Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by Nick Sevilla » Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:45 pm

A.David.MacKinnon wrote:
Thu Apr 29, 2021 3:16 pm
Figure 8 with the null pointed at the guitar. There's a reason that a two figure 8 set-up is the go to for singer songwriter gigs. It's the best isolation you can get.
That right there, only if you absolutely cannot record the voice and guitar separately.

Otherwise, if you do not have the equipment everyone else on here has talked about, then record one scratch take with both guitar and vocal, and then re record both separately, beginning with a fresh guitar part, and then the vocal.

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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by vvv » Thu Apr 29, 2021 8:32 pm

FWIW, I put a condensor 2-3' out on the guitar, and a dynamic (I like a Beta58) 4-6" from my gob and go - I've not had that issue.

I usually record 'em separate but sometimes the vibe of the moment ...
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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by Mustang Martigan » Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:09 am

Magnetic Services wrote:
Mon Aug 17, 1970 2:33 am
Try doing spectral edits right on the spectrogram (in standalone mode or via RX Connect). You should be able to see exactly where the picking sound is, select that range throughout the entire track, and use simple gain reduction to minimize the picking. There's also a "Repair Assistant" which might help you out.

You could also try recording the picking noise with a dedicated mic and reversing the polarity so that it cancels out the noise in your vocal mic.
Reverse the polarity when recording, right? Where would be a good spot to place that dedicated guitar mic? I want the pick attack to be sound percussive...I throw in some moves, and naturally play a percussive style, but don't have any mic placement knowledge for the situation.

RX Elements is limited to 4 plugs (click, clip, hum, vocal noise) and the Assistant.

I would like to have an option to go to this vocal take, cuz sometimes I can never match the nuisances in my initial performance.

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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by digitaldrummer » Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:58 am

I find a lot of built-in guitar DI's a bit ice-pick sounding already. You might also just try reversing polarity on the vocal mic (or DI) to see if the combined mix (even if there is still bleed in the vocal mic) gets smoothed out a little bit.

since you are using a DI, YMMV if trying to setup another mic to cancel it out. instead you could try duplicating the guitar track, isolate the pick noise (meaning EQ the crap out of it so that's all you hear) on the dupe, then reverse polarity on that track and bring it up in the mix until the pick noise is less noticeable.

but that's a lot of extra work (and may or may not help) and just choosing a different mic, or isolating each part better from the beginning will make your life easier.
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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by Recycled_Brains » Fri Apr 30, 2021 6:59 am

Mustang Martigan wrote:
Thu Apr 29, 2021 12:59 pm
Recycled_Brains wrote:
Wed Apr 28, 2021 9:24 am

What mic are you using? Something like a 441 or SM7 probably wouldn't pick up as much picking.

Can you hear it in the mix, or just when the vocal is solo'd?
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Yes, it's in the mix and LOUD. I can here the entire riff as well, but it's the annoying, sometimes ear piercing, sound of the pick attack that kills me.
That makes sense. Definitely try something other than a condenser mic. I bet it'll be night and day.
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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by Scodiddly » Fri Apr 30, 2021 4:41 pm

digitaldrummer wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:58 am
since you are using a DI, YMMV if trying to setup another mic to cancel it out. instead you could try duplicating the guitar track, isolate the pick noise (meaning EQ the crap out of it so that's all you hear) on the dupe, then reverse polarity on that track and bring it up in the mix until the pick noise is less noticeable.
I would be very surprised if that worked.

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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by mwerden » Fri Apr 30, 2021 8:48 pm

I find that this is the type of problem exacerbated by consumer level stuff. I don't mean to be that guy, but a cheapish mic through a cheapish mic pre through a cheapish converter makes problems like this (brittle, attacky sounds) way worse. I'd personally be going after the mechanical fixes as opposed to the spectral editing and whatnot. And also thicker guitar picks might make the bleed sound more pleasing. Like purple tortex.
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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by The Scum » Fri Apr 30, 2021 11:04 pm

Felt picks?
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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by Nick Sevilla » Sat May 01, 2021 9:24 am

The Scum wrote:
Fri Apr 30, 2021 11:04 pm
Felt picks?
Or no pick. Fingers.
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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by digitaldrummer » Sat May 01, 2021 3:13 pm

Nick Sevilla wrote:
Sat May 01, 2021 9:24 am
Fingers.
better yet, use your toes. it will get the guitar further away from that microphone... :twisted:
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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by numberthirty » Sat May 01, 2021 4:28 pm

While I am really interested in if some of the workarounds will stick the landing...

If this whole "Pick Noise..." thing really had me by the throat?

Put some money into a moderately priced dynamic that is directional(Cardioid/Supercardioid...) Try it in the same position the vocal microphone is in now.

I'd imagine that it will almost entirely solve this "Pick Noise..." issue.

If it does?

There are quite a few dynamics will do a completely solid job on a vocal.

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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by losthighway » Sat May 01, 2021 5:49 pm

numberthirty wrote:
Sat May 01, 2021 4:28 pm
There are quite a few dynamics will do a completely solid job on a vocal.
Cue the millionth person stating their love for either the SM7, the RE20, or both...... cause yeah, they're cool.

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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by numberthirty » Sat May 01, 2021 6:18 pm

Uh, while they are Coke and Pepsi for a reason?

(Peavey 520/Beyderdynamic M88)

(Matter of fact, the M88 would be my bet to almost completely solve this problem...)

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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by vvv » Sat May 01, 2021 6:18 pm

Beta 58 is what I've been using for the vocals, no pick noise at all and I play hard.

EDIT: Oops, I just realized that I already posted that. :oops:
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Re: Isolating Vocals when Recording with DI Electric Guitar

Post by losthighway » Sun May 02, 2021 5:51 am

numberthirty wrote:
Sat May 01, 2021 6:18 pm
Uh, while they are Coke and Pepsi for a reason?

(Peavey 520/Beyderdynamic M88)

(Matter of fact, the M88 would be my bet to almost completely solve this problem...)
Shit, I forgot the inevitable suggestion that the slightly less popular M88 is as good, and in some applications possibly better.

I imagine this will still be true in the 22nd century and it brings me great comfort.

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