Pinched mid-rangey vocal effect

[rickrock]

There's a vocal effect you hear often, a pinched, very mid range focused vocal, examples are Rob Thomas' voice during the verses in "Smooth", or Dave Edmunds old tune, "I hear you knockin', but you can't come in".

 

How do you get that sound live? Is it a resetting of the board's eq, or an external box of some sort, like a particular setting on the compressors? And if you just want it for one song, and need a foot switch, am I dreaming to think we could switch in and out of that sound without a sound man?

 

much obliged

 

rickrock

[IsildursBane]

Use a megaphone. (though I don't remember that in "Smooth")

 

-Dan.

[Craig Vecchione]

Quite simple with almost any EQ. Just cut highs and lows starting from the extreme ends until you get an approximation of the effect. Use about 500Hz as the 'center' or adjust the center for the exact effect.

[InACanProductions]

 

Originally posted by IsildursBane Use a megaphone. (though I don't remember that in "Smooth") -Dan.

 

 

+1 I work with bands that do this all the time, a SMALL megaphone will get that sound pretty spot on. Do pull away from the mic a touch with it though. I've noticed most guys throw the mic right into the horn of the megaphone because they can't hear themselves as well in the monitors when using it. I don't know what brands these bands are using. There was a thread about this about a year ago and there were a lot of good options floating around.

[where02190]

Yup, megaphone is exactly what that effect was in "Smooth", in the (I recall) last verse.

 

Radio Shack, Toys R Us, Walmart. Stay close to the mic.

[rickrock]

Thanks for the help, a megaphone, who'd a thunk it. Beats another $400 gadget

[Mogwix]

I hate this effect so much.

 

So typical of late 90's pop.

 

Seriously, it's not cool anymore.