Khassera Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 So if someone finds the Kazoo helpful, I might venture and recommend a vocal acoustic monitor while I'm at it. Don't just go out and buy one for whatever it costs, like 20+ usd or something. Grab a coke bottle or a large tub of something, in my case it was some sports supplements, and cut it into a curved shape you can place against your mouth and your ear. If you're a lazy POS and don't feel like cutting bottholes then you can grab your mama's plastic baking bowl and place it against your head like a telephone. I've found this to actually be worlds better than my tub-monitor. I like to think that whenever I need to move the monitor away from my head 'cause the sound is getting too loud I'm doing something wrong. I backtrack and try to hit the notes/tone with less force and more finesse. Your training will have a new dimension after this. Trust me. Just try it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvis Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 So if someone finds the Kazoo helpful, I might venture and recommend a vocal acoustic monitor while I'm at it. Don't just go out and buy one for whatever it costs, like 20+ usd or something. Grab a coke bottle or a large tub of something, in my case it was some sports supplements, and cut it into a curved shape you can place against your mouth and your ear. If you're a lazy POS and don't feel like cutting bottholes then you can grab your mama's plastic baking bowl and place it against your head like a telephone. I've found this to actually be worlds better than my tub-monitor. I like to think that whenever I need to move the monitor away from my head 'cause the sound is getting too loud I'm doing something wrong. I backtrack and try to hit the notes/tone with less force and more finesse. Your training will have a new dimension after this. Trust me. Just try it. Screenahoot or it didnt happen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gneetapp Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 So if someone finds the Kazoo helpful, I might venture and recommend a vocal acoustic monitor while I'm at it. Don't just go out and buy one for whatever it costs, like 20+ usd or something. Grab a coke bottle or a large tub of something, in my case it was some sports supplements, and cut it into a curved shape you can place against your mouth and your ear. If you're a lazy POS and don't feel like cutting bottholes then you can grab your mama's plastic baking bowl and place it against your head like a telephone. I've found this to actually be worlds better than my tub-monitor. I like to think that whenever I need to move the monitor away from my head 'cause the sound is getting too loud I'm doing something wrong. I backtrack and try to hit the notes/tone with less force and more finesse. Your training will have a new dimension after this. Trust me. Just try it. Hey Khassera, I saw one of these models on the internet and made my first personal acoustic monitor out of a fabrics softener. I was able to fit my microphone through the hole (after some work). So, now I'm using the microphone (unplugged) on the mic stand, with the acoustic monitor, while I practice with my guitar. I'm taking it for a test drive Friday at my band rehearsal. I'll try to post pictures this afternoon. It is amazing how my practice changed with this thing. Keep on rocking man! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khassera Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 Hey Khassera, I saw one of these models on the internet and made my first personal acoustic monitor out of a fabrics softener. I was able to fit my microphone through the hole (after some work). So, now I'm using the microphone (unplugged) on the mic stand, with the acoustic monitor, while I practice with my guitar. I'm taking it for a test drive Friday at my band rehearsal. I'll try to post pictures this afternoon. It is amazing how my practice changed with this thing. Keep on rocking man! That's awesome dude. And it helps control proximity on the mic stand. I hold the mic, 'cause every time I sing some mellower songs I drift away from the mic at some point. And I'm not even drunk! I should attach the baking bowl to my mic stand! That'd be TIGHT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gneetapp Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I would like to post here the link for one of the models I've found on the web, and based my DIY on, so the other people could get an idea of what we've been talking about. http://www.thevocalacousticmonitor.com My apologies Robert if this is not appropriate, as it is not my intention to infringe any rules. I'll try to post my DIY later in the day. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gneetapp Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 That's awesome dude. And it helps control proximity on the mic stand. I hold the mic, 'cause every time I sing some mellower songs I drift away from the mic at some point. And I'm not even drunk! I should attach the baking bowl to my mic stand! That'd be TIGHT! Exactly Khassera! Last night I was practicing with it in my acoustic room (aka the kitchen), with my guitar. Even though I was practicing some Bon Jovi, Skid Row, and Guns, my wife and kids, who were watching TV in the next room, told me that the volume I was singing was perfect, because they could hear what I was singing, but it was not loud enough to interfere with the TV. Great practice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvis Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Exactly Khassera! Last night I was practicing with it in my acoustic room (aka the kitchen), with my guitar. Even though I was practicing some Bon Jovi, Skid Row, and Guns, my wife and kids, who were watching TV in the next room, told me that the volume I was singing was perfect, because they could hear what I was singing, but it was not loud enough to interfere with the TV. Great practice! Does it actually reduces volume heard by others? Cuz i have problems singing at home Because of loudness. I might make one out of fabric softener :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackCee Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 lol I do not think people realize when you intentionally try to twang everyone in the vicinity can hear you xD probably neighbors too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDEW Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Does it actually reduces volume heard by others? Cuz i have problems singing at home Because of loudness. I might make one out of fabric softener It will reduce the volume because you will hear yourself and lower your volume so you do not blow out your own ears. This is a really good idea and just like the "Belt Box" also a good idea, it is just a shame that the original developers charge such a high price for something you can make yourself for pennies. They cut their own throats by putting such a high price on packaging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khassera Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 Does it actually reduces volume heard by others? Cuz i have problems singing at home Because of loudness. I might make one out of fabric softener Ohh, you didn't try it, did you?! *whap* :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvis Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Ohh you fucker, you didn't try it, did you?! *whap* Lol i actually forgot about it lawl.. now you reminded me and i already have my eye on almost empty bottle of fabric softner. But i did try smthig similar that i made with your i structions. Btw it didnt look as it should have lOl.. i didnt understand the instr clearly xD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gneetapp Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 lol I do not think people realize when you intentionally try to twang everyone in the vicinity can hear you xD probably neighbors too. That is sooooooo true! My mother-in-law lives on the next door, and she told us that she can hear me fine from her house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gneetapp Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Does it actually reduces volume heard by others? Cuz i have problems singing at home Because of loudness. I might make one out of fabric softener Oh that was a good one! I meant out of the fabrics softener bottle... eh eh eh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gneetapp Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Ok guys, I took a picture, and I got the file on my computer. Question is: how do I upload it to the Forum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gneetapp Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 It will reduce the volume because you will hear yourself and lower your volume so you do not blow out your own ears. This is a really good idea and just like the "Belt Box" also a good idea, it is just a shame that the original developers charge such a high price for something you can make yourself for pennies. They cut their own throats by putting such a high price on packaging. You get the idea MDEW. You actually decrease the volume you sing because you can hear yourself way better. I am already thinking about some improvements for version 2, such as longer size, so I can sing a bit further from the microphone, a digital recorder embedded with a SD card, and a cup holder for hot tea... LMAO Well, for the moment I guess I'll just make it longer... Oh! By the way! It works so well that I can use it even on my "deaf ear"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Robert Lunte Posted April 8, 2015 Administrator Share Posted April 8, 2015 Ok guys... I know the inventor of the VAM, and I have had about 5 of these things in my studio for about 6 years. I never use it. I personally don't really see the point, they seem a bit silly to me, but some people seem to feel it has a benefit for them... I don't know how, but thats not a mystery for me to spend time trying to understand. But if you feel it helps you to hear yourself better, then here you go. I just added it to The Vocal Gear Store. Vocal Acoustic Monitor - Click HERE Why anyone would bother making something out of a coke bottle, if you can spend $20 usd to have the real thing, is beyond me. If you feel you have to try this, just get the real thing. But like I said, I think the value is marginal. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Robert Lunte Posted April 8, 2015 Administrator Share Posted April 8, 2015 I would like to post here the link for one of the models I've found on the web, and based my DIY on, so the other people could get an idea of what we've been talking about. http://www.thevocalacousticmonitor.com My apologies Robert if this is not appropriate, as it is not my intention to infringe any rules. I'll try to post my DIY later in the day. Cheers This is ok. Byron, the inventor is a friend of mine... however I just added it to The Vocal Gear Store, its under accessories on the last page. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvis Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Oh that was a good one! I meant out of the fabrics softener bottle... eh eh eh Yeah i know lol read my comment below the quoted one xD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gneetapp Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Ok guys... I know the inventor of the VAM, and I have had about 5 of these things in my studio for about 6 years. I never use it. I personally don't really see the point, they seem a bit silly to me, but some people seem to feel it has a benefit for them... I don't know how, but thats not a mystery for me to spend time trying to understand. But if you feel it helps you to hear yourself better, then here you go. I just added it to The Vocal Gear Store. Vocal Acoustic Monitor - Click HERE Why anyone would bother making something out of a coke bottle, if you can spend $20 usd to have the real thing, is beyond me. If you feel you have to try this, just get the real thing. But like I said, I think the value is marginal. I agree with you about the effort to DIY x price of the VAM Robert. However, it gets way more expensive shipping overseas, plus all the import taxes. I feel the benefit of just putting my right hand on my ear to improve the acoustics when I practice. The problem is that I usually practice on my guitar. So a personal acoustic monitor (e.g. VAM) that you can attach to a mic stand, keeping your hands free, makes my practice so much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khassera Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 Why would you use it? To monitor yourself better without any gear. It's the same as cupping your ear. And it makes a huge difference in singing, to be able to produce a tonality with low volume, sounding exactly the same as it would with more volume. Vocal mass, is it? Decrease the mass and you increase agility. I don't really care what the science says since having tried it one single time I haven't ever not used it, and I hear the difference from the first try. I tend to chuck just about anything I don't "get," but I do tend to try my damnedest to understand stuff like this. And I'm still talking about my baking bowl, about self monitoring. Not about the actual trademarked VAM. The difference between the two doesn't justify the price difference to me. I'd rather just cup my ear, but I tryto avoid tension overall, and cupping my ear has me tensing more than loosely resting something echo-y against my head. [Why anyone would bother making something out of a coke bottle, if you can spend $20 usd to have the real thing, is beyond me.] Why would anyone spend 20 dollars on something they most likely already have is beyond me. Especially when it's something so simple as this. Don't people have any self-esteem? :D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gneetapp Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Hey guys, any suggestion on how to upload a picture from my computer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khassera Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 Hey guys, any suggestion on how to upload a picture from my computer? Stick it on your facebook account, open it in a new tab (open image in new tab) and copypaste the address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyL Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I've started working with my TASCAM DP 006 as a digital monitor: http://tascam.com/product/dp-006/ I like getting the benefit of hearing myself through headphones + hearing myself afterwards. The problem is that right now hearing myself with no monitoring is different compared to hearing myself with monitoring and both are different from the recorded result. Learned a lot the past few days by working with self monitoring though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khassera Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 I recall reading somewhere that self monitoring with headphones (closed ones) isn't the best option when it comes to singing. Something to do with how the resonance interferes with the singing since the ear/brain can't "equalize" while imagining the note (singing in tune -> singing at all) and hearing the sound out of the headphones. No doubt it depends a lot on the quality of the gear used. Edit: and of course it might be bull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyL Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I've just started experimenting, so I'll have to check how it sounds with other monitoring means. What I've learnt from the recordings is that I suffer from a bad trade off between trying to sound on pitch and how 'lively' I sound. When I just let go I might miss a note here and there but it sounds like singing. When I try to sing exactly on pitch while playing scales/song melodies myself I lose a lot of compression and get a sort of a tired nerdy drawl. Anyone ever faced this problem? is this question too off topic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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