Great Microphone Tips For Rappers And Singers! 5

If you are a rapper or singer you obviously know the importance of having the proper tools and techniques to record quality vocal signals. Here are a few important tips for both the novice and the professional on how to ensure you get the right vocal quality on that mic whether you are recording or performing on stage.

Choose The Appropriate Mic For Your Performance Tip 1: Choosing the appropriate microphone is critical to achieving the best voice quality. For stage performance most artists tend to use the common handheld dynamic mics such as the Shure SM-58. It is however important to note that they are rugged and though they produce exceptional sound, they lack a certain level of clarity and openness that can only be achieved by condenser mics. Therefore if you are looking to record quality performance in a studio setup, condenser mics should be your tool of trade.

For serious recording, you would need large diaphragm condenser mics which are costly however there are plenty of other reasonably priced condenser mics ($100) for home recording and small studios. Choose The Appropriate Mic For Your Performance Tip 1: Dynamic mics make use of the design of a magnet and moving-coil to capture the waves of sound that hit the microphone’s diaphragm Condenser mics make use of a diaphragm plate that is light-weight and charged hence enabling them to have improved transient responses which is ideal for capturing the refined tones of the human voice

Tip 2: Maintain the appropriate distance from the mic In case you are a rapper or singer who performs on stage, you know that it is almost comes as an instinct that you need to keep the mic closer to your mouth. Here is the thing, vocal mics are often directional or cardioid in design, meaning that they pick vocal signals more effectively from the front rather than from the rear or sides. Keeping that mic close to your mouth ensures that your voice is strong and that any other sounds around you are weaker. The inevitable question then becomes, how close is close? The problem with mics is that when they are used close to the lips they produce a proximity effect that boosts the bass response when the source of the sound is too close to the mic’s diaphragm.

Maintain the appropriate distance from the mic For studio recording purposes where you use condenser mics rather than directional mics, positioning your mouth 6-8 inches distance from the mic helps reduce the proximity effect and improve the ability of the mic to capture the natural sound of the artist. A very practical way of achieving the desired minimum distance to the mic is by holding up your hand and spreading your fingers as wide as you can, with your pinky touching your mic and your thumb touching your lips. If you maintain this distance with the condenser mic, any other sound in the room will be minimized or eliminated resulting in quality voice recording Tip 2:

Even though you manage to maintain the appropriate distance from the mic, the problem of plosives may come up. Plosives are unpleasant thump sounds that you at times hear from a mic, when an artist sings words with the letter P, T or B. This effect happens because of the “pop” effect produced by the performer pronouncing these letters, the blast of air waves causes the diaphragm to vibrate a bit faster as if it had been suddenly tapped Avoid Plosives Tip 3:

Avoid Plosives It is important to note that all mics are susceptible to this and some artist may be more prone to this effect. Vocal mics make use of a screen in front of the mic’s diaphragm to try and mitigate the plosive effect but it is usually not very effective. For studio recording, you are advised to make use of pop filters which are available at approximately $15. They are placed between the mic and the artist hence effectively reducing the pop effect. Tip 3:

Background noises tend to be picked up by the mic, especially a powerful condenser mic. It is therefore important to isolate yourself from all forms of unwanted noise. You can prefabricate a room to be your sound booth though it can be very costly. Alternatively, light-weight, commercially available baffles (go-bos) can be arranged around the artist, which have been known to do an excellent job of isolating the performer from unwanted noise. Avoid unwanted background noise Tip 4:

In case you are not privileged to have a sound booth and you are using a directional mic, you can position the mic such that it faces away from unwanted background noises, hence achieving the effect of muffling the noises. Avoid unwanted background noise Tip 4:

It is important to monitor you sound using proper headphones to ensure that you stay on pitch. The closed-ear design headphones (with the ear cups fully surrounding the ears) are usually better, since they allow no sound to escape from the headphones. Though open ear headphone designs are more comfortable and lighter, they tend to produce an irritating high-frequency noise which leaks into the vocal microphone, leading to problems later on especially if you are recording. Use headphones for proper monitoring Tip 5:

I hope these tips will go a long way in helping out any upcoming and experienced rappers or singers out there! With the appropriate talent, tools and techniques in today’s world, you can produce good quality music in all kinds of environments. Use headphones for proper monitoring Tip 5: