Jazz Vocal with home built Neumann :)

mschnell · 10-16-2022, 05:49 AM

-> https://www.bitvibe.de/Upload/Wonder/Wonderwall_1.mp3 ................. (used as inspiration -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hOzMsal0Wc )

Work in progress: we are going to add a live played Sax intro and maybe a live trumpet part in the middle.

Here we used a 1" Condenser Tube mic, a friend of mine built trying to reproduce a historical Neumann. IMHO it perfectly hits the legacy smooth Jazz sound. There are no effects on the voice (the tiny reverb is the not very dry room we recorded this in), just my usual Master FX chain on the sum.

Will adding effects really improve the voice without doing harm ?!?!?

-Michael

mtw · 10-18-2022, 04:46 PM

I think this sounds great. I love the intimate sound of the vocals.

One thing I am noticing are mouth noises - not breathing, but the sound of the lips parting and clicking.

mschnell · 10-18-2022, 10:37 PM

Thanks a lot for your comments !
In fact the voice is very much in the foreground and hence tiny bits are hearable.

Such noises in fact produces that intimacy. So maybe not a bad thing...
-Michael

Reapology · 10-20-2022, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Such noises in fact produces that intimacy. So maybe not a bad thing...

Hey- have to agree with previous observation..intimacy is a beautiful thing..just this example amplifies that to a bit of extreme level?
There is close...then there is close enough...then there is "hey! you are chewing my ears off" (figuratively speaking!)

This is a class act in essence..just needs that final,finalL,finalllll polish for absolute perfection?
Great- love this old style jazz and female vocalists that can hit spots on cue..without forcing it.. (this feels a little that way tbh)
Thanks4sharing.

Mr. Ted · 10-20-2022, 02:44 PM

Excellent sound, excellent playing!

Wow, really nicely done and a great interpretation of a song that just got better when shot through this lens.

Has a nice, "warm club" sound.

Well done!

Mr. Ted

mschnell · 10-20-2022, 02:56 PM

Thanks !
-Michael and Emine

mschnell · 10-20-2022, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reapology

"hey! you are chewing my ears off" (figuratively speaking!)

Yep.

As said this is a work in progress. Intentionally for checking out the Mic no effects on the Voc track. Some reverb, Deesser and EQ would make it feel more "normal". (You might want to listen to the other performances by Emine I uploaded. -> https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=270824 )

In fact, AFAIK, many try to create such intimacy by effects. And here, the mic and the singer just (over) do it naturally.

I do have a more standard mix but I am not yet convinced....

-Michael

ivansc · 10-22-2022, 12:06 AM

I have never ever been a fan of the authors of that song, but this version goes a very long way toward making it acceptable to me!

Impressed by your homebrew Neumann AND the excellent chanteuse.

Reapology · 10-22-2022, 11:23 AM

Quote:

the mic and the singer just (over) do it naturally.

I do have a more standard mix but I am not yet convinced....

Maybe tickling the ears is a better wording..the mic is obviously well capable like the singer and backing.
Cheers.

mschnell · 10-27-2022, 10:50 AM

The builder of the Mike did a he considers rather standard from the same material. (Using Logic

)

What do you think ?

-> https://www.bitvibe.de/Upload/Wonder...rwall_Nico.mp3

-Michael

Reapology · 10-27-2022, 06:12 PM

Heya- #if you are asking 1self..then yeah,still sounds enjoyable here..different mix with the fx.Nicejob.

No real critique towards what you are doing here- but this definitely gave a sour reminder of the analog to digital switchover.. i always thought higher quality digital recordings sounded a bit sterile and waaaay tooooo clean..if you get what i mean?
Coming straight from vinyl + tape listening..there was always a noticable difference for me,when cd's came along tbh.
Enjoyed=thanks4sharing.

PVinKC · 10-27-2022, 07:29 PM

The mix already feels a bit dense, reverb may not be the way to go here.

If adding reverb makes the mix feel muddied, then try using a 1/16 (tempo synced) delay with zero feedback and a LP around 4-5khz.

I find that delay as opposed to reverb can add depth while not busying up the mix sometimes. Give it a try, it'll help keep the vocal up front and intimate. To pull this off best you want to mix this back in sparingly so that you feel it more than hear it.

Maybe use a de-esser set around 5-6khz to help with the clicks and pops a little?

Timothy Lawler · 10-28-2022, 11:04 AM

Nice performance and sound! I listened to your original mix. Love the mic quality.

The intimate vocal sound suits the song perfectly. The singer's mouth noises here and there are just a little distracting though. A little editing by hand to reduce the more noticeable ones would sound good, I think.

mschnell · 11-25-2022, 12:23 AM

"final" production:

-> https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=273030
-Michael