KVR Audio

braj · Post by **braj** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:39 pm

I am wondering how to record decent vocals even without decent gear. What freeware plugins should I grab? I have a cheap Samson USB mic, but I am running it using XLR to 1/4" through my trusty Line 6 Gearbox, it has only one 1/4" input, but I like the direct monitoring over the USB. I haven't A/B'd them, I don't really know if the USB is more balanced, I really don't understand mics well so any tutelage is appreciated. I am not planning on buying anything more for vocals since I can't sing anyway, not exactly my highest priority, but I'd like to make the most with what I have. I run the mic through POD Farm as a pre-amp before going into Reaper. Thanks in advance!

U-o · Post by **U-o** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 8:43 am

http://www.hometracked.com/2007/01/11/b ... l-plugins/

bpblog · Post by **bpblog** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:38 pm

here's one possible vocal FX chain (but there are so many possibilities out there):

AcquaVox or NebulaFree (coloring preamp)
SonEQ - coloring EQ
IIEQ - clean digital EQ to remove harsh frequencies
BLOCKFISH - nice compressor, great for vocals in opto mode
epicVerb - great free reverb
NastyDLA - great free delay, also suitable for doubling and chorusing

nineofkings · Post by **nineofkings** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:52 pm

I wouldn't reccomend Epicverb as an insert, as it uses too much CPU. I'd either use a send or a lower-resource plugin, like Omniverb.

IrionDaRonin · Post by **IrionDaRonin** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 2:08 pm

Or still better, FreeVerb 3 STrev single precision. One of the lowest CPU reverbs.

Good luck and have a good day

braj · Post by **braj** » Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:18 pm

Thanks people!

pattonfreak1 · Post by **pattonfreak1** » Wed Feb 15, 2012 8:14 pm

Look into terry wests vsts. He has a bunch specifically for vocals that'll save you a few vst slots

U-o · Post by **U-o** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:05 pm

Mildon Provoc vocal series plugins are also good choice for you. Not free but it's all you need for vocal processing.

skipscada · Post by **skipscada** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:22 pm

A de-esser could be an idea.

U-o · Post by **U-o** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:33 pm

Spitfish is the best (free) de-esser. Zero latency and easy to use.

LAGinz · Post by **LAGinz** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:29 pm

On my system Freeverb3 STREV soaks up a lot of CPU. For me the lowest CPU verbs are the regular Freeverb3, Freeverb Too, Omniverb and MVerb--all of which are pretty nice, One of my favs. (although technically not freeware) was the Wave Arts Masterverb LE. As part of a set called "Power Couple LE" it was freely bundled a few years ago with some Presonus and other hardware. Very nice, and extremely low CPU use,

gpunk · Post by **gpunk** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:11 am

If you are not using Reaper as your host, you could do a lot worse than grab the Cockos plugins (Free and all your bread and butter is here)

Mverb by Martin Eastwood is something of a secret weapon for a lot of people (Should be getting way more exposure)

Cool trick I have been using recently on people who are not the greatest singers (Me hahaha) is to run the send for the reverb through an EQ to pull out all the lows and then use a decimator to destroy the signal, now feed some of the dry signal back into that and verb it (Can give you an almost ghost like quality to the reverb that masks quite a lot of singers shortcomings)

Freeware vocal FX chain plugins and advice?