BELOW. A RECORDING MADE TODAY, EVENTUALLY, ON THE SHURE MV5. ALWAYS BEST LISTENED THROUGH HEADPHONES…..OR LOUD.
Microphone choices of ‘which to use and for what’ has been a recent thought process. Vocals and instruments have different thought processes.
Today it was a test of trying out vocals. Focusing on an old vintage microphone and applying new technology to make it work. I own a Shure SM58 cardioid dynamic microphone I used in the 1970s. It has an XLR connection lead. It doesn’t fit into my new Apple Mac system. So I needed an adapter to make it work.
Do I pursue this. Or choose two modern microphone purchases. I recently bought the Shure MV88 and MV5 condenser microphones for the iPad and new Apple technology for the home studio recordings. Different connection leads. But were they as efficient as the old vintage perfect with decades upon decades of being viewed as an iconic masterpiece. I quickly found out that microphone choice becomes ‘horses for courses’.
Which is best for voice or instruments has been investigated for a while now. Today? I thought my enquiries were sorted. My old microphone needed a lead connection linking old style to new. Then it was to be all steam ahead.
Having bought a cheap, but effective, ‘interface’ piece of equipment to convert old style microphone connections to new technology I believed it was to be successful. It is. But, apparently, the reality is that the old cardioid dynamic microphones can pick up electrical AC interference. That….or something yet unknown that also affects suitability. An annoying audible ‘hum’ was in the background to my speech and vocals. When I was recording the standard and simple iconic ‘testing, testing 1-2-3’ voice check. I never noticed. Too excited of new ventures I suppose.
Following was the fun experience of attempting to sing, badly, the beautiful low gravelly vibe of Lee Marvin’s ‘Wanderin’ Star’ to high ‘Tiptoe through the Tulips’ Tiny Tim vocal ranges to test the low soft to harder sounds and frequencies. But problems on re-listening were suddenly found out to exist. Noise!. As said…’Hum’. Yes. A background annoying hhhhhhmmmmmm frequency. So I deleted those pretend dulcet Lee and Tiny Tim gritty to high warblings because of annoying interference. Then followed lots and lots more investigations of why it existed. A few hours later and still no solution.
I was, at first, vexed. Then calm. So I deleted the whole afternoon. Added a new project. Chose a GarageBand drum beat. Linked in the new MV5 microphone. Picked up the acoustic and played a chord sequence into it. Laid down a quick vocal of an old lyric with a new tune. Then made up a simple tune on the keyboard and played it in a chosen weird synth simple sound over the top. Afternoon wasted. Then? Half an hour later and a bit of a result.
There’s a million with shotguns
Pointing right between my eyes
They don’t seem to understand.
When it’s three in the morning
And ghosts keep calling me
Back to my past experience
I’m bleeding all over again
With my friends.
I’m glad that you and I exist.
Your wing tips brush kiss
My cheeks
I’m left feeling golden and at peace
No longer haunted
Or aching with the memories.
Forrest Gump’s mother/mama says ‘Stupid is as stupid does’. I suppose ‘Simple is as simple does’ is apt today too. I thought, having investigated, complications were overcome and life would all be straight forward. But currently, complications have a habit of liking my personality and come to visit by saying ‘Hello. Not quite finished with you yet’. I reckon they are going to show their faces quite often over the coming months.
Gray Summers 
o, Gray, that’s an achingly beautiful song. moving, haunting, and elegantly played. I can’t say enough how much I like it.
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Cheers cookie. I forgot to add the lyrics in the blog. Am about to type them out. A few weeks ago I had a chord sequence I was messing with amongst a bunch of make them up as you go alongs. Today, I chose a drum pattern off GarageBand, played the chord sequence of C, Am, Em to F and C with dropped index finger then to replaced index finger on the F and C, then added an old lyric to a new quickly made up tune to suit the chords. Then played a simple keyboard tune and found a nice synth sound to fill it out. I always listen to the drum beat as I am a bass player and weave in and out the drum patterns. Over half an hour, this little ditty happened.
I suppose I’m explaining this to you as a fellow songwriter as I want to explain how stuff happens in my head. I can’t begin to understand how your own amazing songs happen when you write. I suppose it is difficult to explain one’s own presented personal soul. The important part is whether we can at least get some of our musical ‘inner selves’ out there into the reality of being. Thanks for the words cookie. They are always a huge lift.
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Hey Gray, Nice song, very nostalgic or even lovesick. Chasing down the hmmmmm is a problem. Could be a worn connection, thin wire insolation, a loose wire. It goes on and on. But it is all progress. Let’s hope it is 2 steps forward and only 1 step back.
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The lyrics are bits from a few old thought outs for songs. They gelled okay though. So I’m pleased so far with its infancy of an idea. Vocal is too clean and sterile though. And no emotion. The instrument playing was a bit off the cuff too. But this is all the experimental bit of finding out stuff really. Need to get serious now concerning concentration on capturing getting down proper stuff.
I thought you may have technical insight Danny. I did read that the cardioid dynamic mics could suffer as you say. I bought a different connector today with a male XLR connector and a female port for the jack on the original design for the mic. Little idea for a first step. I did try a couple of electrical lead changes to get a ‘clean electricity’ source. No lamps, etc. connected on the extension. No joy. I will try other stuff, as you highlighted, bit by bit. Thing is Danny, the old 1970s mic sounds really, really decent. Richer depth to vocal sound. Thanks for your comment Danny.
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I imagine the 70s mic does has far more depth than a comparable modem mic. Not that the new stuff is bad, it simply lacks the depth, or warmth associated with analog. I felt the “off the cuff instruments” provided the emotion. Granted the vocals need emotion as well. But yes, the lyrics play well together, they tell a story. Excellent.
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The Shure SM58 is iconic for vocals. I think it was first built in the mid 1960s. Luckily I have a USA built one from the mid 1970s. The condenser mics capture every little sniffle in the immediate and distant surroundings. That’s why use of foam and insulation is important in a studio room.
When you are checking out how to use this high end technical stuff (well….for me it is) and get a vocal catch whilst experimenting, you simply sing in a normal way. If it were against a song recorded for mixing and releasing out to the world you would put your heart and soul into the finished article. It’s like testing a fountain pen works with ink choice and paper. Once it does have all the right tick boxes, you write your presented essay, job application, letter to a friend, poem to be framed, etc.
Cheers Danny. Grateful for your input as ever.
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Ah, after reading this (twice before having the time/situation to listen), I expected to hear the Tiny Tim and other voices! Ha! Much to my surprise that must have been what you deleted, Gray.
As for the song, wow! I think you have the seed or bud of something exquisite there!
The acoustic chord sequence and vocal fit so neatly together. The keyboard tied things together (I thought you said you didn’t play keyboards?), if not I sure found this impressive! Lovely sound, indeed.
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Thanks for reading over again Sheila.
After I isolated the voice recording away from a drum beat I put in to sing over, was when I could hear the ‘background hum’. So the mic was then a problem. I can’t recall what I was altering/changing with input buttons and volume knobs on both the interface box (bought to house the old XLR lead and jack plug) and the Akai keyboard.
Then it was reading on Google for answers. Electrical lead or main supply was mentioned. Amongst a ton of other stuff. Because all the messing about recordings of vocal nonsense over the drum beat had interference, I just deleted the GarageBand file of this vocal/drum experiment and started a new file. That was the Lee and Tiny Tim muck abouts. Other stuff was sung too! Bowie, Bolan, Beatles, etc. over a simple drum beat. It was fun.
Don’t know if you ever go on YouTube and listen to those ‘isolated bass and drums’, ‘guitars’ or ‘vocals’ uploads. I love listening to Paul and Ringo on the iconic albums. Fascinating stuff.
After the frustrations I just did this little simple ditty. I used a Shure MV5 which is used for lectures, presentations, podcasts, video recording, etc. It has a record guitar option too. A flat acceptance mic though. And picks up every tiny sound in the room. I am beginning to understand both the fantastic opportunities for quality sound alongside the problems and limitations of external equipment input quality with this project Sheila. The keyboards? One finger pressed on single notes and a made up little harmony tune. I have bought a book of piano chords now. So will have a look at adding a few little keyboard fillers.
I was chatting to both Steve and John over the last week. Mainly about isolation in my doing this project. It is very difficult to be honest. I’ve been watching ‘Pomplamoose music’ on YouTube. That is my past experience of how we achieved music. How I would still love to get songs together with this set up I have now. You ought to take a look at Pomplamoose Sheila. You would really enjoy their videos. They have short captures which show band interactions and also full songs. I believe they have been present on YouTube for about a decade. The early starting up situations are priceless. Cheers Sheila.
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Great info about Pomplamoose, Gray. I’ll look them up. Sounds like all of your experimentation is paying off though—even alone. And I do get it that it’s different and in some ways more difficult to create on your own than jamming with a band. Richard always asks if I want to try and come up with the vocal melody but often he has to rough it out because I don’t know how he wants the phrasing. FYI he just ordered a new MacBook pro and new guitar (when last one fell apart when he attempted to restring it). We shall see what he puts together when the laptop arrives.
I have watched some of the YouTube videos of isolated tracks but get bored with them.
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It’s a bit of a haul finding how to overcome the technical unlooked for barriers. But, as you say, I’m getting there. The MacBook Pro will be ideal for recording Richard’s songs. With the GarageBand (free) or Logic Pro (about £200) systems it offers so much to begin this home music recording. You ought to sing. It would be fantastic for your soul. I have a feeling you will like Pomplamoose for their vibe. Cheers Sheila.
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Great suggestion about Logic Pro. I already know Richard doesn’t care for GarageBand.
I have sung some but have to be in the mood I guess. And it’s much easier once I know the melody, phrasing, and such.
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I love this better than current pop culture. A lot moreee actually
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Thank you for your great comment. Much appreciated. Still have a long way to go with learning how to record my songs properly though. Hopefully by October or November I will have a few full songs completed. All the best.
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