Home Recording Software?

Home Recording Tips for Audacity Audio Software?

• Hi all. I want to know what effects should I used to improve my vocals when recording over rap/hip hop music. What VST effects will make my vocals sound more professional and more pleasing to the human ear? My home studio looks like: bedroom, computer w/Audacity, USB mic, headphones, and PC speakers with woofer. Please help me by providing serious answers, please. Thank you all in advance.

• Answer:

  That's a bit of a loaded question, but I'll do my best to answer it concisely... I want to talk about your set-up first. When selecting vocal mics, it's important to be very choosy. Check the specs on your mic and see if it's a "cardiod pattern" (you'll see a circular graph, and hopefully it has an upside-down heart shape to it). Also check to see if it's a condenser microphone (as opposed to a dynamic mic). Check to see the "bit rate" (if applicable). Professional sound can usually be attained at 24 bits. Here's how to read the frequency response graph: the range of human hearing is 20Hz to 20,000 Hz (or 20 kHz). A mic with that range is desirable. Generally the range of the human voice (if I remember correctly), is 2kHz to 5kHz. On the graph, a little bump in that region is a good thing. Also, when adding eq to your voice, a slight boost in that region would be good. If you haven't already, you'll need to pick up a pop-filter. It's a little screen that connects to your mic stand. It filters out the extra noise produced when pronouncing "p's" and "t's". Here are some useful plugins: A compressor: A compressor helps fight the fluctuations in volume in a recording. Reverb: Reverb emulates the the natural reverberations that occur in a room. It helps to make your voice a little "warmer". EQ: Helps model your voice When your finished recording, a GREAT thing to have would be a peak limiter. It's how professionals get their CDs to be so loud. It's basically a compressor on steroids. Another good plugin is called maxxbass. It's how you get a better bass response through smaller speakers (i.e. car stereos, computer speakers, etc.) I hope that helps you get a start on improving your sound. Here's a book that we used when I took my first recording class. It's a little tough to read at times, because it is a text book, but it's WELL worth your time. http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Recording-Techniques-Sixth-David/dp/0240806255/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5069782-2587314?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184714168&sr=8-1 If you have any more questions, feel free to email me, and good luck!