Getting a better tone: Should I use a compressor?

Hey this is my first post in the singers section.

I'm a singer/guitarist, and I find that because my vocals range from clean to scream, that I end up getting this ugly "maxed out" sort of sound when I'm screaming into the mic. I'm not sure where that's getting introduced, although I'm thinking it might be the cheap mic, or the crap speakers. I have tried backing away from it a little in the louder parts, but i like to head bang while i play, so i find that I end up too close or too far away from the mic.

This leads me to a couple questions:

Will a compressor help with the maxed out thing?

Are there headset mics that don't look/sound like crap? I haven't found one yet, and it's not too common for anyone in the heavier genres to have one afaik.

One more thing, I'm thinking of buying a powered speaker to use for practice with drummers, is there a cheap one that won't sound like pure garbage or blow out when I'm trying to get my vocals/guitar above the drums through my mixing board? I was using a pair of 12's hooked through a home stereo amp for a practice PA, but i blew out both speakers the first time we rocked out hard in practice.

oops forgot to ask. is there a cheap way to get vocal compression live? I can simulate it for PC recording with audacity, but I'm sorta stuck for as to how to get that same effect for cheap on PA. In my old band, we always had a dedicated sound guy, and setup for gigs was always pretty straight forward for us, just set up our gear, and the sound guy would take care of the mix/EQ/effects and mic'ing everything. I'm kicking myself for not picking his brain now.

Mic technique is what you should be concerned with, not compression or eq. That stuff is useful, but without proper mic technique, it won't really help.

Backing off on louder parts is ideal, if you are concerned with the vocals, focus less on head banging, and more on that.

Headsets...let me guess, you can't hear yourself because the band is too loud?

At practice, sing with headphones. Be sure to get one's that block some of hte outside volume so you don't crank them so high you go deaf.

Once you can hear yourself, then it becomes easier to work on mic technique.

At shows...especially bar gigs, 90% of the time I can only hear myself through the mains. From that point of view it's all muscle memory and time invested to know when I am singing the parts right.

You might also try singing without playing along with the band. See if you can correct the breakup with mic technique.

IMHO, you may not really need compression or eq, you probably just need more practice. NO offense intended.

Thanks for the advice!

I like head banging though

I will for sure have to practice mic technique I guess, and back-burner the headbanging until i get a guitarist who can play my chops (although I'd settle for a decent guitarist who practices as much as i do).. As for headset. I just meant a hands free mic, I can't hear myself over the band at all though, which is why i want a powered speaker to connect my soundboard to..

I use a 2000W power amp, two mains and a monitor. But even then, the clarity of headphones is way better. Especially when you are developing your vocal ability.

Just my 2 cents.

I'm afraid you're up against a fundamental law of physics: You cannot headbang off and on to the mic while you're singing and maintain anything like an even vocal sound. Can't be done, even with compression.

I've seen lots of hard rock/punk/metal singers perform, and I can't recall ever seeing someone move like that while singing. Save those moves for the instrumental passages; while you're singing you can make funny faces...will that do?

Seriously, switching between deranged twitching (or whatever) while you're playing and deranged facial contortions while you're singing will add a nice diversity to your act!

I'm afraid you're up against a fundamental law of physics: You cannot headbang off and on to the mic while you're singing and maintain anything like an even vocal sound. Can't be done, even with compression. I've seen lots of hard rock/punk/metal singers perform, and I can't recall ever seeing someone move like that while singing . Save those moves for the instrumental passages; while you're singing you can make funny faces...will that do? Seriously, switching between deranged twitching (or whatever) while you're playing and deranged facial contortions while you're singing will add a nice diversity to your act!

Jack, after your comment, I went and checked out some slipknot/Lamb of god and other random live music clips, I never noticed that no one head bangs while singing. haha it's more like in between verses. Good Call

Don't fear the compressor, it does not replace good singing but you're never likely to hear a recording since the 70's that doesn't use it.

Sometimes it's nice to perform without one , but I wouldn't go so far as to remove it from the rack.

Well I'm new to the gear, I just started using a microphone when I realized that my town has a low number of dedicated musicians. I'm sure that there are better singers out there, but no one in my immediate circle is willing to take the role so I got stuck with it.

So to extend my original query, does anyone know any good reference articles that would explain how to use effects? I have access to a copy of Propeller Head's Reason, which can emulate a whole bunch of rack effects, but i don't really know how to use them.

What would be even more awesome would be to find a sound guy who could teach me, but I guess that could be difficult.

Anyway, sorry if that seems all over the place. need to grab a coffee

forget the sound guy and concentrate on learning to sing before u try to bury yourself in outboard gear... good grief man! and most decent places their gonna tell u to turn down anyway... even an outside gig you can only play so loud.

loud is not the key... if u are a student i would suggest trying as a minor if u already have your major, "music ed."

if u cant hear yourself at practice and you're blowing out equip. i would suggest u turn it down no matter what kind of music u play... u go to concerts and think you're gonna be able to play that loud locally.. i think not.

i would sugesst getting a mackie 808 and a pair of speakers with 400w rms/800wpeak specs and any mic that will cover either 20hz-20khz, or 50hz-15khz as most people cant cover the whole spectrum but they're covered if they can.

and turn down at practice!! *laffs* so many people have the wrong idea what practice even is all about... good luck!

Mackie powered speakers aren't a bad way to go. Even one or two Behringer b412dsp or B415dsp speakers aren't too bad. I just got a set of the B412dsp on ebay for 329.00 each. I use em as monitors, but They could even be used as mains with a subwoofer for alot of shows. Behringer is pretty much the bottom of the totem pole, so I wouldn't go any lower quality then that. Get yourself a good mic. I prefer Shure SM58's for their quality and lower price availability. Then a simple mixer. Worry about effects last. And most important SING! Sing all the time, sing in the shower, sing in the car, sing at work. Work on breathing technique and listen to how your mic and equipment reacts to your voice. A good singer knows exactly how his mic reacts to how and where he is singing. Play around with angles of the mic, and distances. You will get different tones depending on how you use the mic. Learn your own effects with your voice before trying to add a bunch of effects. I used to go down to the basement and scream for several hours a day annoying the hell outta my roomates, but thats what improves the tones of your screams, and gives you range, so your not just growling into a mic, but rather adding some method to the meyham. Just be careful not to blow a vocal chord. Singing should never hurt. It's alot like working out. You tear your muscles, and they bounce back stronger, but don't over do it or you will pull a muscle. Once you do get to the effects stage you will need a mixer. Some powered mixers have built in effects, but they never seem to be all that great. Most use rack mount effects processers with a line out from the mixer looped through the effects processer back to the mixing board. Then you add the amount of effect you want in the mix. They also make vocal pedals like the Vocal 300, or the Voicelive 1 & 2. Both pedals are relatively inexpensive, and get the job done. The vocal 300 is a bit more tricky to get sounding good with minimal feedback, but with a small amount of research and some tweaking it works. I don't recommend using a home stereo unit for vocals, or really anything related to what your doing. They just aren't built for what your trying to accomplish.