Recording Vocals!!Any vocal recodring Software tha works with Garageband??

I record vocals dry, then add effects later, since they don't get recorded anyway. There are 2 reverbs in GB. The basic one and there's an AUReverb as well. You can adjust both of them. The basic one can be changed in the master track info window. The AU one in the manual pull down menu. I also have downloaded one I like call Blackwater Reverb, and it is free. There are a few other free ones as well. Check here http://www.apulsoft.ch/

I just want to add that all the effects are user adjustable. The preset ones are good general starting points. And when you find settings you like you can save it.

Metric Halo has just introduced 'Channel Strip for Garageband', which includes a Delay, Expander/Gate, Compressor and EQ. You can download a demo version which is valid for 12 days. And it can be purchased afterwards for 89$.
It also contains 120 presets including one specifically for male vocals (haven't tried it yet, though).
http://www.mhlabs.com/

iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

To add to Hang's FAQ:

You should read up on mic placement techniques...Possibly the most important part of recording. Also make sure that you are using a mic and preamp that suits your voice. No effect is going to make you like something that you didn't like to start with.

X

You really need to get more familiar with this program. There is a basic reverb which has quite a few options and the matrix reverb which has many user changeable options. Double click on the track and from pull down menus select any one of a zillion effects.

Another thing to consider is copying and pasting vocal sections to new tracks so you can apply different effects to just that section of the vocals. I use snap to grid to both select the vocal sections and to move them precisely to the new track.

Kurt

There a quite a few parameters you can adjust including reverb, compression, eq etc. Each of these features is almost infinitely adjustable. You can add echoes, and even pitch control to take care of those off key notes. Of course, using the proper microphone and placement of same is critical. I use both a Shure Beta 58A dynamic mic (for live gigs and also for some recording). When I want a really clean sound I use a Shure condenser mic (KSM27) for vocals. It takes some getting used to and experimentation but the vocals I get are really pretty good (even though I do perform and write and I am not a great singer). Another technique that really helps to fatten the vocals is to record on several tracks. Record the vocal on one track and then duplicate it to a second track. That's one trick that most pros use and it does work. You can add pitch control to one track and leave the other dry to get some pretty cool effects. Usually I wind up with about three vocal tracks and anywhere from two to four instruments. Record the vocals dry (no effects) and then play around with all the effects available in GB and you may be quite surprised at the improvements you can make. Of course, if you are just not a good singer or are using poor mics don't expect much. Good luck and don't give up. Experiment and have fun and you may be quite surprised.

iMac G4 20 Flatscreen 1 GB Bluetoth Mac OS X (10.4.6) Edirol UA20; Korg TR61; Mackie 1202VLZ: Shure KSM27 & Beta 58; Lexicon MX200

Howard, if you get one really good take, try copying the vox track to another track, turn off grid snap, then nudge the newly copied track to the right just a tad. The result will be much like when you double track the vox like you describe, but only takes a few seconds. It really fattens up most any sound, not just vox. I use it only when I think I need it, though, Doing that on every track, would be overkill 🙂

Hi Scott,

Does that cause phase issues?

X

Not that I have noticed. After the nudge, you pan them slightly left and right, so they aren't in the exact same stereo field. I have done this many times. As has HT. I think he was the one that turned me on to it. Of course, it is trial and error to get it in the sweet spot to get just the sound you are after, but I usually get in 1-2 tries. First time is usually a bit of a slap back, because I always move it a tad too far. The key is to just barely offset it so it get's really full and not a distinct delay. The Beatles used a similar technique for (mostly John's voice) with a device they created for him. Early on, he actually double tracked, but later, he used this device, which had to merely sort sort of a delay with a very fast setting. This gave the sound you hear on songs like Imagine. Where, if you listen to the really early stuff, you can tell it was a real double tracking because he'd sometimes not even sing the same words LOL

Howard, if you get one really good take, try copying
the vox track to another track, turn off grid snap,
then nudge the newly copied track to the right just a
tad. The result will be much like when you double
track the vox like you describe, but only takes a few
seconds. It really fattens up most any sound, not
just vox. I use it only when I think I need it,
though, Doing that on every track, would be overkill
🙂

That is real cool! I just remixed one of my songs with five vox tracks. The main melody I had on three tracks (different settings) and two separate harmonies. Well I tried your trick by shifting one of the main tracks just a tad - and it really did fatten up the voice. Another tool for bag of tricks. I love experimenting and started back in the days of four track reel-to-reel tapes. Kind of had that feel. Thanks much.



iMac G4 20 Flatscreen 1 GB Bluetoth Mac OS X (10.4.6) Edirol UA20; Korg TR61; Mackie 1202VLZ: Shure KSM27 & Beta 58; Lexicon MX200

Did you also pan the 2 slightly apart from each other? That really can give a cool stereo effect, too.
Glad it helped you. I have done this on guitar tracks as well. Especially rhythm guitar. An acoustic rhythm guitar that sounds fine as a single track, will sound lush and full doubled like this.

Yep, I did pan each track either left or right. I find panning just about 16db gives the best sound field. If I separate them to much it sounds too fake and reminds me of the early stereo recording, like the early Beatles.