Live voice sounds different than recorded voice

[ToneGrail]

Every time I listen to the off-the-board recordings, my voice sounds totally different than my studio voice. It's way throatier and bassier. Could this be my live technique is flawed? I know that I tend to eat the microphone live because I often have trouble hearing myself. Could the reason be that I'm not using a hi-quality condenser mic live or that I sing differently with headphones on? I almost sound like two different people.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

[Cool Hand Luke]

Trouble hearing yourself is a recipe for singing with more volume than you would otherwise.

Singing live is a whole different ballgame than recording in the studio. In the studio you can whisper into the mike and make it cut through the mix no problem. Turn the mike up loud enough for a whisper to compete with the full band and you are probably going to run into feedback.

What you really need to be careful about is not hurting your voice when performing live. Trying sing loud with a lot of "air" is very bad for your voice, for instance.

[ToneGrail]

Maybe in-ear monitors would do the trick?

[Al Koehn]

Studio condenser mics are generally not good for live performance. Feedback is a big problem, and they are too sensitive to noise. If you are not hearing yourself well you are probably more concerned with that than with singing correctly- producing tone which has the proper amount of treble and high-mids. When we force our sound it tends to drop into the throat and get bassy and husky. (Think yelling at a football game) You must find ways to hear yourself more clearly in the mix. That's the main problem. Pay attention to the sound at rehearsals. If you are yelling there you're forming a strong habit which follows you to the stage, no matter how good the monitor system is. Also go to a good music store and try out a bunch of mics. There are some which equalize more high mids and treble in. Take your time and buy the right one. Finally, you say you tend to "eat" the mic when you perform. A lot of mics become much more bassy and muffled when you work them too close. Maybe a little more distance with more volume or treble from the sound mix. (Watch for feedback) A good voice teacher can help a lot. (Any suggestions out there for mics that sound brighter with more treble punch?)

Al

[orbm1]

Studio condenser mics are generally not good for live performance. Feedback is a big problem, and they are too sensitive to noise. If you are not hearing yourself well you are probably more concerned with that than with singing correctly- producing tone which has the proper amount of treble and high-mids. When we force our sound it tends to drop into the throat and get bassy and husky. (Think yelling at a football game) You must find ways to hear yourself more clearly in the mix. That's the main problem. Pay attention to the sound at rehearsals. If you are yelling there you're forming a strong habit which follows you to the stage, no matter how good the monitor system is. Also go to a good music store and try out a bunch of mics. There are some which equalize more high mids and treble in. Take your time and buy the right one. Finally, you say you tend to "eat" the mic when you perform. A lot of mics become much more bassy and muffled when you work them too close. Maybe a little more distance with more volume or treble from the sound mix. (Watch for feedback) A good voice teacher can help a lot. (Any suggestions out there for mics that sound brighter with more treble punch?)

Al

there are afew studio like condensers made for live use....

at2010, atm 710 (I use this one)... they will not make you sound better (in a way yes they will) but they will pick you natural voice better.....

Imho.

Omar :thu:

[micmike]

I think if my voice was sounding deeper and bassier I'd be happy!

My pitch is better in the studio, while I prefer my tone live. I don't know if you're playing guitar or not but mic technique is otherwise kinda important. When sound checking don't push to hard. Get that sound guy to turn you up! Then learn to move in and away from the mic. The more control you have the less you'll have to push and wear out your voice.

I always sing better the louder my voice is coming through, because I can hear when it's sucking!!

[Alter Ego]

I had this problem..
It does sound like a problem hearing yourself. as stated earlier this will cause to to sing louder and harder.

I did two things to help with this...
1. In-ear monitors,
2. switcher to condenser mic that made my vocals come trough clearer.

These really help but be prepared to spend some cash.

[MrKnobs]

Every time I listen to the off-the-board recordings, my voice sounds totally different than my studio voice. It's way throatier and bassier. Could this be my live technique is flawed? I know that I tend to eat the microphone live because I often have trouble hearing myself. Could the reason be that I'm not using a hi-quality condenser mic live or that I sing differently with headphones on? I almost sound like two different people.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

What you're describing sounds like the proximity effect from a cardioid (directional) microphone. Everyone sounds "throatier and bassier" when singing very close to a directional mike.

It's a simple matter to roll some of the low end off at the mixing board.

For that matter, you don't really know how your voice sounds live from a board tape. The guy who mixed it may have EQ'd it, and he was listening through different speakers than you are.

The only way to really know what you sounded like at a live show is to play a big outdoor venue and do a board tape, then listen after the show through the same system. That's as good as it gets.

So I don't think this is a technique issue, I don't think it's a monitoring issue, I think it's a non-issue.

Terry D.

[The Bard Rocks]

Well, there's another factor. When you sing, or talk, part of the noise that is produced you hear with your ears and part comes from inside the head. When you hear yourself recorded, you hear the way everybody else does - only with their ears. None of that echo rattling around inside your head, just what the audience hear. And no one likes that at first, because it isn't what you are used to hearing. .... Roland, "The Bard Rocks"