HELP: Recording Vocals Quality sounds Muddy/Not impressive

[iutae]

Hi guys, i'm currently using a AT2035, being powered by a audiobox usb to my computer, recording in garageband.

However i realized the mic only works (records louder) when i turn up the knob on my audiobox usb to full (10db). Also, it does not seem to sound very impressive or even worse off as compared to the AT2020. Am i doing something wrong here? My mic is primarily for recording vocals and i hope to achieve youtube standard?

Thanks!

 

[MrMmusictech]

well, you can try playing with some compressions, gates and EQs on garageband.
you should be fine after that since you're using an interface instead of your in built computer soundcard.

 

[iutae]

hi there, thanks for the reply! or is there any other ways? perhaps not using garage band? or is the mic just not as good?

 

[MrMmusictech]

AT is a really good brand. if you feel that your mic is the problem them i suggest you change it.
if you're interested in making full songs then i really recommend Ableton Live. Its the best DAW I've ever worked with and it would be just the right thing for you since you're still learning. and beside, it's anytime better than a freeware like garageband. =)

 

[iutae]

I see, thanks! I doubt i can change it since it was not bought locally. A little disappointed now though but thanks for your advice!

 

[MrMmusictech]

no problem! glad i could help =)
please do check out my music and support me by liking my facebook page: www.facebook.com/solomedley
and subscribing to my youtube page as well: www.youtube.com/mrmmusictech
thank you very much

 

[iutae]

Alright thanks.

Hope others can share their expertise too, thanks! It doesn't only sound like bad on garage band but normal video recording, it sounds inferior as compared to a dslr mic or smth

 

[blueprintstudios]

1) make sure your +48V is on
2) AT2035, make sure your mic is NOT facing backwards. heh this may sound stupid but I myself + another guy have been guilty of it before. (I'm using a Rode NTK, the difference between back and front is a damn gold dot.)
3) try change USB port.
4) try another condensor mic, if problem persists, may be something wrong with your preamp.
6) if problem is ok with another mic, then your AT2035 may be screwed.
7) try both preamps. (audio box has 2 right?)
8) check xlr cable.
9) nothing to do with DAW. if you record/mix crap, it's crap even if you're using the most expensive protools/logic DAW. it's the user not the gear. unless the gear is faulty.
10) condensors should be sensitive enough without requiring to jack up preamp all the way to full unless you're recording a fly.

 

[Cheez]

Ditto on point no 9. Garbage in, garbage out (GIGO). You can only tweak that much on bad recordings. Everything else hangs on that point.

 

[kongwee]

Maybe the AT 2035 is faulty if you have AT 2020 on hand to compare. I thought of the -10pad, but then you should not push to the volume too high even it is switch on. To add on the xlr cable check, make sure the xlr cable head is fully insert into the condenser. A tiny bit off and result a big drop in signal gain.

 

[squarehero]

I think point 2) by Blueprint could be the most likely culprit. The cardioid pickup pattern would pick up less at the back compared to the front. This would explain the 10 db boost you need.

 

[iutae]

Thanks guys for the reply! Hmm, i the audio technica sign is in front so i don't think my mic would be facing backwards like what blueprintstudios has side. I'll try out all the pointers you guys gave to see if it gets better again.

I do not have a AT2020 on hand unfortunately but i compared it with people who uses this mic on youtube and i'm not getting this standard in terms of clarity and loudness?

Thanks everyone for your valuable comments though!

 

[blueprintstudios]

I do not have a AT2020 on hand unfortunately but i compared it with people who uses this mic on youtube and i'm not getting this standard in terms of clarity and loudness? <-- mixing. or some cameras have AGC . auto gain control

 

[squarehero]

iutae,
What you hear on youtube is most likely not a stock recording taken from the microphone without any editing or fx. Also, the room acoustics will also be different for different recordings. Condenser microphones tend to pick up more room. The recording chain i.e. preamp and converters may also be different.

You will also need to compress, EQ and verb to get a proper vocal done as some have mentioned here.