Muff's Modules & More

syzygywell · Last edited by syzygywell on Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:43 pm; edited 1 time in total

Not sure if you guys can help but I'd be grateful if anyone has some varied experience with vocal recording and could guide me a bit here. *(Dear god Please don't make me go to GS lol

)

I know Bibio has been using tape for a lot of his sound (nagra IV-S, Akai 1710 and TELEFUNKEN Magnetophon 302.)

I'm trying to get somewhere close to this tone on vocals: I think in this version he is double tracking.

[s]http://soundcloud.com/moonshipjourney/bibio-old-friends[/s]

Vocals come in at 4:10
[s]http://soundcloud.com/warp-records/bibio-take-off-your-skirt[/s]

My audio chain is Shure SM58, RCA HK-103 Dynamic Uni directional, CAD E-300 into A Designs Pacifica with a FMR RNC and eventides.

I'm a contralto btw and sing pretty much in his range.

Anyway thanks for any tips. I really have very little experience recording vocals though I've read up on it a bit. Still very much in the experimenting phase of recording myself. (its a bit hard to take hearing yourself you know?)

steampoweredsequencer · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 12:22 am Post subject:

The first sounds like two takes. (main vocal, higher part) Reverb too...I'd say spring. Experiment with different reverb types for your voice and your composition.

The second sounds like a mix of doubletracking, a lower octave harmony, some weirdo panning stuff, and a little bit of delay.

I'd just recommend a good mic, a good popscreen filter, some good tea, a quiet room, and relax while doing the takes. As a very amateur vocalist, I find I get the best results when I've broken the first few eggs and focus on nailing the second or third omelet.

Hope this helps.

syzygywell · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks Steam. I'm definitely catching that he is double tracking with a bit of reverb in there. I can't help but think he's probably doing voice to tape too.

Hainbach · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 5:09 pm Post subject:

Wow, that is great music! I had forgotten about him after listening earlier this year to the second track. I'll hit iTunes, thanks for the tipp!

The Tape machines you mentioned are all location recorders (I guess used to record the ambience running through 80% of the first track), mostly just stereo. You can't multitrack with them so you would have to a lot of transfer into your computer if you just want the tape sound. I would not recommend doing all the technical hassle if you just want to sing.

Maybe a try a different mic? You have a lovely preamp and great FX, but your mic locker could use an upgrade if you are looking for a vintage tone. Perhaps a quality ribbon mic could yield that sound for you and give you lush "sssssounds". Or, if you don't have a vocal booth, get a SHURE S7B as that keeps the room out, especially if you are singing this soft. That would work and not break the bank.

Plug-In wise, try Airwindows ToTape and Console for very nice vintagy-fx. Love them! Also this might help: http://www.vacuumsound.de/plugins.html

The reverb used on the first it a mono plate. Experiment with predelay to make it blend nicely.

Hope this helps!

dude · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 5:24 pm Post subject:

i can't help you on recording techniques but i thank you for introducing me to new music! that stuff sounds brilliant. anyone care to direct me to the albums upon which that music can be found? does he have any not so good material or is it all good?

syzygywell · Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 7:39 pm Post subject:

Mr.Jagil · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 4:36 am Post subject:

Anyone looking into Bibio should get Ambivalence Avenue. Amazing record.

Hainbach · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:58 am Post subject:

I would not get another CAD, as their highs can be a bit harsh, especially if you sing close to the mic. Really consider the SM7B or a 441 - both are great mics that enable performance and your pre has enough gain to make them sound great.

lessavyfav · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:14 am Post subject:

Maybe if you post what you have now it could be easier. Every voice is so different...

syzygywell · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:12 am Post subject:

The Lauten is really at the top of my list. Someone was selling the oceanus here for a steal but I didn't have the dough at the moment. The SM7B sounds like a fantastic mic for the price.

dude · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:56 am Post subject:

Hainbach · Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 10:42 am Post subject:

syzygywell · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:14 pm Post subject:

I'm looking at the Horizon and the Oceanus... different prices I know but I liked the gooey sound on the Horizon demo for voice better than the oceanus. Liked the Oceanus though for the Acoustic Guitar though.. wow.

What other LDC mics would you recommend looking at?

Luka · Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:16 pm Post subject:

love bibio

i hear he goes a mile to make his music sound unique
good luck imitating it and let us know if you come close

syzygywell · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:18 am Post subject:

Oh hell Luka, I don't hope to get close...really just in the vicinity on that particular aspect. He is all over the place lately with different styles and definitely more clarity in his tracks than he used to have. However I started to really notice on some of his tracks his vocal recordings worked for me. Namely Haikueque, Old Friends, and the end of TOYS. His vocals definitely don't have that Nashville sound I hate with abandon. Its like they aren't fully clear, opaque but yet not muddy. Anyway here is where he does some of his recording. Notice a Sennheiser Mic in there don't know what is under that mic wind screen though...

Luka · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 12:20 am Post subject:

it is a worth challenge though smile

syzygywell · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:34 pm Post subject:

just a quick update to this thread. Stephen has started to post his guitar tunings on a few of his songs on youtube

He has been forth coming about some of his recording devices and techniques in the comments section so I just asked him directly today about his vocal recording chain. I hope to have an answer soon. I'm so happy he is doing this.

Uhm yeah Nice Coles 4050 in this video too.. only a $2500 ribbon.

syzygywell · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 12:16 pm Post subject:

aaand here is his answer