I need simple tips for recording and editing my voice

[ruidito]

Hello everyone. I need some simple, pragmatic wisdom. I don't want to be a sound engineer; I want to keep it simple and straightforward: I want to record vocals and then layer them over music tracks.
I have Windows 11 and a Macbook Pro, so I can use both platforms, and I'd rather not buy Logic—I don't want to spend money on software.
My needs, which is why I'm reaching out to you, are:

1 - Record my vocals
2 - Edit the recording to cut out unwanted parts and improve the quality (remove noise, make it sound more professional, etc.)
3 - Combine the recording with an audio track I find (not recorded by me)
4 - Render the audio and obtain the highest quality output to upload online.

I don't have a studio, just a quiet room. I have a HyperX Quadcast microphone and a DJI mic (I could buy a more professional mic for a small amount of money; I'm looking at a Shure MV7, but I'm open to your recommendations, of course).

In short:

a - I don't want complicated recommendations; I don't want to learn about sound engineering, just how to use the necessary programs.

b - I want practical solutions, not comments that discourage or hinder progress; I know that with good recommendations and online tutorials, I can achieve my goals.

Thank you all very much.

 

[Ricardus]

Grab a FREE digital audio workstation like Ardour, and get it done.

You can add the backing tracks first and then sing to them. But if you want this to sound good it will take learning some things.

Ardour, free and open-source digital audio workstation | Ardour DAW

Ardour is a free and open-source digital audio workstation for Windows, macOS, and Linux

ardour.org

 

[DVDdoug]

You'll have to decide for yourself if the microphone is good enough. It's all "links in a chain", starting with a good performance, good microphone placement, and a good mic. The equipment doesn't have to be crazy-expensive. You can get nearly professional results at home with the biggest limitation being the lack of a soundproof studio. (And, noise, both electrical and acoustic, is usually the biggest challenge.)

The most popular type of studio mic (used for vocals and almost everything) is a "large diaphragm cardioid condenser". They usually start at about $100 USD (and they can go way up from there).

If you don't use a USB mic you'll need an audio interface with XLR mic inputs. Pro stage/studio mics are not compatible with the inputs on regular soundcards or laptops. If you get an analog mic, I'd recommend against getting a dynamic mic. Dynamic mics have much lower output than condensers and sometimes that's an issue.

Usually you can only record from one USB mic at a time so if you want to use more than one mic you'll need analog mics and an audio interface or a mixer with USB for recording.

Microphones are normally sold where they sell musical instruments and sound and recording equipment... Places like Sweetwater Sound or Musician's Friend.

Your choice of recording software doesn't affect sound quality (assuming it's working properly). It just has to capture the digital audio stream and send it to your hard drive. Once you start adding effects (reverb, compression, EQ, etc.) the software makes a difference but that doesn't necessarily have to be expensive either.

Audacity is a popular audio editor and recording application. It's free and open source but it's NOT a "full DAW".
Most DAWs are not free. A full-DAW is better-easier for mixing but it's going to have a bigger learning curve.

I don't want to be a sound engineer; I want to keep it simple and straightforward: I want to record vocals and then layer them over music tracks.

Somebody has to wear the engineer's hat.

 

[AA63]

Hello everyone. I need some simple, pragmatic wisdom. I don't want to be a sound engineer; I want to keep it simple and straightforward: I want to record vocals and then layer them over music tracks.
I have Windows 11 and a Macbook Pro, so I can use both platforms, and I'd rather not buy Logic—I don't want to spend money on software.
My needs, which is why I'm reaching out to you, are:

1 - Record my vocals
2 - Edit the recording to cut out unwanted parts and improve the quality (remove noise, make it sound more professional, etc.)
3 - Combine the recording with an audio track I find (not recorded by me)
4 - Render the audio and obtain the highest quality output to upload online.

I don't have a studio, just a quiet room. I have a HyperX Quadcast microphone and a DJI mic (I could buy a more professional mic for a small amount of money; I'm looking at a Shure MV7, but I'm open to your recommendations, of course).

In short:

a - I don't want complicated recommendations; I don't want to learn about sound engineering, just how to use the necessary programs.

b - I want practical solutions, not comments that discourage or hinder progress; I know that with good recommendations and online tutorials, I can achieve my goals.

Thank you all very much.

Use your MacBook and Garage Band that is free.

Buy a simple 2 channel USB audio interface (2nd hand will be fine) like a Focusrite Scarlett, SSL 2, MAudio etc. - $100-$200 - this plugs into your MacBook via USB without fuss.

Get a decent 2nd hand mic depending on your budget - Shure SM7s are great in the 3-400 range, if you can't afford that, a Shure SM87 is good, and at the lower end the standard SM 58 or 57 will work just fine.

Get some decent non-bass-hyped sounding headphones. Lower end MonoPrice ones will do the job. They are not the most accurate or pleasant to listen to music for a long time, with but are relatively flat and cost $25. If you want to go up from there, the Sennheiser HD 280s are standard studio tracking cans.

Learn how to use Garage Band - it is more than enough to do what you need. Learn how to compress and eq your voice. The built in plugins are very serviceable and if you want there are tons of incredible free AU compression/eq plugins - I personally love the Tokyo Dawn Labs ones.

Hope this helps. Have fun!

 

[DWPress]

+1 on what @AA63 just said. Apple make it easier than just about anyone to get started with what you want to do and there are gobs of instructional videos out there. I have no clue how USB mics are rated these days but it could potentially eliminate the audio interface. All depends on your needs and what you hope to accomplish.

 

[AA63]

+1 on what @AA63 just said. Apple make it easier than just about anyone to get started with what you want to do and there are gobs of instructional videos out there. I have no clue how USB mics are rated these days but it could potentially eliminate the audio interface. All depends on your needs and what you hope to accomplish.

I don't like USB mics + the interface serves as a good little hub + having a preamp and headphone amp with separate volume controls is more organized and organic to me. Too many wires going into my computer drives me mad - LOL.

 

[Titurel]

Probably the cheapest upgrade to your signal chain would be the addition a "pop-filter" or "gob-stopper." In addition to its obvious function, it will, when used sensibly, insure the distance between your mouth and the mic remains fairly constant. Just plant your nose an inch or so from the filter surface and go at it.

 

[Waxx]

Many podcasters with no audio engineering knowledge use or Adobe Podcast Studio or Dsecript. Both are easy to use and get good results without much engineering knowledge. It's not 100% but it does the job decent for tech noobs. Both are not free.

With a good daw and plugins (many are arround) you can do better, but it require skills to do that, that is true. But i think that would be your best bet.

For mic, many use the Rode PodMic USB, that is again very easy to use and does the job. But again, a pro audio mic with a good interface can do it better if you got the skills. But thousands of podcasts and voice overs are recorded with this mic and software setup with good results. If your technical skills are low, this may be a best solution for you.

And no, no condensor mic is needed, you can use a dynamic mic if the preamp (build in with the rode usb mic) is strong enough. The EV RE20 and the Shure SM7 are also very popular microphones in more professional settings, but they both need a preamp with a lot of clean gain to work right. The Rode Podmic USB has that build in.

 

[NoiseBoyJohn]

The steepest part of the learning curve for you is going to be learning how to use which ever software program you decide on. GarageBand on your MB Pro is perfectly fine for your needs and, as someone else pointed out, there are lots of "How To" videos for it on YouTube. If you think that you may want to grow beyond your initial voice-over work, then you may want to consider installing and learning how to use Reaper instead. It's "the" open source Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and you can find tons of helpful videos and forums for it on-line. However, Reaper is highly configurable and extremely flexible, so GarageBand is definitely the keep it simple solution.

Other than that, I'd suggest you start watching how-to videos on YouTube for recording "voice overs" as this is essentially what you are wanting to do. If you find some that you like, the vlogger might have details on their equipment setup which you can copy if they are not too expensive. Like any audio project, you can really go down the proverbial rabbit hole chasing gear so start out with a budget in mind and try to stick to it until you find out if home recording is something that you like doing.

 

[ruidito]

You'll have to decide for yourself if the microphone is good enough. It's all "links in a chain", starting with a good performance, good microphone placement, and a good mic. The equipment doesn't have to be crazy-expensive. You can get nearly professional results at home with the biggest limitation being the lack of a soundproof studio. (And, noise, both electrical and acoustic, is usually the biggest challenge.)

The most popular type of studio mic (used for vocals and almost everything) is a "large diaphragm cardioid condenser". They usually start at about $100 USD (and they can go way up from there).

If you don't use a USB mic you'll need an audio interface with XLR mic inputs. Pro stage/studio mics are not compatible with the inputs on regular soundcards or laptops. If you get an analog mic, I'd recommend against getting a dynamic mic. Dynamic mics have much lower output than condensers and sometimes that's an issue.

Usually you can only record from one USB mic at a time so if you want to use more than one mic you'll need analog mics and an audio interface or a mixer with USB for recording.

Microphones are normally sold where they sell musical instruments and sound and recording equipment... Places like Sweetwater Sound or Musician's Friend.

Your choice of recording software doesn't affect sound quality (assuming it's working properly). It just has to capture the digital audio stream and send it to your hard drive. Once you start adding effects (reverb, compression, EQ, etc.) the software makes a difference but that doesn't necessarily have to be expensive either.

Audacity is a popular audio editor and recording application. It's free and open source but it's NOT a "full DAW".
Most DAWs are not free. A full-DAW is better-easier for mixing but it's going to have a bigger learning curve.


Somebody has to wear the engineer's hat.

I started reading the replies, and yours is clear and easy to understand. Thank you so much!
What mic and interface would you recommend? I was looking at the Shure MV7 or the Audio-Technica AT2020 combined with an SSL2+ interface. Although I want to try my HyperX first to see if the result is acceptable and if I can save money (I'm currently in Argentina, and it's not just about buying the equipment, but also taxes and shipping). What do you recommend?

 

[ruidito]

Use your MacBook and Garage Band that is free.

Buy a simple 2 channel USB audio interface (2nd hand will be fine) like a Focusrite Scarlett, SSL 2, MAudio etc. - $100-$200 - this plugs into your MacBook via USB without fuss.

Get a decent 2nd hand mic depending on your budget - Shure SM7s are great in the 3-400 range, if you can't afford that, a Shure SM87 is good, and at the lower end the standard SM 58 or 57 will work just fine.

Get some decent non-bass-hyped sounding headphones. Lower end MonoPrice ones will do the job. They are not the most accurate or pleasant to listen to music for a long time, with but are relatively flat and cost $25. If you want to go up from there, the Sennheiser HD 280s are standard studio tracking cans.

Learn how to use Garage Band - it is more than enough to do what you need. Learn how to compress and eq your voice. The built in plugins are very serviceable and if you want there are tons of incredible free AU compression/eq plugins - I personally love the Tokyo Dawn Labs ones.

Hope this helps. Have fun!

Thank you so much for your advice.

Learn how to use Garage Band - it is more than enough to do what you need. Learn how to compress and eq your voice. The built in plugins are very serviceable and if you want there are tons of incredible free AU compression/eq plugins - I personally love the Tokyo Dawn Labs ones.

Is all of this free for GarageBand? Where can I download it?

 

[ruidito]

+1 on what @AA63 just said. Apple make it easier than just about anyone to get started with what you want to do and there are gobs of instructional videos out there. I have no clue how USB mics are rated these days but it could potentially eliminate the audio interface. All depends on your needs and what you hope to accomplish.

Thanks!

 

[ruidito]

I don't like USB mics + the interface serves as a good little hub + having a preamp and headphone amp with separate volume controls is more organized and organic to me. Too many wires going into my computer drives me mad - LOL.

Cable management is something to consider, for me too. Thank you.

 

[ruidito]

Probably the cheapest upgrade to your signal chain would be the addition a "pop-filter" or "gob-stopper." In addition to its obvious function, it will, when used sensibly, insure the distance between your mouth and the mic remains fairly constant. Just plant your nose an inch or so from the filter surface and go at it.

Great advice, thanks.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

I endorse the comments above. One thing I'd add is to record the backing track first. In a multi track recording app like Audacity (free, open source) you can play the backing track through headphones while you record the vocal. You'll have the option to mix the tracks after recording. I've done a fair amount of home recording with my vocals and acoustic guitar. Sometimes I have a bass track played on guitar as well as kazoo accompaniment. It's not hard to do one track at a time as long as you order the recordings. There is a fairly steep (little time required) learning curve involved.

 

[ruidito]

Many podcasters with no audio engineering knowledge use or Adobe Podcast Studio or Dsecript. Both are easy to use and get good results without much engineering knowledge. It's not 100% but it does the job decent for tech noobs. Both are not free.

With a good daw and plugins (many are arround) you can do better, but it require skills to do that, that is true. But i think that would be your best bet.

For mic, many use the Rode PodMic USB, that is again very easy to use and does the job. But again, a pro audio mic with a good interface can do it better if you got the skills. But thousands of podcasts and voice overs are recorded with this mic and software setup with good results. If your technical skills are low, this may be a best solution for you.

And no, no condensor mic is needed, you can use a dynamic mic if the preamp (build in with the rode usb mic) is strong enough. The EV RE20 and the Shure SM7 are also very popular microphones in more professional settings, but they both need a preamp with a lot of clean gain to work right. The Rode Podmic USB has that build in.

Thanks a lot.

And no, no condensor mic is needed, you can use a dynamic mic if the preamp (build in with the rode usb mic) is strong enough. The EV RE20 and the Shure SM7 are also very popular microphones in more professional settings, but they both need a preamp with a lot of clean gain to work right. The Rode Podmic USB has that build in.

Tenía entendido que el Shure SM7, al tener usb, ya viene con el preamplificador listo para usar. ¿Estás seguro de esto?

 

[ruidito]

Other than that, I'd suggest you start watching how-to videos on YouTube for recording "voice overs" as this is essentially what you are wanting to do.

Thanks a lot!!

 

[AA63]

Thank you so much for your advice.


Is all of this free for GarageBand? Where can I download it?

You're welcome, anytime.

Garage Band has a set of plugins already installed and they are decent.

Tokyo Dawn - > https://www.tokyodawn.net/tokyo-dawn-labs/

Go to the bottom of the page for the free ones. I suggest Nova (eq) and Kotelnikov (compressor) they are mastering quality goodness.

A

 

[ruidito]

Grab a FREE digital audio workstation like Ardour, and get it done.

You can add the backing tracks first and then sing to them. But if you want this to sound good it will take learning some things.

Ardour, free and open-source digital audio workstation | Ardour DAW

Ardour is a free and open-source digital audio workstation for Windows, macOS, and Linux

ardour.org

Thanks.

You're welcome, anytime.

Garage Band has a set of plugins already installed and they are decent.

Tokyo Dawn - > https://www.tokyodawn.net/tokyo-dawn-labs/

Go to the bottom of the page for the free ones. I suggest Nova (eq) and Kotelnikov (compressor) they are mastering quality goodness.

A

Stupid question I could Google, but I obviously prefer a human in this case: what function does a plugin offer in this case?

 

[ruidito]

Thank you so much. I won't be recording the background track myself; I'll be using tracks I download. I suppose I can still do it anyway, right?

I endorse the comments above. One thing I'd add is to record the backing track first. In a multi track recording app like Audacity (free, open source) you can play the backing track through headphones while you record the vocal. You'll have the option to mix the tracks after recording. I've done a fair amount of home recording with my vocals and acoustic guitar. Sometimes I have a bass track played on guitar as well as kazoo accompaniment. It's not hard to do one track at a time as long as you order the recordings. There is a fairly steep (little time required) learning curve involved.