"ProTool"ing a voice?

[TRAGChick]

What does that mean?

Does it go beyond "pitch-corrector"(:roll: ) and things like echo, reverb, chorus effects, etc.?

Do tell.

[*Laura]

Here's something that may give you some real good answers.


Pro Tools - Better Vocal Sounds

Vocal Fixes

[AlienC]

What does that mean?

Does it go beyond "pitch-corrector"(:roll: ) and things like echo, reverb, chorus effects, etc.?

Do tell.

While those descriptions of recording techniques are accurate, the adverb "Pro-Tooling" or "to Pro-Tool" is really more of a catch-all.

THE ONLY THING that Pro-Tools really is is a brand name of digital recording software, nothing more. It is a trademarked name and using it improperly serves no purpose except to obfuscate actual intent.

To say something was "pro-tooled" leaves more questions than it answers. Whilst the creativity of the engineer may be enhanced through it's non-linear, non- destructive editing features, because one has almost complete control of any aspect of any specific waveform, without identifying WHAT effect one has imparted upon the waveform, one is actually advancing ignorance rather than illucidation.

Vocal "Comping" is SP's actual claim to fame. Watching him assemble a vocal performance from a host of takes, and then LEARNING that line , note for note and inflection for inflection, leaves this engineer with the sense that no matter which technology one hangs one's creative hat upon, it still boils down to the "nut behind the wheel" as to the actual resulsts rendered.

No doubt Pro-Tools (tm) is a powerful recording medium, but without proper input, it will NEVER create a single note spontaneously.[/b]

[TRAGChick]

Here's something that may give you some real good answers.


Pro Tools - Better Vocal Sounds

Vocal Fixes

Shania ~ Thanks for the links.

But I had to stop reading the "Vocal Fixes" article....my head was going to explode.

IMO, this goes back to my "artistic integrity" point about the Tapegate thing last Summer....do you want "soulless perfection", or "human emotionalism and close to near-perfection"?

I'll choose "B", thank you very much

I did a demo a few years ago of Faith Hill's song "Breathe"...1st and 2nd verse, and Chorus...on the chorus ("I can hear you breathe / watchin' over me / suddenly I'm melting into you..." etc.) I sang the 3-part harmony double-tracked - meaning, I sang each harmony line 2 times; when you heard the final product, it sounded like "six of me".

I had a pro musician (after he listened to it) ask me what Program I used for the Chorus. I had NO IDEA what he meant! I said, "What do you mean, a program? That's all ME." He seemed genuinely SURPRISED that I went thru ALL THE TROUBLE of recording all the tracks MYSELF, instead of putting it thru some sort of "harmony processor(?)" (I GUESS that's what it is )

Hey, GENERATIONS of Musicians did all the work themselves....if you know WHAT YOU'RE DOING, it takes NO TIME AT ALL!!!!

[Arkansas]

I always thought it was interesting why on the Generations album, the recording was done on analog tape, but then SA's vocals were xfer'd to ProTools. There was never a good reason stated. In fact, it only came out during the discussion of the 'bad punch' in the opening on 'Butterfly'. (Btw, diss that track if you want, but I absolutely love that song, and still think it'd made a great single, a movie track, and a great live song.)

Not trying to start of firefight over SA's vocal performances here. Just speculating that the xfer from tape to PT may have been to fix a few problems at the time...and I wonder what those problems and/or enhancements were.


later~

[TRAGChick]

What does that mean?

Does it go beyond "pitch-corrector"(:roll: ) and things like echo, reverb, chorus effects, etc.?

Do tell.

While those descriptions of recording techniques are accurate, the adverb "Pro-Tooling" or "to Pro-Tool" is really more of a catch-all.

THE ONLY THING that Pro-Tools really is is a brand name of digital recording software, nothing more. It is a trademarked name and using it improperly serves no purpose except to obfuscate actual intent.

To say something was "pro-tooled" leaves more questions than it answers. Whilst the creativity of the engineer may be enhanced through it's non-linear, non- destructive editing features, because one has almost complete control of any aspect of any specific waveform, without identifying WHAT effect one has imparted upon the waveform, one is actually advancing ignorance rather than illucidation.

Vocal "Comping" is SP's actual claim to fame. Watching him assemble a vocal performance from a host of takes, and then LEARNING that line , note for note and inflection for inflection, leaves this engineer with the sense that no matter which technology one hangs one's creative hat upon, it still boils down to the "nut behind the wheel" as to the actual resulsts rendered.

No doubt Pro-Tools (tm) is a powerful recording medium, but without proper input, it will NEVER create a single note spontaneously.[/b]

See, ya learn somethin' new every day

That's why I admire Steve as a Singer....he goes the extra mile for a Vocal line.

Thanx for all your info. I appreciate it.

[ForceInfinity]

AlienC. Now there's a name I've not seen around in an eternity (I'm presuming the same one from the BT fame). Anyways, back to the thread at hand.

It's funny how some people make out Protools to be god's gift to vocals, but I'll tell you what. No amount of protooling in the world is ever going to make my singing voice sound decent. At some point no matter how protool you get, you have to have some ability behind it otherwise there's no point

[Jeremey]

ProTools has also become synonymous with a certain type of affected sound on a vocal. It's a minimal pitch correction sound with a bit of chorus & delay. I've never screwed around with the program, but pretty much if you want to have a song on country radio or pop radio (or be one of those 3 guitar chord Green Day wannabe bands), you better use that effect on the vocal.

[StyxCollector]

The Antares AutoTune plugin has a "sound" to it, which is what a lot of people are referring to.

[TRAGChick]

ARGH

I used GarageBand to isolate the multi-voice Chorus thing I did ....it's saved as an "mp3.band".

How do I change it to just an mp3 so I can put it on YouSendIt? It won't take it with the ".band" at the end...but that's the only way I can play what I edited. HELP!

[JeremyP]

I've never used GarageBand so I'm not sure exactly what might help, but have you tried renaming the extentsion to .mp3?

[TRAGChick]

I've never used GarageBand so I'm not sure exactly what might help, but have you tried renaming the extentsion to .mp3?

Yeah....but it plays the whole DEMO, not my editing.

[JeremyP]

Hmmm. This website says you have to export the file to itunes and then convert it to mp3 from there.

http://www.thegaragedoor.com/setup/import.html

I wonder why they make you go through itunes.

[Jeremey]

Hey Nora, I've never used Garageband, but in programs like Vegas and Sonar, the program files are the skeleton of the audio, and then they have to be rendered into a listen-able format, like an .mp3 or .wav. Is there anyway in Garageband to select or highlight the audio you want to render as an .mp3, then any command under the FILE menu that resembles render, or convert, or export? That would be a good place to start - But I am unfamiliar with the program, so you may already know about that...

[TRAGChick]

Hey Nora, I've never used Garageband, but in programs like Vegas and Sonar, the program files are the skeleton of the audio, and then they have to be rendered into a listen-able format, like an .mp3 or .wav. Is there anyway in Garageband to select or highlight the audio you want to render as an .mp3, then any command under the FILE menu that resembles render, or convert, or export? That would be a good place to start - But I am unfamiliar with the program, so you may already know about that...

YES!!

Thank you so much, Jeremey!!

Here's the Chorus to "Breathe" that I mentioned before, if you're interested:

http://download.yousendit.com/3810B31F765691D5

[Blueskies]

Wow! You sound great Nora!....Since I cant find that old thread I made and the downloads have long since expired.....and there are new posters coming in....I think I'll start a new one. ( u know what I'm talking about ) get something ready to put something up if u have it!

[JeremyP]

Great job Nora. It's extremely cool how accurate you are with those harmonies. I have a lot of trouble starting and ending at exactly the same time when I'm doing guitar harmonies.

[AlienC]

The Antares AutoTune plugin has a "sound" to it, which is what a lot of people are referring to.

As does the actual rack unit. It is a staple in many a sound companiesn rack.

[ArnelRox]

Here's the Chorus to "Breathe" that I mentioned before, if you're interested:

http://download.yousendit.com/3810B31F765691D5

Holy cow! Awesome job Nora. Can u upload the whole song? I'd love to hear ur version. U have a very pretty voice.

[bionic]

What does that mean?

Does it go beyond "pitch-corrector"(:roll: ) and things like echo, reverb, chorus effects, etc.?

Do tell.

I belive it not only corrects pitch but includes reverb etc,Joe Elliot of Def Leppard used it big time on Hysteria! Unfortunatley if over used it does present problems when you have to do it live.Technology ia a wonderful thing i belive but to much loses the soul of the singer,until it gets to the point that it is more computor than aa real voice.
I dont mind a singer not being as good as the studio i can still respect what he can achieve in a live setting,thats why the whole Augeri situation disgusts me so much