Recording vs Live singing

[IamHo]

I believe that I can sing better during recording but bad during jamming? Does mic sound system have to do with this? Because last week when I jammed with my friends I couldn't even listen t o my own voice. All I can hear was the drums and the guitar. Any advice?

[Elvis]

This is a big problEm. Monitoring yourself is essential when jamming or gigging. You NEED to hear yourself otherwise you are done for. Try tweaking your PA system or stand in front of speaker so you can hear yoself. Also earplugs (those foamy stuff for loud noises) can help alot.

[Khassera]

Cup a hand to your ear.

[ronws]

TURN UP YOUR MONITOR. Did you manage to hear that? Unless it's already too loud. If it is, the band needs to lower their volume. And yes, they can do it. Or, Daddy Ron will make them do it. And they don't want that. Better that they turn it down themselves.

[VideoHere]

Tell them to play lower during the verses.  Professionals know this.

[Jeremy Mohler]

I've always been a better singer live in some respects.  While recording myself alone I will typically have more fine control over the dynamics and such but I usually don't have the adrenaline behind it to give me that extra "bite."  Anytime I'm injected into a live situation on stage suddenly a higher sense takes over and it's like my support instinctively holds me up to higher standards.  When that energy/excitement/nervousness is running through you there is no time to be anything but your best and that kind of incentive (for me personally anyway) typically makes my voice fuller and more aggressive.  

[Elvis]

I've always been a better singer live in some respects.  While recording myself alone I will typically have more fine control over the dynamics and such but I usually don't have the adrenaline behind it to give me that extra "bite."  Anytime I'm injected into a live situation on stage suddenly a higher sense takes over and it's like my support instinctively holds me up to higher standards.  When that energy/excitement/nervousness is running through you there is no time to be anything but your best and that kind of incentive (for me personally anyway) typically makes my voice fuller and more aggressive.  

 

Same. Only i never sang live but a few times i had time singing on some of my friends band rehearsal i kicked ass xD

[Jugulator]

I solve this problem using personal ear monitors or headphones. 

[Singingnewbie]

Considering the play in a loud volume, first of all protect your hearing so you can actually hear yourself in the future... not you but everyone in the band. You cant recover damage done to your ears and also you can get tinitus, a very annoying hiss/ringing that you wont be able to do anything about it. I would suggest softer playing (that way you can also work on dynamics, very important part!) or earplugs if they dont agree to play softer, battling decibels with a drummer and a guitarist, bad idea, you will lose voice or ears, or both! Learn to communicate as a band!

[joshual1]

HF In ear monitors is the solution.

 

On the contrary, i sing way better live than alone in a front of a mic lol. I need to have the energy of a live situation to be relaxed...

[IamHo]

I solve this problem using personal ear monitors or headphones. 

 

HF In ear monitors is the solution.

 

On the contrary, i sing way better live than alone in a front of a mic lol. I need to have the energy of a live situation to be relaxed...

I dont think IEM is cheap and I can't afford it.

[Singingnewbie]

If you make money from live shows or generally from music then i'd say to invest after you have tried one and it suits you.

[IamHo]

1) The other day I practiced with my band without the drummer I could listen to my own voice clearly and yesterday we practiced with the drummer and I couldn't listen to myself clearly and I was kinda like singing louder in order to hear myself and of course it was off key... is there nothing can be done when there's a drummer?

2) so I have a performance tomorrow in a bar... I've been told that if the stage has monitor and that will allow me to listen to my voice... is it true?

 

[Owen Korzec]

1. tell the drummer to play quieter

2. yes but you they may not turn it up loud enough unless you bug them about it. when you sound check, ask the sound guy to turn up your monitor and tell them it's good right at the point where you think it's TOO loud (once the band starts playing it will get loud, so you want your monitor loud too)

[Singingnewbie]

Im not an expert but thats what i would do, after talking to your bandmates fails (they are supposed to help you but anyway)

Protect your hearing and

Have a proper soundcheck, play the loudest parts setup everything and

Have the gain in your mic as high as possible, if its on a stand its fairly easy, if hold it and move around, you need to see at what positions it feedbacks and avoid them and

Maybe use a compressor pedal to gain some power and to avoid getting over the limit and

Good luck!

[ronws]

1) The other day I practiced with my band without the drummer I could listen to my own voice clearly and yesterday we practiced with the drummer and I couldn't listen to myself clearly and I was kinda like singing louder in order to hear myself and of course it was off key... is there nothing can be done when there's a drummer?

2) so I have a performance tomorrow in a bar... I've been told that if the stage has monitor and that will allow me to listen to my voice... is it true?

 

​And so you are still not monitoring in rehearsal? And refuse to turn up your monitoring elsewhere? I can't help if you are bound and determined to shoot yourself in the foot.

[MDEW]

     Use monitors.....The monitors should only have the voices going through them.  IF the monitors have the instruments going to them also TURN THE INSTRUMENTS DOWN on the monitor. Place the Monitor IN FRONT of you. Pointing TOWARDS YOU. The monitor should be oriented so that the speaker is pointed DIRECTLY at your head. Not behind you, Not to the side of you, not at your stomache.  If you still cannot hear yourself, have those ego driven guitar players turn their amps down and use the mixing board and the Pa system to carry the sound to the audience.

     Don't let that Ego driven guitar player statement offend any of you. I am also an Ego driven guitar player.......BUT I am also a singer and know the consequences of an amplifier turned up too loud.......Your drummer will Also start Banging those drums louder to hear himself and the sound level just keeps on building.

[ronws]

I would also add to choose a place for you and your monitor that keeps you from feeling overpowered by the drums. On a normal acoustic set of drums, there is no volume knob.

Also, on youtube, look up a guy named Scott Grove and his tips for rehearsal. Such as having everyone jacked into a mixer board. Have an electronic drum set jacked in. Everyone can wear headphones and not be overpowered.

Then, whoever is mixing levels, either bribe him or something to get your level right. In fact, there is a cheap mixer you can get on ebay that will do just that, different levels out on monitors. Or different levels coming in and balanced going out. I am sorry but these days, there is no reason for the singer to not be heard.