Karaoke Forums

Hi,Im starting a thread. I am just the thread starter.Just because I start the thread,does not make it mine. I may start on a topic,but the topic may change ...and thats all good. Because we are communicating~
Now lets see....got to pick a "starter"topic.....ummmm.....let see.....thinking thinking thinking......OK>>GOT IT!

On effects.........
Do you find that "special" effect or setting that you use time and time again? Or do you enjoy trying new things? I myself rarely use the same exact settings twice...but I do have a verb setting I am very comfortable with..and stick to that.

How do you all fell about Noise reduction? Some people feel it takes away from the "crispness",I do use the noise reduction on my subs 95% of the time. How about you guys?

I like your attitude Tammy Good start. Let’s see if this turns out in a big catfight as well.


Reverb depends on the song. Too much will make you sound as if you sing in a tunnel, too little will put you in front of the music.

Listen to a pre-recorded CD. If you close your eyes, you can actually visualize the band. How it's been set up, from left to right, front to rear.
That's how you should set up your reverb as well. The CDG is a pre-recorded band, and you need to fit in on stage. Not all CDG’s are recorded the same, so you might need to change your reverb settings ever so often. But yes, I to have a favorite type of reverb I use.



Noise reduction is a must in today’s age. First off all, it takes away the DC offset that 99% of the sound cards have internally. Secondly, when you take a proper noise sample before recording, you won’t hear a difference in “crispiness” once applied.

hey...Love your response Allstar.I Agree with you on the NR.
Also on cdg backings...Ive noticed alot of them seem like they have more verb...across the board..than I would ordinarily even use myself.As a matter of fact....Ive listened to backings...and had to check and see if I had left one of my own settings ON..because the verb sounded a bit much,in the music alone.But,that differs with the different companies that put them out.
Ive got to say,I am very partial to the sound choice...the quality in theirs is very nice...and the backup singers seem to be at the volume level they need to be.Good gosh...some backings I have....the back-up singers are so loud,it seems impossible to get over them. A person could do a vocal drop on the backing alone,but...I notice a loss of music quality,so I really would rather not do that ...

I am a Cool Edit user. My favorite setting for reverb is the "Natural Reverb" and I play with the sliders a bit till I think it sounds ok. Depending on the song... I sometimes use the echo effect. My favorite echo effect is "Pink"... I just love how it sounds and have used it a few times. It has a dreamy quality. I've played with the others "Midtones Following" .... "Canyon" .... but I have rarely if ever used them.... maybe for a tiny portion ... I would never use these echo effects for a whole song... like in a Dido song where she says a word and the one word echos after it. But usually I'll end up going in and actually putting the word in on a third track... and adding the echo to that.. it just sounds better. It's tricky with headphones cause sometimes listening through the speakers these effects sound so much more apparent and obvious... and it just doesn't flow right! All of a sudden it sounds as if I fell in a hole hahaha! That's why I listen with both before I mix it all down! As for noise reduction... I have never figured out how to do that... I know there is probably a thread on it somewhere... I do use the "standard hiss reduction" on my vocal track before adding any effect... this seems to take the hiss out somewhat. On my older recordings I never did that and the hiss is terrible... what's worse is I put a silence in the empty vocal area's and so right when my vocals come in you hear a definite hisss! Ugh! I do prefer Sound Choice... the background singers can make or break a song... if they are really faint... I can use a third track for my own background harmonies and I usually put a chorus effect on it... usually "5 Voices Sing" or "For Harmony Vocals" on a recent duet I did with Shirls... I used "60's Phychedelic" on the chorus alone and I really liked the result.... OK .... I'm blabbing.... good morning!!

OH Sheree Nr is easy..........go into edit mode with your vocal track..hit the plus a couple times....highlight an area where you arnt singing...go to noise reduction..get profile of your selected area...hit CLOSE...not "ok"
then highlight your entire vocal track...then back to noise reduction..(your profile is still in there).choose how much you want removed..I usually go for 70 to 80%..then click OK. Wallahhhhhhhh

Now THAT sounds simple enough.... I've copied and saved your post so I will have it in my file and will definitely use it!!! I always got stuck on that "get profile" part... wasn't sure what to do! Thanks Tammy!!!

Your Welcome...and I doubt you will even need to use that hiss reduction,the NR should take care of that .oh...and Happy Friday!
Whats for lunch? Its sure getting hungry in here.

FYI - Audacity allows you to select part of a track and 'silence' it. It flatlines any audio in the selected area.

Re: Effects
I don't generally use any effects when recording or apply them afterwards. While I'm sure a little reverb would help I want to get my voice to improve before I start using electronics to make it better. At my shows I'm using a Peavey Twin DeltaFex for my delay effects and don't mess with it much once the shows in progress. I play with it a lot at home just to get a better feel for it, but don't use it while recording.

I didn't start using ANY effects until just lately.. and still feel oddly using them.... plus, I have no idea what to do to make me sound better;) Lol. When I am in a hurry, I use an incredibly neat, easy, SIMPLY program, and it is really easy to add effects there (apple.com/garageband) I wish I had something that would reduce noise though... (I had something once, but had no clue HOW to use it)... Some people hear have such fantastic clear PROFESSIONAL sounding submissions.... and mine always muffled.. and.. "yucky"... might be because, I don't use a mic...

But, to answer your question, no, I don't have a preset setting for my effects;) (I have no idea WHAT i am doing, anyways:) My fave submission ever, was one that SOMEONE else mixed for me:) I am always up for help, though.... I record everythign on my laptop, with headphones on, and no mic:) any help?

_________________
[scroll][/scroll]

[font=andalus]We Are the Music Makers, and We are the Dreamers of Dreams...
We are the Movers and Shakers of the World Forever it Seems...[/font]

Hey Jazzy... some great tips there.... YES, I'd say everything I learned about mixing came from your "tips" thread... but it is pretty basic compared to what I just read. There are some here that are gonna think whooooah! I can't do all that... it's a bit overwhelming to say the least... even for me and I'd say I have some experience with CEP .. but then I read your post and realize I don't know diddlie hehe! I will print out your post though and put it in my file ... cause it all takes time! Gilly.. you sound terrific always ... everything I've learned about my program has been through threads like this one and just playing with the settings... (I've already learned a ton of new shtuff today!!! ) some of my early recordings just sound awful! Too much effect is overkill.... not enough sounds too dry and separate from the music... it's something I like to experiment with and play with... it's something I enjoy doing... I love to sing.... but it seems I can spend a lot more time playing with the mix.... usually country songs have the least amount of reverb and pop or rock require a heavier one. It's all our own little piece of art that we are handing in like a class project.. and each one is a learning experience! I can see how some would feel that effects are sorta like "cheating"... we saw a lot of that way back when .... on another planet ! Where you would be attacked for "too much reverb"!!!! But IMO a little reverb is always a good thing.. it just adds to the enjoyment of the listener .... and that's the point... we want it to be enjoyable... not prove we can sing raw without any effects .... when you've heard a singer a number of times... you pretty much know what kind of voice they have... no effect can hide that! Also there was someone who felt the punching in thing was cheating! I feel that if we were competing for some prize then yes... it would definitely be cheating... but I like to burn my songs to a CD for family and friends so I feel the "punch in" has been a great tool!!! Wish I had learned how to use it earlier Oi!!!!

Oops, I am missing something... Sheree? What is a "punch in"? Lol, excuse my ignorance:)

Gilly... the "punch in" is a part of the Cool Edit Pro program... it is where you can take a "boo boo" and highlight that isolated area... then you have a button on the top of your multi track screen that looks like a boxing glove. You push that button (glove) and you are able to record just inside that highlighted area.... it's pretty cool if ya don't feel like singing the whole song over! I have some songs that I hear now and wish I could go back and fix this or that.... this tool is nice because it saves your voice if it's a taxing song... like a song that requires a long sustained note and you'de rather just sing the note and not the entire song over and over till ya get it right. OR... some people just get it right and don't need that kind of stuff.... *sticking my tongue out at you* hehehe!

Darn. I want that magical button. Don't you dare stick your tongue out at me girl, or you will stay that way... you crossed eyed, tongue stuck out sheree:)

Awww...stop sticking your tongue out at me!! Yeah, right...I punch in so often, I always have those little sub track thingy jingys all over the place!

Isn't it oddly fasinating that Gilly & I were thinking about the same thing in two completely different far-off places at the same exact time? I am truly frightened now.....

Now THAT is frightening!!!!!!!

i use adobe audition and every single sub of mine is seriously trial and error i just click buttons and hope for the best ...i use natural presence for my vocals sometimes if its a more upbeat song i will use studio reverb, i alwways use light hiss reduction and always use light click pop thingy...other than that i just mess with the mixer and pray ol...it takes me longer to mix a song than it ever does recording it which is frustrating but i suppose its worth it when you mix it down and can sit smile and not cringe at your recording....some useful tips above ...thanks guys

OK - I am running scared & terrified, screaming, screaming....Gilly & I thinking and writing the same thing about .......... YOU!!!

Someway, somehow, someday - the 3 of us HAVE to get together and have some of them thar mixed drinks!!



Back on topic: I'm really liking this thread - I hope to learn a lot 'cos that big CEP manual intimidates (is that spelled right Sheree?) the bleep out of me!

Eh.. it's only 2:55 here.... I can't look up words till after 5:00... unless of course we are all at happy hour... heck... where did I put those *bleepin* glasses?

Did I mention... I just started using the "Graphic Equalizer" for some songs... using the "bright -n- punchy" effect .... don't know exactly what it does... but it sounded cool! Gad's Menephes is gonna see this and my rep as a expert mixer is in ruins!!! I guess it would be nice to know exactly what it does! Any clue?