• Welcome to the General Discussion forum for UAD users!

    Please note that this forum is user-run, although we're thrilled to have so much contribution from Drew, Will, and other UA folks!

    Feel free to discuss both UAD and non-UAD related subjects!

    1) Please do not post technical issues here. Please use our UAD Support Forums instead.

    2) Please do not post complaints here. Use the Unrest Forum instead. They have no place in the the General Discussion forum.

    Threads posted in the wrong forum will be moved, so if you don't see your thread here anymore, please look in the correct forum.

    Lastly, please be respectful.

What plug(s) to be used to get the smoothest vocal sound?

BobYordan

BobYordan

Member
Hi

I have tried different combinations to get great lead vocal sound. But I dont think I have managed to get THE clear, smooth, round, bright song sound on the lead, that most of the choirs I mixed gets.

I usually use the Voxengo Voxformer as the first plug on a lead vocal track, to get the presence (brightness) I need. :) But then what? La2a, 1176, pultec pro or fairchild mono??? What combination of plugs will deliver the rest?

I am using a Rode NT1000 through a Behringer Eurodesk. Not planing to upgrade those until I have excluded all other options. ;)
 
T

Trace

Active Member
I use the Fairchild and start with the spoken word preset and tweak from there. I also use the Pultec, Dreamverb vocal plates and Cambridge on this Vocal Bus.
I've also used the LA2A to great success. Right now tho I just love the sound of the Fairchild, its freakin amazing.

TRACE :)
 
J

jr213

Member
Your preamp and mic placement are a significant part of the equation. This is very important. Mic placement flexability depends the room. Concerning UAD, Pultec, LA-2A, and Fairchild work wonders. Understanding the sound of each of these pieces will enable you to use them in the appropriate combination for the vocal track in question. I highly recommend spending as much time playing with these tools as you have.
 
E

electronikus

Member
jr213 said:
Your preamp and mic placement are a significant part of the equation. This is very important. Mic placement flexability depends the room. Concerning UAD, Pultec, LA-2A, and Fairchild work wonders. Understanding the sound of each of these pieces will enable you to use them in the appropriate combination for the vocal track in question. I highly recommend spending as much time playing with these tools as you have.
Click to expand...
That's what I wanted to say. The mic-preamp-combination makes all the difference in the first place. :)
 
M

Michael

Active Member
What kind of mic preamp and microphone are you using ? As was said earlier this is the most important part of the chain and this is where your going to get the sound . You have to have the sound you want before it gets recorded .
 
A

ATOR

Member
I am using a Rode NT1000 through a Behringer Eurodesk
Click to expand...
Do yourself a big favour and get a good preamp, the behringer eurodesk is in the lowest ranks of amping pre [-X Compressors and EQs, no matter how great, only work with what is already there. The qualities you've mentioned like 'clear, smooth and round' come from the mic and pre combination, you can't dial those in.

If you do manage to polish your Behringer into a Neve, pls share your secret. I've been failing miserably in this :D
 
mersisblue

mersisblue

Active Member
when comes down to it

the signal chain is ONLY as good as the weakest link
 
M

Middleman

Active Member
Even an inexpensive compressor hitting lightly on the vocal will smooth it out considerably going into your computer. After you track it the LA2A will add the big warm silky thing it does so well.
 
neil wilkes

neil wilkes

Venerated Member
For me, not doing a lot of recording, I am generally limited to working with what I get given.

For mixing, I start out with the Cambridge, run that into an 1176LN for just the attack & release controls - not using it as a compressor at all - and from there into an LA2A for the actual compression.
Works a treat for me.

If I need a preamp, I have a lovely old TL Audio valve preamp from before the Ivory days. It still sounds so smooth.
Plugin pre?
Antares TubeVST.
 
C

chewie

Active Member
neil wilkes said:
For mixing, I start out with the Cambridge, run that into an 1176LN for just the attack & release controls - not using it as a compressor at all - and from there into an LA2A for the actual compression.
Works a treat for me.
Click to expand...
I must ask, how do u use the attack and release without compressing at all? :?: :oops: :?: Isn´t that what those knobs are for, changing the response of the compression? I also use them in conjunction, but more to get the sound of the output and input knobs from the 1176 and then into the LA2A...

Just my 2 swedish kronor :D

Chewie
 
neil wilkes

neil wilkes

Venerated Member
Just use the 1176 as an amplifier, not a compressor.
Try it.
Drop the threshold right back so it does not compress, and crank up the input.
 
C

chewie

Active Member
Ok, that´s what I do now, I thought that you were using the attack and release knobs to tweak the sound further...

Chewie
 
C

chewie

Active Member
And just to clearify, we are talking ´bout the 1176 and not the Fairchild? (In witch case I guess that \"threshold\"=\"input\" and \"input\"=\"output\", right?) Otherwise you´ve lost me again :?

Chewie
 
BobYordan

BobYordan

Member
Hi folks. :)

I guess the next investement will be a mic pre amp. Any resonable suggestions? Not to expensive! ;)

I did however get closer to the finish line by entering the fairchild, voxformer and precision limiter on the lead. The voxformer only used the presence controls. Replacing the voxformer compression part with fairchild mono made a big difference. :) Fairchild added roundness & smoothness and voxformer clearness & brightness. And PL handled the peaks and strength.

Now I just record the vocal flat with no eq via the Eurodesk, but with the voxformer tweaked so that the singer feels compfy. But the voxformer is not recorded to file.
 
N

Noah330

Member
I took the plunge and bought a UA 610. My mixer is a Ramsa DA7 and I thought the pres sounded really good. The 610 was a bit pricey but WOW - no plug could have ever made my recordings sound so good.

I am getting sounds that are light years better than what I was getting before in less time.
 
T

toystein

Member
Noah330 said:
I took the plunge and bought a UA 610. My mixer is a Ramsa DA7 and I thought the pres sounded really good. The 610 was a bit pricey but WOW - no plug could have ever made my recordings sound so good.

I am getting sounds that are light years better than what I was getting before in less time.
Click to expand...
A great preamp to look at is the FMR Audio RNP (Really Nce Preamp) - They sell for $500 and you get two channels. I've had good success using using a Studio Projects C1 into a JoeMeek VC6 - I think this mic and JM pre's are excellent together, they compliment each other nicely.
 
A

Ashermusic

Active Member
I have the M-Audio Tampa Mic-Pre w/optical compressor and I really like it. It sellls for around $500 U.S. As for the other M-Audio box it stands to reason that if it has two channels at around the same pricee point it isn't as good.
 
M

maq

Member
Noah330 said:
I took the plunge and bought a UA 610.
Click to expand...
Great choice for a digital recording. It's my go to pre for vox. It also works well for warming up and adding density to Podded guitars.
 
mersisblue

mersisblue

Active Member
I also like the 2610 for kick and snare
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
UAD Bundle Month
Top