How? - Isolate microphone / vocal channel and keep it dry

PHATS · Post by **PHATS** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:52 am

I am really interested in Ableton Live however in the demo I have had problems with my microphone / audio / vocals channel.

I have attempted to isolate an audio track and all I get is all other tracks bleeding into the vocals. Its like I am recording all open tracks and my microphone channel at the same time even when running it all though my cans. There are no background noises in my vocal cubicle.

I am using Sound Blaster Live with the Live Drive mic input. Should this be ok?

Is it possible to isolate the microphone channel and keep it dry then add effects later? Can I listen to the other tracks as a guide while laying down my vocals without having all the other tracks mixed in with my vocal track?

Can you recommend a setup / hardware that allows us to record vocals whilst running the other channels / tracks but allowing us to keep the audio / vocal channel clean so we can add whatever effect we like at a later stage?

Cheers guys

Seyser Koze · Post by **Seyser Koze** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:56 am

If you have armed your vocal audio track to record and all the others are on playback only. You should be fine.

You should be able to listen to all your other tracks through your phones and simply record your dry isolated vocal track.

I do find I get a bit of bleed back from the phones though, particularly if I am using the metronome which due to it's pitch can be heard on the vocal track later.

nothing a good gate can't sort though.

jyang · Post by **jyang** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:49 am

As well, even if you record the vocals on a track loaded with effects, it will still record a dry signal, and as Live is non-destructive, the audio recording will remain unchanged, no matter how much you effect it. You can create a new rendered (consolidated) audio file with the effects as well if you want, to save CPU or export or whatever - but that would be a seperate file.

You could have meant 'dry' as recording just the vocals without any bleed, and if so then your question has already been answered. Live can do what you want. Just make sure your headphones are isolating enough to not let much sound out. You don't wanna be using very 'open' headphones while trying to record, as Seyser said sometimes the click can be recorded as well, especially if you are using a sensitive condensor microphone.

As far as recommending a setup goes - use Live! And just find a good audio/midi interface that is suitable for your needs, as you might find the Sound Blaster interface a little bit limited - but then again it depends on what you want to do, as to determining what you need.

Cheers.

PHATS · Post by **PHATS** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:50 pm

How stupid do I feel guys!

I found out why I was having problems!

In windows XP I opened up the Control Panel then I opened up Sound and Audio Devices then I went to the Audio tab and clicked on the Volume for Sound recording only to find that my microphone was not patched through the microphone line but Line in 2 / Microphone options. I have choose Line in 2 / Microphone and hey presto my vocals are resonant and there are no effects so its nice and raw ready for some effects

Thanks for you help guys