Karaoke Forums

I have had a few comments regarding the quality of my recordings. I am an amateur with limited funds. I use a Zoom H2 digital recorder and cannot use the line in feature as I don't have the proper equipment to do so. I play the songs through my mid-level stereo and sing through a 1 speaker, 4 channel cheap PA head. I sometimes have to lower my volume in order to blend better with harmonies and even then sometimes I drown them out. Karaoke songs are mostly not great quality. I really do the best I can with what I have. I have found that listening back with headphones works best for me. I hear myself fine when I do. Thank you for understanding and I want to thank my loyal listeners who never fail to brighten my day. John

Great voice!

If you can plug the mic into the computer, you should download Audacity for free. Record the music first, then record your vocals on a separate track (provided you absolutely don't need the swipes to guage where you need to sing) - just print a lyrics sheet.
Then you can mix in the computer, add effects, normalize the track & make it sound more professional.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

hmmmm...I guess I would need some type of adapter. I use a low impedance Samson Q7 that I use when I sing in my band. It won't plug into the computer. Thanks, I will look into it further. By the way, thanks for the props! John

Well you could also invest in a basic USB mic or get a USB interface for your current mic like the Lexicon Alpha ($59). It also comes with some decent recording software much better than Audacity - but a bit more learning curve since it is more professional.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Following Lonnie's lead, you can also lay down a separate vocal track while watching the swipes as well as recording the music as it plays. Then you can always use the vocal track as a reference if you get stuck re-recording the vocals (if needed). I've done this quite a bit. You can then go back and lay down back vocals if you want. Some tricks: I'll set aside a finished vocal dry track and copy it, and apply compression to a copy. This is if you can't apply compression during the recording. It's better up front but post recording is better than not at all. You can always go back to the original if things go bonkers.
Take your finished (compressed) vocal track and copy it to another track. Apply some effects (like reverb) to it then mix down both vocal tracks to match the level as one. Bring the dry\compressed or effected levels up as needed. Another thing I find that makes a fantastic effect is to take a finished vocal track, copy it, and move it back in time a millisecond. This creates an awesome voice doubler effect.

I guess the main point here is recording can end up being a world of fun with a few simple tools.

I'm sorry but that is all too complicated for me. I actually look at it this way. If I was in a bar singing and someone in the room had a Zoom H2 or other hand held digital recording device and recorded my performance, that is what I am going for. A raw karaoke sound. If people hear that and still think I sounded good, then I feel that is more of a compliment than if I took the time to do a professional type of recording. I like that you can hear neighborhood dogs barking or even crickets chirping during quiet parts of the recordings! It makes me laugh and hope others will too! I am far from professional and am not trying to portray myself as such. Just a guy who enjoys singing and hopes others can enjoy what I do. Again, if headphones are worn, I am pretty clear on my subs. Thanks for all of the input however. John

It really isn't that complicated once you learn some of the basics and is fun to hear a 'polished' result. It's worth taking the time. Look into it.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I just have no desire to hear a polished result on a cover song. My band recorded our original songs in a studio in the past so I have had the pleasure. I actually got to record in Boys 2 Men's studio a few years ago because our guitarist worked for them!

I hear where you are coming from. And just so you know, recording software works well, but it's still no match for an actual studio. I would still use my neighbor's basement studio if I wanted something really worth while. I would imagine that Lonnie is like me in that I find the process fascinating. I have hundreds of recordings that have never been heard and may never get heard so it isn't about making a professional sound. One interesting bi-product of going through the recording process is I am always much better at a song afterward. You lay down a vocal, listen back and hear small things you'd like to change. You make the changes on the tracks but you also have them if you ever sing the song live again. But that can be gained in how you are doing things as well.

Very true, upon listening back I always hear something I am not crazy about but, again, being live I don't expect perfection. It has to be really bad for me to redo it.

The problem I tend to have with recording separately, is the music tends to be either ahead or behind of the vocals, because of the dead air/silence at the beginning of the music files and I can't seem to get them to sync up properly.

anyone have any suggestions?

OK, you are importing the music after laying down the vocals? Here's what I do if I want to import the music.
I'll record the music into its own stereo track as I lay down the vocals. Then, I come back with a new track to import the music into for music quality reasons. Then I can shift the vocals\recorded music until I have the two music tracks dead in sync. Since I shift the vocals as I shift the pre-recorded music, the vocals are now matched with the imported music. I can then delete the pre-recorded music track.

I'll especially go through the trouble if I want to add back tracks to karaoke tracks. Since I leave the early dead space in and create my MP3 at the same rates as the original, it can then sync right up to the graphics.