28th December 2009

She sounds lovely, the recording there is not terrible, I do not think just a mic change will do all I would want here. What pre are you using, what chain, what ADA? Unlike the one comment you got, I would not go to tape, and think that would be a bad direction. Listen to the recently posted George Massenberg production post here somewhere (do a search). Why not rent something like that rig, and test a few things..U67, GML Pre's and compression into Forsell converters?

I would also say try something like th AEA88 Ribbon Mic, and a few others of the high end ribbons, into super clean quiet ribbon pres

If nothing else, try starting with something like a Perlman or Bock. Work with them to tune an existing mic towards this voice. Use a pure open pre like the GML, Ferne, Forsell, etc. I would use little or no compressor on the chain in, and have very high level conversion, like the Weiss or EMM Labs or the DADs. I would not go to tape here. adding noisey tape compression artifacts and hiss does not strike me as what she needs to blossom and thrive.

best,
KT

soundonground · 29th December 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by natpub

She sounds lovely, the recording there is not terrible, I do not think just a mic change will do all I would want here. What pre are you using, what chain, what ADA? Unlike the one comment you got, I would not go to tape, and think that would be a bad direction. Listen to the recently posted George Massenberg production post here somewhere (do a search). Why not rent something like that rig, and test a few things..U67, GML Pre's and compression into Forsell converters?

I would also say try something like th AEA88 Ribbon Mic, and a few others of the high end ribbons, into super clean quiet ribbon pres

If nothing else, try starting with something like a Perlman or Bock. Work with them to tune an existing mic towards this voice. Use a pure open pre like the GML, Ferne, Forsell, etc. I would use little or no compressor on the chain in, and have very high level conversion, like the Weiss or EMM Labs or the DADs. I would not go to tape here. adding noisey tape compression artifacts and hiss does not strike me as what she needs to blossom and thrive.

best,
KT

Thanks so much for that reply! Very informed sounding suggestions.

I must get one thing clear first: I didn't record that track. I have never recorded the singer.

I can't afford to spend much more than £2000 on mic/pre/ad converter, but I really need a good chain.

I had kind of decided to go for a Bottle Rocket Stage 1 with the B7 capsule, with possibly the Blue Robbie Preamp, or maybe something cheaper to allow for the ad converter... Finding an ADC has been difficult.

Any thoughts?

natpub · 11th January 2010

In that price range, I would go rentals and save even more. As this is a single project, I presume, I would do preproduction with whatever you got, then go top end rentals for final Vox tracks.

Otherwise, to answer your question, I would look at the 2 CH Lavry Black AD for input, affordable and definately top flight.

buzzjoe · 27th January 2010

She has a great voice and I am shure she always will sound great even with a 57 (not that I recommend a 57 here)! But I think a good tube mic like the Brauner Valvet X would be a very good choice for her voice. I love the Valvet X e.g. with a Forsell SMP-2 or Little Labs Lmnopre.

Or a Gefell M930 followed by a Fearn VT-1 (very smooth, open and detailed). Btw I don't like the Gefell/Forsell combo for female vocals so much - too flat and boring... (before I got the Fearn I used a LA-610 with the Gefell but the Fearn makes a "night and day" difference here).

Let us know what signal chain you will finally use!

soundonground · 31st January 2010

Ok, so I finally got the first recording session with this vocalist, and my final vocal chain was:

Blue Bottle Rocket (B7 Capsule) > Focusrite ISA One (with added ADC card) > S/PDIF into M-AUDIO Fast Track Pro (bypassing cheap conversion) > Logic Pro 8

I'm extremely happy with the vocal, but I would love to hear other opinions. I'm going to stick on a rough mix of one song, with Wave Arts TrackPlug on the vocals, some 'Warm Booth' Waves Masterverb, and Waves Final Plug on the L/R mix.

I'd love to hear some thoughts.

Beyersound · 2nd February 2010

That is a really nice sounding vocal, how were you hitting the converters? I did hear a spot that sounded like it might have been an over. You are on the right track with the mic, the pre is OK, you might want to try a few more, a voice like that deserves it. You could probably reduce that sibilance and the phasey artifact from it, by trying a few different mic positions. Nicely played piano part as well. She really has a Shawn Colvin meets Sarah MacLaughlin kind of vibe to her voice, it is an amazing instrument!

soundonground · 2nd February 2010

Thanks for your helpful feedback. I've begun to become annoyed by the clickly sound coming from her mouth and nose- I wonder could anyone advise me on how to position the mic in such away as to avoid capturing these sounds?

Beyersound · 2nd February 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundonground

Thanks for your helpful feedback. I've begun to become annoyed by the clickly sound coming from her mouth and nose- I wonder could anyone advise me on how to position the mic in such away as to avoid capturing these sounds?

Tip the mic down so that her nose is off axis, and her mouth is enough off axis to lose the sibilance. You can even try rotating the mic a bit, that can also work. You may find that you need that sinus resonance, and have to turn it back a bit. The clickiness is usually dry mouth, keep a glass of water nearby for her. The other question is how far off the mic was she? If she was within 2 inches, you might want to back her off closer to 4. After you record, please go have a good curry and a pint for me. It's been years since I was in Ireland, and it's very good there, I miss it! Cheers.

soundonground · 3rd February 2010

Thanks so much, that's great advice. I'm not a curry man myself, I'd rather have a big stew.

4th December 2009	#1
soundonground Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Posts: 121 Thread Starter	Irish Alison Krauss quality female vocal - mic suggestions (clip) Hi, Would like to hear you suggestions on mic choice for the singer featured in the clip on the link page. The mic budget isn't that high, but I will go the extra length to ensure I get the best vocal sound. The vocal performance is guaranteed to be 1st class. Any ideas (and if so, mic preamp suggestions for a given mic will be appreciated too)? Here she is: BackLaneMusic - Sets - SoundCloud

28th December 2009	#6
natpub More cowbell! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,081 1 Review written	She sounds lovely, the recording there is not terrible, I do not think just a mic change will do all I would want here. What pre are you using, what chain, what ADA? Unlike the one comment you got, I would not go to tape, and think that would be a bad direction. Listen to the recently posted George Massenberg production post here somewhere (do a search). Why not rent something like that rig, and test a few things..U67, GML Pre's and compression into Forsell converters? I would also say try something like th AEA88 Ribbon Mic, and a few others of the high end ribbons, into super clean quiet ribbon pres If nothing else, try starting with something like a Perlman or Bock. Work with them to tune an existing mic towards this voice. Use a pure open pre like the GML, Ferne, Forsell, etc. I would use little or no compressor on the chain in, and have very high level conversion, like the Weiss or EMM Labs or the DADs. I would not go to tape here. adding noisey tape compression artifacts and hiss does not strike me as what she needs to blossom and thrive. best, KT __________________ Sonic Sorcery Austin, Texas

2nd February 2010	#11
Beyersound Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vegas, Norcal Posts: 3,369	That is a really nice sounding vocal, how were you hitting the converters? I did hear a spot that sounded like it might have been an over. You are on the right track with the mic, the pre is OK, you might want to try a few more, a voice like that deserves it. You could probably reduce that sibilance and the phasey artifact from it, by trying a few different mic positions. Nicely played piano part as well. She really has a Shawn Colvin meets Sarah MacLaughlin kind of vibe to her voice, it is an amazing instrument! __________________ Congratulations 2010 World Champion SF Giants!!! "There is no crying in baseball, there are no rules in recording!!!" www.myspace.com/beyeraudio Michael Beyer

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6th December 2009	#3
soundonground Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Posts: 121 Thread Starter	No suggestions at all?

8th December 2009	#4
soundonground Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Posts: 121 Thread Starter	Can't believe noone who listened remarked on the exceptional vocals in the track???

15th December 2009	#5
Oldone Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 1,085	I listened and thought....great voice... a whole generation of talent recorded in subpar fashion. The file is almost brittle sounding on the high end. She deserves a good studio and being recorded to tape. That would do her justice.

11th January 2010	#8
natpub More cowbell! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,081 1 Review written	In that price range, I would go rentals and save even more. As this is a single project, I presume, I would do preproduction with whatever you got, then go top end rentals for final Vox tracks. Otherwise, to answer your question, I would look at the 2 CH Lavry Black AD for input, affordable and definately top flight.

27th January 2010	#9
buzzjoe Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 433	She has a great voice and I am shure she always will sound great even with a 57 (not that I recommend a 57 here)! But I think a good tube mic like the Brauner Valvet X would be a very good choice for her voice. I love the Valvet X e.g. with a Forsell SMP-2 or Little Labs Lmnopre. Or a Gefell M930 followed by a Fearn VT-1 (very smooth, open and detailed). Btw I don't like the Gefell/Forsell combo for female vocals so much - too flat and boring... (before I got the Fearn I used a LA-610 with the Gefell but the Fearn makes a "night and day" difference here). Let us know what signal chain you will finally use!

3rd February 2010	#14
soundonground Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Posts: 121 Thread Starter	Thanks so much, that's great advice. I'm not a curry man myself, I'd rather have a big stew.