RapVerse.com Community - Samson CO1U Condensor Mic Tutorial

Okay...alot of people seem to have this mic...and people say that I have pretty good quality, so I'm going to post a tutorial. Many people have questions about it...so hopefully this will answer any questions.

First, before you read this entire thing, my quality with this EXACT process can be found on the tracks on my Soundclick.

www.soundclick.com/limitededitioncan

If you like how the quality sounds, and want yours to be so, continue reading. If you think it sounds like shit, then there is no point for you to read this.

NOTE: If you do not use Cool Edit Pro, or Adobe Audition, this tutorial is useless to you.

Okay...now, before you do ANYTHING with that brand new mic...go and download the software for it from the Samson website. That is an ABSOLUTE MUST. This way, you can change your mic's volume level, and low cut. Volume has a dramatic effect on vocals because it will determine how much of the vocal it will pick up. Low cut is not too much of a big deal...but it mainly eliminates low-end sounds such as pops and shit like that to give you a more crisp sound.

Okay. Now as soon as download the software and get it installed (NOTE: Everytime you unplug your mic or turn off your computer, you will have to load the software up and change the settings, as they reset), you have to set up your settings. Now, this will very on your voice, but my settings are at:

Mic Volume: 24 dB
Low Cut: 89

These settings give a pretty clear sound and a nice vocal presence. Now, for the fun stuff.

Load up cool edit. Now, if you have not been recording in mono in the past, it would most likely be a good idea to do so now. The CO1U focuses more on the left channel in a stereo setting. If you do not know how to change the channel settings, here it is:

In the Single Track Editor, click the following:

Options

Then Settings

Then the Multitrack tab

Then under Defaults, set your settings to the following:

Track Record: 16-Bit, Mono

Pre-Mixing: 32-Bit

Panning Mode: Equal-power Sine

You may have to restart Cool Edit after you do these things for the effects to take place.

Now, when you are done changing your channel settings to mono, it is time to record. Record your vocals, and then prepare to edit them. Nothing major...it should only take a minute or two, tops.

In the Single Track Editor, do the following:

Step 1:

Trim your vocals. This will eliminate all background noise round them, and this will make the editing process easier.

Step 2:

Click the following in this EXACT order:

Effects

Amplify

DynaMic Processing-

4:1, -24 Very Fast Attack

This compresses your vocals, therefore giving you a nice smooth sound.

Step 3:

Click the following in this EXACT order:

Effects

Amplify

DynaMic Processing

De-Esser (High S)

This will elimate uneccessary 'sss' sounds that sound like shit.

Step 4:

This part is optional...sometimes I use it, sometimes I don't. All depends on the kind of track I'm doing.

Click the following in this EXACT order:

Effects

Delay Effects

Reverb

Vocal- Natural Reverb

Step 5:

Now this part is tricky. Most people only use Noise Reduction at Levels from 1-5...I use mine at 99. It will be explained, no worries...

Click the following in this EXACT order:

Effects

Noise Reduction

Noise Reduction...

Get Profile from Selection

Noise Reduction Level at 99

Now, this is the hard pat...in the graph above, it shows a blue line. Click the Flat button. This will equal the line out to the center of the graph. Now, click on the left end of the line, and drag the box DOWN to 100%. Now, take the right side of line, and drag it DOWN to 97.6%.

This elimates any hiss, clicks, and other shit like that, WITHOUT making your vocals sound robotic.

And there you go. Your vocal waves should almsot look paralell with eachother, and it should sound nice, smooth, and clear.

Mixing all depends on you...I usally mix my vocals like so:

H- 6.4
M- 2.1
L- 0

And I pan my dubs to the Left about -25 dB.

And there you go.