How To Get Great Vocals From A Budget Mic [Tutorial] 

'I've Been Searching For A Microphone' is legit WAY better than 99% of the stuff I've heard recently 😂

Wow...here I was getting ready to spend upwards of $1K on a vocal mic, thinking that would solve all of my problems. Now I'm loving the idea of trying an SM57 and learning better techniques with layering, compression, EQ and saturation. You essentially just proved that a good sounding recorded vocal is more about the performance and production techniques, and has very little to do with the gear. Like many others, I think I fall into the trap of relying on technology to do all of the work for me, rather than putting in the work to make it sound right. In a sea of hacky "tips and tricks" videos on RU-vid, this is an extremely helpful, no-nonsense revelation of truth! Thank you Graham and Chris!

“Searchin’ for a Microphone” is the new hot banger of 2021

"Shit in, shit out" is one of the greatest lessons I ever heard from a producer.

Back in 1998 I spent £2000 on a Roland vs-880. I thought to myself 'This is it, I'm gonna kill it with this'. :+) In my ignorance I thought 'This is better than anything The Beatles had access to'. :+)) So I recorded my voice (knowing nothing about compression or equalisation). I was ABSOLUTELY horrified. Seriously!. I haven't recorded it since (not quite true!!!). :+) THIS video is a game changer for me. It showed me that what matters is the content and context, not the quality. It gives me confidence to try again. THANKS, SO MUCH!!!. :+) :+) :+) (just in case you were hadn't noticed, I'm smiling a lot). :+) I've still got the vs-880. It's pristine. Virtually unused. Now I intend to wear it out!!. :+) 👍

It's nice to hear it's "okay" to compress a lot. I think that is a big thing that my tracks miss out on, I'm afraid to over do it.

One of the best instructional videos on this topic in a decade. Presenter is terrific. Pace is perfect. Using real examples make it applicable to everyone. More please. I don't have Waves - does Slate have a Gate/Expander?

It brings true joy to me when I see other people who love this technical side of music the same way I do. Thanks gram for another great video. 🍻😎

the fact that this guy can sing like a god makes this explaination videos 10 times better !!!!

Your videos are phenomenal Chris! Thanks for all that you do!

Great details and description! Thanks for this!

Excellent and great instruction Chris! thanks!

Saturation is the key to good mixes.

this guy's phenomenal

Your lessons helped me a lot Chris, thanks a lot!

I love this guy. Always a fun time.

you're a legend Chris

Fantastic! Just what I needed. God Bless You!

WHAT A BEATIFUL RECORDING SESSION

I just want to appreciate you for making this video and showing your process toward the end. It's real affirming. Your voice is incredible

wonderful video, thank you.

Fantastic, thank you Chris Liepe for sharing your knowledge. This is exactly what was missing from my whole recording setup. I've downloaded the tip sheet as well. Kind regards, Cheers!

Thank you! Helped me so much!

Thank you for making taking the time to make this video and explain these things. I was feeling pretty discouraged earlier, but I think these techniques are just what I was missing.

The hardest part of this is that you're listening to your own voice. This is why producers are so incredibly helpful. They can help pull out the right performance and know how to color it. My own embarrassment is the biggest hindrance.

Great video and advice.

Not a moment wasted. 18 minutes of useful content in 18 minutes. Great work!

awesome video! Much appreciated!

Thank you really needed this video. Very well explained.

So helpful!!!

Amazing video, cool to see Chris here!

Great video, So much information! Thanks, Graham and Chris.

Great work Thanks

What a great voice and performance. Combined with his treatment of materiel it is unbeatable.

This video is gold

I've watched 100 recording tutorial clips but this one is pulse-raisingly helpful! 💥 Thank you immensely⚡🎤⚡

Great video!!!

Your videos are so HELPFUL!! You have a great set of pipes. I wish I could see even sing like 1/64th of you.

As I get closer to finishing My songs & approach vocal tracking. This was absolutely gold! I have an older AKG Perception 200 & MXL 990. Along with some other stuff. And this helps reinforce My time I've been diving deeper into Production & Mixing knowledge. Thanks again for the great content!

Wonderfully explained! Thank you very much for this knowledge.

Thanks for the information, it's very helpful.

Very informative and educational! I think the processing that is used in conjuction with the mic is more important than the mic itself.

Thank you. This is exactly the tutorial I needed

Great presentation, and most importantly, you're shooting straight, giving away the gold dust required to make your own golden nugget. Listen to this guy, he knows what's up.

this is one of the best tutorial videos i’ve ever seen. thank you so much!!

Your perspective and way to explain it is amazing. Great videos.

Great video! Am looking forward to the next...

Thanks for another incredibly interesting and educational and fun video. You almost make me think I could do this. :) This is superb!

I know this video is two years old but you have me so much with my recording process. It’s been so much better. Thank you.

This song should be hitting the charts any day now! 🎤 🎵 I’ve been searching.... I iiiiiiiiii’ve been searching for soooo loooonng... ... For a microphone! 🎙 🎶

thank you brother you helped me so much

Loved it. Brilliant video

Freaking EXCELLENT video, really helpful information. Thank you so much!!

Fantastic tutorial, thanks!

Great presentation

Excellent ! Many thanks for all your great advice Chris :) M

this video helped tremendously! Thanks again Chris! also i loved how you used CC as an example :)

First time I have seen any videos of Chris. Awesome video and great contributor to the channel. This was really great. I’m going to check out more of his content after watching this.

Good work. Really.

Thank you!!

This has helped me so much

Your Vocal harmonies are on point.. I mean WOW.. Very impressive vocals in the final mix.. Just WOW!! Good Vid,, Thank You sir... Respect \m/

Wow, this was great! Thanks!

Man, 2nd time I watched this and learned even more! Can't wait until you release 'Searching'... Love it😁👌

You're over here too! Cool! Spreading the Love around. What up Chris?!

Chris, brilliant video, you've touched on so many important issues for those expanding their recording setups for vocals. I've been using a Shure KSM8 for awhile with very good results in a less than perfect acoustic environment. Most know that you need a mic pre with a fair amount of gain for a dynamic mic, I have an Apogee Element and the built in mic pres have 75dB of gain along with some other outboard pres in the 70dB range. I've always gotten good results, the KSM8 does a great job at rejecting the room, has a reduced proximity effect, and a smooth overall vibe, especially for a dynamic. Fast forward a few years and my ever growing 'need' for a 'better' mic. I bought the Neumann TLM49 and was anticipating the silkiest, most beautiful vocal recording I've ever made. Well over $1700 later I was devastated when my first recording was picking up nasty resonances in the room highlighted with a very dynamically inconsistent performance and a plethora of mouth sounds lol I've since treated my room and learned how to perform with that mic, the sweet spot etc. It is a phenomenal microphone, but if you're in an untreated bedroom I truly believe a quality dynamic by Shure, Beyerdynamic, Telefunken, or Sennheiser, just to name a few, is the way to go. Honestly I've never heard a good singer sound bad on an SM7. A 57 or 58 can also produce great results especially with the approach to layering and performance you described. One cannot discount the importance of just being comfortable when performing, thanks Graham, Chris' videos are a great addition to the channel!

I found myself laughing out loud as you described the journey of discovery from cheap microphone to expensive and then back to compression and EQ, great video. These days I call it 'the old triple compression trick' when I'm tracking. Nice breakdown of your process .I'm hitting the studio this afternoon so I'll using your techniques for sure!

Awesome video Chris. Your vocals sounded amazing. Just goes to show that you can still get great results from affordable gear if you know what you're doing. Learned a lot from this video. Thanks!

This is the most useful thing I’ve gotten from this channel

Inspirational! Period.

Hi Chris. Long time fan. Can I just say THANK YOU: videos like this save us little guys so much money. Helping us unlock our voices: you total legend!

Great stuff, thx a ton, guys

Man... You just gave me some inspiration and ideas!! Thank you, oh s much!! Love the channel dude!!

Super super super helpful. Subscribed. Thank you!

Belting tutorial - learnt a lot from it. Thanks, Chris 🙌

I bought a Rode NT1,I did have a bigger budget but I spent so long deciding I just wanted to get it over with in the end.I paired it with a PSA1. I'm having those delivered tomorrow, I hope now it works out.Interesting video Chris keep them coming dude.

Awesome you made me very sleepy with your voice that's a compliment Voice so relaxing, enjoyed your tutorial fab!! Thank You 😀☮💚

Wow, what a great vocal range & singing ability, very impressive!

Awesome!

Huge performance in the song in the beginning!

The world needs a video where a track is recorded entirely with budget end gear - instruments through to daw and plugins - and the 'meh' sounding track is then done again using topend gear, using the exact same placements/settings/etc., to prove that the gear won't fix lack of knowhow.

u r crazy damn respect

This is awesome! I recorded a song a few months ago but have been dreading mixing the vocals because I didn’t want to mess them up. This tutorial has helped to clear up a lot of the mystery regarding that process.

Great 👍🏼!!

somebody just give him the microphone he's been searching for so long!

great video, thank you for your advice

Brilliant. Obvious and simple... Now you've explained it!

i've been searching for so long, to be able to sing like you :P

i´ve been searching IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII´VE

I am really glad that finally someone is pushing the compression and the eq beyond 3 dBs and talks about the importance of saturation. This is a really helpful video, thank you Chris!

You are crazy......in a good way, respect

The lyrics fits me well!

Came back to this video to say this song is now stuck in my head - awesome content though thank you for the help!

this was so dope! defiantly going to apply to my chain! going to experiment with this!

That was really useful. Loved the dble tracking and stacking of multiple takes. I would like to see a video that expanded on that.

Yes, legend video here.

Great voice!!!

Man is speaking the truth for real

thanks man, this will help me a lot. Subcribed and looking forward to watch more content from you 😍

Nice demonstration - Good luck