https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:15:08 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/paged/2/#post-314368 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:53:38 +0000
I have been thinking about trying out the Zoom H2 or H4 hand held stereo recorders. They are hand held and have two condencer mics on teh front so they can record in stereo. They record in MP3 or Wave and seem to be easy to work with. they also have features such as mic sims and 90 degree recording so you only record what is in front without a lot of background noise. The H4 has two combination 1/4 inch and stander mic inputs (xlr?). They also have mounting capability so you can attach them to a standard mic stand.

They seem to have pretty good reviews, but still seem a bit pricey for a hand recorder. And every time I have a couple hundred bucks laying around, I seem to find guitar gear that I need more than the recorder. I am hoping to find someone with personal experience or for the price to drop before buying one.

Anyway, I didn't think your voice sounded bad. I kind of like the rough quality, but you're right, you need to take a break before you do any serous damage. Perhaps you could use the Zen of Scream? I had seen the instruction video discussed in the "Singing" forum, so I decided to try it out. I am srtill not a great singer, but even with the very limited time I hav spent with it, it seems to have really helped me to understand how to better control my voice. The "screaming" is kind of misleading. Most of the video is just good singing lessons put in terms that are easy to understand and visualize. They show you how to sing properly without doing damage to your voice.

I kind of feel like I should get something for the plugs here.... perhaps a Zoom H4 for Christmas? :wink:

Thanks again for all the heklp on our vocal issues. We really do need to just come together and agree to keep the volumes down. I have recieved the new 2-channel amp that I bought and I also picked up a 50 foot snake (like $120 on Ebay...and it actually seems to be decent quality). If we are going to keep using a sound guy, I would like to get him out front a bit. I think it will help. Combine that with the trick of using the FX as an additional monitor channel, tilting the mon speakers at an angle, keeping the volume lower, doing a proper eq wring and sound check and we should be in pretty good shape.

I let you all know how it works out for us.

Thanks!

Jim]]> Live Sound MrJonesey https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/paged/2/#post-314368 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/paged/2/#post-314315 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:32:27 +0000
Yeah, my vocals were really terrible, I have had a lot of throat problems lately, I really need to lay off singing for at least 6 months to let my voice heal. I strain it, and then really have to push (which is always wrong). Plus, I did not sound that loud in the monitors, it sounded ok there, we didn't realize the FOHs were cranked so high. Dmitri owns the PA and set it up, I usually get real involved with the PA, but lately it's been kinda nice to just set up my guitar and let someone else worry about that stuff. I won't do that again, next time I'm checking the levels.

And you are right, it turns into a battle over who is the loudest. I try not to do that, and you can hear in the recording that I kept my guitar low (too low).

But the fault is ours, we should have done a sound check and went out and heard the mix. Then it would have been better.

As far as recording, Dmitri brings a couple of condenser mics, I'm not sure what brand, but they are pretty good quality. He puts them on a V stand in front of the band to capture a stereo sound. Then we just ran them right into my Zoom HCD8 recorder, using phantom power. I didn't really do anything except turn up mic gain enough to show we were getting a signal without distorting. Once I got home I just burned the CD as is, didn't play with EQ, effects, or anything like that. It is just a straight-ahead recording. I did cut out all the space between songs, but that's all.]]> Live Sound Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/paged/2/#post-314315 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-314169 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:41:31 +0000
Thanks for the clips!

Hey Joe - Hey, it was a bit high on vocals and I see what you mean about the guitar being a bit low. At first I was thinking that the vocal wouldn't be so bad if the guitar was a little higher, but it seemed to get worse as the song progressed (sometime after the solo I think). I didn't think USSR was as bad, but some of the same issues.

I really liked Ride Captain and Locomotive Breath was probably my favorite.

I'm going to listen to more as I get a chance (it's kind of hard here at work with all the constant interuptions), but I think you guys sound really good.

I think you're right about keeping the levels down. It just seems like you have more control over everything when nobody is pushing. It starts with our drums, he really likes to bang em. Then the rhytm guitarist keeps saying that he can't hear his guitar, so he keeps turning up. when I could hear hem all along and can't believe that he can not. Well, he ends up drowning me out. Then our harp player, who is still relatively early in her development, starts blasing into the mic trying to get heard and sometimes looses control of her riffs and melody as a result. Of course, I have to turn up so I can be heard, and it ends up sounding like a big competition on who can be the loudest instead of everyone just falling in and playing within the music...... whew... I fell a bit better after venting.

Anyway, we are all guilty and we all know it, we just need to focus on keeping it down and under control.

Wes, what do you guys use to record your performance? Did you record direct from the board, or did you use an external recorder? I have been thinking about buying one of those hand held stereo recorders (with the two mics), but they are a bit expensive. I don't get very good results out of my normal hand held digital. I thought your recordings sounded pretty good.

Yeah, let me know what you used to record it.

Thanks!

Jim]]> Live Sound MrJonesey https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-314169 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-314124 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:44:26 +0000
The ten songs on the first page are from the gig.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=853376]]> Live Sound Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-314124 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313785 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:06:42 +0000
I have been using a wireless for my guitar so I can walk out and hear the mix, but I didn't use it this weekend. So, you really can't tell what the audience is hearing. I thought my guitar was a little loud and turned it down after the first song, on the recording it is pretty weak, should have left it where it was.

Doesn't really matter if the person listening is a friend or relative, but it is good to have someone who plays music and knows what a good mix sounds like.

Still working on seperating the songs on the recording, when I finish I'll post a few here. Wes, I would like to hear the clips when you get them separated.

Jim]]> Live Sound MrJonesey https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313785 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313784 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:56:54 +0000 Live Sound leear https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313784 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313734 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:33:07 +0000
I have been using a wireless for my guitar so I can walk out and hear the mix, but I didn't use it this weekend. So, you really can't tell what the audience is hearing. I thought my guitar was a little loud and turned it down after the first song, on the recording it is pretty weak, should have left it where it was.

Doesn't really matter if the person listening is a friend or relative, but it is good to have someone who plays music and knows what a good mix sounds like.

Still working on seperating the songs on the recording, when I finish I'll post a few here.]]> Live Sound Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313734 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313709 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:23:04 +0000
Great point! I also like the bit about using a "non family member."]]> Live Sound MrJonesey https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313709 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313643 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:40:22 +0000 musical the entire band sounds. You will not get kicked out of clubs or asked to turn down.

Try and see for yourself. :D]]> Live Sound Wes Inman https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313643 https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313599 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:45:09 +0000 Live Sound leear https://guitarnoise.forum/live-sound/vocals-too-low/#post-313599