If you would like to improve your singing and don't know who to ask, this is the place to ask! Ask questions regarding improving singing.

Also, if you have any questions regarding recording clips on your computer, feel free to ask here for advices and answers.

CHECK HERE FIRST BEFORE ASKING ANY NEW QUESTIONS:
List of Singing and Recording Tips/Advices

From appledapple:

Okay, is it normal for some people to have voices that makes them have like a stuffy nose? You know...like BoA? (No offense)

How can you get rid of that problem?

^Not only is it normal, but the "stuffiness" varies from person to person ^^ I know that when I started out, I sounded extremely stuffier than I do now. I'm not sure how to reduce it, but maybe consciously try to breathe more through BOTH your nose and your mouth. I think BoA sounds stuffy toward her high/loud notes because it's easier to reach a falsetto with added nasally-ness? x__x; I can't really explain that well...

Before you ask questions about CEP or AA, please read this.

Tutorials. by me.

The reason some people sound stuffy (or nasal, I'm assuming) is that they're not resonating in their sinuses. It's why you sound kinda bad when you have a cold; you sound dull and nasal because your voice isn't resonating properly in your sinuses.

To fix it, you just have to relax yourself, breathe right (via your diaphragm~!), and try not to tense up when you sing. Dropping and relaxing your jaw helps too. ^^

could you post that up as a permanent download so people can access it any time they wish? If you do, I'll post that link on the first message of this thread for easy access.

i sound like that too

^amy u're tone of voice and the way u sing is very unique.. i like it

I have no hosting space.

I uploaded it on SaveFile. I might upload it onto MegaUpload and stuff if people want it
http://www.savefile.com/files/2500203

i have no no no idea how the hell I'm meant to rap in japanese. argh! :'( someone help?

If someone can, could there be mixing tutorials? I really need those, thanks in advance!

Japanese people talk fast in the first place, to RAP is just a little faster for them I bet. Talking with a rhythm.
No one can really help you, you just need to practice, practice, practice!

god dammit... all that help i posted over like the last 2 years is all gone... lol i didn't even save it on this computer... never really thot soompi would ever get totally wiped out oo well... i'll try to help as i can ^^

yeah.. try M-Flo(for guys) or Bennie K(for gals) raps, it's fun and easy to learn ^^

Does your microphone recording sound like it's picking up only one channel/it sounds like coming from one side? A fault in the setup of most computer integrated audio boards is the problem.

This can be fixed by going to windows recording mixer and sliding the fade up and down to a new level and re-recording.

Does your recording have unnecessary echos or reverb?

This is caused by your on board computer DSP (Digital Signal Processing) adding it's own algorithms for voice enhancement. A quick browse in your DSP software should allow to disable it.

Does anyone know how to make a song umm... at a higher key ?

The song I have is too low for us to sing so I was wondering if I could make the key higher.

You can do it but it would probably ruin the quality. It'd make it sound funny in some parts.

there is a program called "Bestpractice" that you could use and if you have mixing programs like Adobe and Goldwave (not sure), you can change the pitch of the songs with them.

changing the pitch of the song often will introduce artifacts as your plug in tries to recompensate for the audio difference.

There is a program to do it but I ahven't located it yet.

does anyone have a wav to mp3 converter? and where can you get a site to just upload your songs on (not like soundlick) so you don't have to use yousendit?

how would you practice so you can hold a note on one pitch so its not quivering sounding?

What's a good type of mic for recording vocals?
I need something...not too pricey.

that question doesn't make sense. a good type of mic? or a good mic? What do you mean by not pricey? how do you plan on hooking it up to your computer?

do you have access to a piano or a keyboard? try doing scales and hold the note long, that way you have something to hear while you are working to keep your pitch the same while holding the note (this works better with the keyboard, actually). in addition, since the keyboard can hold the note to the same pitch, you'll have an easier time keeping the same pitch. and then try practicing without the piano. also, place your finger on your larynx (its that thing that moves when you swallow or the adam's apple for a guy) and make sure it doesnt move upwards when you are holding the pitch. and make sure you breathe through your tummy (best way to do this is through your nose). i hope this helps

Hmmm.. I'm not sure if this applies to singing directly... but I did know anywhere else I could put it...

sorry if this is the wrong place:

I am really interested in composing my own music and singing it.

Is it possible if I had a keyboard that could connect to my computer, I could record my songs and singing on the computer and edit them?

Yep. That's the technology these days...

hahaha you crack me up!

davidddddd! (hmaster) what settings do you apply to harmony vocals? i tried the suggestion you gave to lisa from the old thread before soompi crashed but the effect wasn't really what i wanted.

i'd prefer the settings for when you do a vocal cut you can still hear the harmonizing pretty clearly so that it sounds full and "coming from all areas of the headphone/stereo." does that make sense? examples would be namie's bg vocals or mariah carey bg vocals lol

how do I change my recorded files from wav to mp3? I cant upload them on my soundclick because they are not in mp3 format. TT.TT

^ I'm pretty sure you need a program to do that. My recording program does that for me. If yours doesn't/you don't find one that can [?], I suggest you find a converting program. x:. Sorry. I'll wait for someone who has more background from this.

There's a converter called DBPowerAMP. I used it when I made AMVs XD
But what do you use to record? Just sound recorder or what?
If you use another recording program, google up "Lame mp3" and copy the files onto your computer. Its the mp3 encoder so you can save stuff as mp3 ^^

Jus wonderin if anyone can help with making a voice louder on a recording, the background music overpowers the voice =.='
hehe also, how can we learn how to 'breathe' properly..like to hold our notes for longer...

^ What program do you use?

You need to amplify your voice; there is such functions in your general music recording softwares.

To hold your notes longer you would need to exercise your diaphragm daily doing short exercises. These including holding your breathe to collapsing your lungs (that sounds ouch but you should get the idea).
Usually from memory, holding goes for 8secs initially until you get better, and collapsing goes for 20secs duration. Increase both duration when you find 8 and 20 is easier and easier. Everything comes hard, so if you're thinking, argh, I can't be bothered doing those, then you ain't going to get better.

Thanks , Rai.

I just wanted to ask... how long it takes to develop vibratto? I'm fourteen right now and my voice is very plain because I don't have any vibratto and I'm just wondering when most of you got it >_< And whenever I try to sing high.. my voice always cracks o_O Should I just keep warming up everyday so my voice can get used to a higher register?

ru:

for that two things need to happen.

first you must make sure your final vox tracks are all in mono. The programs i use have options for mixing down to mono. make sure you finish ALL your effects procesing before mixing down to mono because most effects are meant to be used in stereo.

(organisation is important here because you'll have a lot of files really quickly.)

secondly, after organizing your files that way, records your backing vocals, keep them in stereo apply a chorus effect to them.

see if that helps. the idea is to keep the vocals mono, so it sounds like it's coming from the middle, and the chorus stereo so it sounds full and comes from the sides of the speakers. Also if it helps, try obtaining a stereo enhancer.

I hope that helps.

ok 2 questions, you experts here please help me out


how do you remove vocal in cool edit pro? and audacity *if you even can remove the vocal)


also i remeber there's a converting program called CDcovert or something. it converts wavs. m4as. blah blah to mp3s. can anyone find it?



THANKS A LOT IN ADVANCE

^ In cool edit pro, get the song you want in the edit window then go to the effects list.
It's in Filters > Center Channel Extractor.

How do you mix your singing clip and the instrumental on goldwave? I have a singing clip and an instrumental clip...I just want them to be together so the actual song is playing while I'm singing.

Thanks, I hope the question wasn't too vague or confusing. ;;

You can't play the instrumental as you record so what I used to do was sing with the song playing in another media player and then mix it in.
To mix it, you click on the clip, press ctrl+a then ctrl+c, then open up the instrumental and press ctrl+m.
You'll need to play around with the up and down arrows to get the timing right and use the green play button on the mixing window a lot, its very useful.

Learning the vibratto could take a few years to become acceptable in, or even just a few months. Regardless of the time length, it really comes down to the technique you are using to produce your vibrato, as there are forced vibrato techniques and natural techniques.

Warming up your voice although will help in the long run (definitely), it won't allow you to sing higher in register. You have to access your headvoice to sing higher. Otherwise you can start straining, building tension and start doing damage to your delicate vocal cords.



There is a program called "DBPowerAMP" which Rai-Rai has suggest earlier to others. I highly recommend this program too; been using it for years or so, and never let me down. And it's free and very small!

hehe @ sikkony thnx, i'll try dat holdin my breath thingy

@ Rai Rai, i'm usin adobe audition...

i tried amplifyin it n the centre channel extractor but it also amplifies the buzzin sound that comes with recordin, so yeh....maybe it's jus me who jus doesn't kno how to edit things properly ^-^'

if you can't do it naturally, try practicing it the french way: when you sing, press on your stomach. that's the motion for a deep vibrato-- and then do it without pushing.

Ohhh, thanks guys for the tips! How long would it take though for you to actually control the vibrato so it could sound "nice"? Because my voice has a TINY vibrato, but it just sounds like it's wavering.. like I have no breath.

edit//

BTW, how hard are you supposed to press on your stomache? And do I press it near my diaphragm (sp)? Cuz I don't hear a difference... T_T lol, sorry x_x

celestial_kasumi Look for something called Windows Recording Mixer I think in the menus. I think its under tools. There you can change the volume of your mic. If it's still not loud enough, go to edit and normalize to 100%.
Read Hmaster's tutorials, they are really handy.

Your spelling for diaphragm is correct.

Vibratos are really meant to be tiny waverings in your voice, not something that fluctuates like silly.
And you don't use your stomach or diaphragm to make vibratos. But it's how you train yourself to get a natural one (well I think that's the method taught for obtaining vibratos).
I just know, you don't use anything in your body to produce vibrato, it becomes natural. Anyone care to oppose my oppinion?



Yep, I just read after I posted this post and that sounds right to what I've known too. You press hard enough (usually it small jabs that can actually hurt lol) to give yourself a feel of what vibratos feels like. It's like small little hits with a clenched fist. Try not to wind yourself though! What you're trying to do is, introduce yourself the feeling of vibratos, and how it feels to allow pulsating air to hit into your soft palate. Well not hit, but you will feel something unique there.

EDIT2: Ok I've re-read my post. Not small hits, more like thumps.

Rai Rai hehe i found it yay \^-^/ thank you!!!

I need help. I need more air in me. any tips, anyone?

it's because i have to sing a kirei da. and i'm failing the phrasing. please help.

For the vibrato comment... >>;;;

It's REALLY REALLY REALLY bad to force vibrato by fluctuating your air flow with your stomach/diaphragm. It's incredibly unhealthy and it'll train you into a muscle memory that'll mess you up really bad. Vibrato, by nature, is a natural oscillation of the vocal chords that helps relieve stress on them. It has nothing to do with the diaphragm. If you force it, you can hurt yourself-- if you have no vibrato, or force yourself to sing with no vibrato, you can damage your vocal chords as well.

Hope that clears up a thing or two.