What is the most professional USB audio interface for vocal recording?!

[Synthman4]

I want to record and produce music in Cubase for selling on iTunes etc.
I have so many virtual instruments but I want to know what is the best audio interface for vocal recording?
Also, would an Aria valve mic be enough or would I have to buy I one of those £2000 Neumann jobs?!
Synthman

[Sam Spoons]

You definitely don't need a Neumann to record excellent 'release quality' vocals, nor a boutique preamp/interface. Give these* two articles a read then start thinking about the room you are going to record in. Getting that right will make far more difference than spending megabucks on the best preamps and mics.

* https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/pick-preamp

* https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/vocal-mics

[Music Wolf]

And of course what matters far more than the equipment, or the producer / engineer, is the quality of the vocalist and the material that they are going to perform.

If both of those are not up to scratch then, even with the best mic and pre-amp in the world, you aren't going to see many sales.

[Synthman4]

Why can't anyone give me a proper answer? My production skills are good enough now, but before I was using a Roland Rubix 24 for vocal recording. It just didn't seem powerful enough even when the indicator was high. Surely there are more powerful preamps than that that give a more powerful recording.

[Kwackman]

I was using a Roland Rubix 24 for vocal recording. It just didn't seem powerful enough even when the indicator was high. Surely there are more powerful preamps than that that give a more powerful recording.

The Roland Rubix's mic pre-amp (according to the spec on Roland's site) has 60dB of gain.
That should be more than enough for most microphones.

[MOF]

What microphone are you using now? The Aria has very good reviews as a vocal mic’.

[Sam Spoons]

I was using a Roland Rubix 24 for vocal recording. It just didn't seem powerful enough even when the indicator was high. Surely there are more powerful preamps than that that give a more powerful recording.

By a more 'powerful' preamp I guess you mean higher gain? Simply having more gain will not do what you are asking. More 'powerful' vocals come from many different factors but more preamp gain is not usually one of them.

[Synthman4]

A meant a louder, more powerful vocal input.
I use an Aria valve mic worth £900.

[Synthman4]

I can't understand that even today, when I make a harding pumping dance mix, the vocals are always too low or quiet and when I eq them or put more compression on, the vocals distort

[Drew Stephenson]

That's just a matter of gain structure within your mix and the production techniques you're applying.

[Synthman4]

If I turn the drums down, do I put more compression onto the drums or do I leave that for the mastering compression at the end?

[Sam Spoons]

From what you've said I don't think the problem is with you mic or preamp but related to how you process the vocals after recording them. You also seem to misunderstand the basic principles of gain structure. Given that your genre is dance music I think you'd benefit from a one to one with Zukan (Eddie Bazil) of this parish. I believe he is able to conduct online lessons and I'm sure it would be money well spent. Drop him a PM.

[Chet Leeway]

Maybe this could help: https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques ... production

[Synthman4]

From what you've said I don't think the problem is with you mic or preamp but related to how you process the vocals after recording them. You also seem to misunderstand the basic principles of gain structure. Given that your genre is dance music I think you'd benefit from a one to one with Zukan (Eddie Bazil) of this parish. I believe he is able to conduct online lessons and I'm sure it would be money well spent. Drop him a PM.

Please post the link to this Eddie Brazil geezer.

[Sam Spoons]

https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=145773

I'm sure he'll be able to help.

[Synthman4]

What's the best vocal compression to use? The built in compression of the audio interface or the software compression?

[Dynamic Mike]

Perhaps the knowledge you seek is to be found in here https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... 42#p463451

[Synthman4]

I'm buying this one... Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII DUO

[Hugh Robjohns]

Why can't anyone give me a proper answer?

Maybe it's because you're not asking the right questions?

My production skills are good enough now, but... It just didn't seem powerful enough even when the indicator was high. Surely there are more powerful preamps than that that give a more powerful recording.

I fear your production skills still have a way to go -- at least when it comes to vocal recordings!

The perception of vocal power involves a lot more than just the peak level. I suspect the reason your vocals seem too quiet compared to your dance music arrangements is because they are not compressed adequately. Although it may also be an arrangement problem, or a performance issue...

[Synthman4]

Well I've decided to focus on emphasising the vocal track rather the pumping drum track. I'll have to turn down every other track in future and just apply more compression on the drums while being lower down in the mix.

[MOF]

Well I've decided to focus on emphasising the vocal track rather the pumping drum track. I'll have to turn down every other track in future and just apply more compression on the drums while being lower down in the mix.

Yes it's all about balance, and at different points in the song some things have to give to allow other elements to feature.
As others have said you really need to spend some time learning about gain structure and lay off the vocoder effects.

[duder]

When you say indicator, it sounds like you’re looking at the red/green
LED on the rubix and using that LED to set your gain. However, the recorded track is nowhere near loud enough within the track (small waveform). Maybe not? If so, I’ve noticed the indicator is somewhat conservative, may want to look at the levels in the daw when setting the gain for whatever your max volume will be.

Also you can use an EQ or compressor (as others have pointed out) to boost the overall gain in the channel (if it’s low)