Slow, sparse songs allow the vocals to become the central focus of the recording, and that’s when the choice of microphone and mic preamp can make a big difference. Not many can afford a Neumann U47 (pictured) through a Neve channel, but even with a limited microphone/preamp arsenal, a lot that can be done to improve your vocals’ tone. There is a degree of enigmatic “chemistry” between some mic+preamp combos and some voices – to be discovered through trial and error – but here are a few simple tips that can help fix some common problems: 1. The distance of the mouth from the microphone is crucial: vocal mics feature the so called “proximity effect” which exaggerates low frequencies at close distance and reduces them progressively after a certain range. 8 inches from the mic is normally a good place to start, try closer for a warmer tone, farther for a tinnier one.... Click on the title for more