greg54

Thanks, John! I will look into it.

When I listen on the monitors, I hear every little imperfection in my vocals. But through headphones (and I have several pairs) I can't hear any weird frequencies. They sound good. So I guess I'll trust the monitors and fix all the frequency issues. That way I'll know they'll be right (or better).

One thing I need to mention: My original post was not about mics or vocal booths but about playback to try to mix. My issue is that I'm not sure if I'm hearing the mix correctly. Monitors have frequencies that sound one way, and headphones sound another.

I'm not ruing out anyone's suggestions. I may try a different dynamic mic, like a Sennheiser.

I have tried one, and they do work decently.

My room is 12x12. It's cluttered, and there are things in the corners. I did convert the closet into a vocal booth for a while, but to go back and forth to the computer and booth was a pain. So I constructed a vocal booth (not small) near where my computer is.

I put up three 6' tall panels (about 2.5' wide) and covered them with shipping blankets. Then I put acoustic panels on the blankets inside the booth.

I did not try it without the preamp. However, my U87 clone sounds better to me. I guess I just need to work with it to find how to get the best recording I can with it. I do appreciate everyone's input.

UPDATE: I received the Shure Beta 58, and it does not sound good with my voice and my setup, for whatever reason. I do appreciate the advice, though.

I'm using a Focusrite 18i20. For a preamp I'm using a Warm Audio WA12Mkll. I like it better than the Focusrite preamps. Prior to the Focusrite I had an SSL2. It was nice, I admit. And they have great service. But I needed more inputs.

Yes, but I got an se Electronics DM2 inline preamp to use with it, and it requires phantom power.

Well, I took your advice, John, and I ordered a Beta 58. I've always used condensers. Maybe with my voice, that's the issue. We will see.

I'm using an Advanced Audio U87 clone. But I've used other condenser mics, like Stam Audio, Rode, Audio Technica and se Electronics. John Vere mentioned a Shure Beta 58. I've never recorded with a dynamic mic before, but I ordered one yesterday just to try it out to see it it helps. I did use Sony headphones for a while. Very good. But now I use Grado, which I like better. I have recorded with different mics out in the room, and in my vocal booth that I made. And I have the same issues every time.

I put bass traps in my room.

I have the VSX headphones system by Steven Slate. So if I have this, I don't need ARC Studio? It's either/or?

I was just looking at ARC Studio, although I don't understand how it improves what I'm listening to. I mean, if my vocals were recorded badly (and I'm not saying they were; but maybe that's the issue. I do record in a homemade vocal booth though), then they're not going to sound good no matter what. I'm still trying to figure out if that is the issue or my room or what. I have decent monitors - Adam Audio and Avantone CLA10. I do have lots of reference tracks, and all the vocals sound different. I was just listening to some Michael McDonald songs, and they do not sound good, as far as vocal quality is concerned. And others, like Boz Scaggs' vocals, sound perfect. So it's hard to know. My issue with my vocals is that frequencies in some places (words, phrases) are too nasal, mid rangy or dark, while the rest of the vocals sound good. Maybe I just need to learn to eq better. Maybe it's my voice.

I do use the Steven Slate VSX system that allows me to hear my songs in virtual rooms. I have watched way too many videos on eg-ing vocals. They use more eq-ing than I do. I didn't I use a lot. But I do have to eq. My other instruments all sound good. It's just the vocals that I'm having issues with.

I have acoustic panels on the walls, along with the panels in the room, but I haven't measured anything. I'm not using any software with the headphones. Calibrating playback levels and acoustic measurements are unfamiliar to me.

I'm trying to mix my songs, and I'm confused about something. I do not have a room that is soundproof. I did put up panels to make it better though. This is my issue with mixing: When I play the song back to eq the vocals, what I hear through my monitors (Adam Audio) is that the vocals have some frequency issues here and there. However, when I listen on headphones, the issues are either not there or they are barely audible. I use Grado Labs headphones. So what do I trust? The monitors or the headphones?

Muted

I enabled Sound on Sound, and that fixed it. Thanks

This is about a new project. When I record vocals, it records fine. However, if I want to go back and change something in the vocal track, what I recorded turns a lighter color (as in photo). And there is no sound with the vocals I recorded earlier. You can hear the new vocal I recorded, but not the old. I don't know what's causing it. The light color vocal strip is not highlighted. That's the way it is.

Great. Thanks!

Yes, the new one is what I'm having issues with. Thanks

Yesterday I got a notice to update CbB, which I did. In the past, I would activate it through CbB Installer ("refresh activation"). Doesn't work. It keeps telling me I have to sign into my CbB account to activate it. But when I go to my account online, I don't see anything that tells me how to activate it. I open CbB after I've been to the website, and it still says I need to activate it. How do you activate CbB? Thanks.