Vocal Exhaustion and Electronics Part 1

By Jeannie Deva


Q: �Our style of music ranges from rock to alternative to grunge and acoustic folk-rock. Usually, I'm vocally exhausted after the first set and push myself through the second set. The audience doesn't seem to notice but I sure do.� - S.A.

Though I would need to hear you to tell you exactly what is going on in your case specifically, here is a list of possibilities for you to look into and deal with accordingly.

1. Problem: The microphone you're using is not reproducing the nuances of your voice which causes it to sound different than it does when you hear yourself acoustically. All electronic reproduction, amplification or recording of the voice alters it slightly from its purely acoustic sound. Depending upon how it alters your voice, you may muscularly alter the way you sing.

Each brand of microphone is designed differently and can alter various qualities of your voice. Some have more power than others. Some emphasize treble over bass tones in the sound spectrum and make your voice sound bright or dark. If this is not the way you intend to sound, you will subconsciously try to compensate for that and so strain your vocal muscles.

Solution: Test out microphones at a music store that stocks a large variety of brands and buy the right one for your voice and performance situations. Bring a friend who is familiar with the sound of your voice to be an objective listener. When comparing each brand in the store, use the same PA ((P)ublic (A)ddress amplification system) and don't change the settings so that the only difference in sound will be due to the microphone.

2. Problem: Your PA is not giving you enough power, causing you to use exaggerated muscle energy to project your voice.

Solution: Speak with a pro-audio specialist at a reputable music equipment store. Tell them your performance situations, what type of PA you use and what you notice happening with your voice. Ask for equipment advice.

3. Problem: You either have: a) no monitors, b) the ones you have are altering and thinning your voice thus causing you to compensate muscularly or, c) there are other instruments coming through the monitors that are crossing frequencies with your voice and making it difficult for you to hear yourself comfortably.

Solution: You should be able to hear yourself comfortably in the monitors while the band is also playing. Hearing "comfortably" means that the sound of your voice is present without having attention on whether you hear it or not - it is just there and well balanced with the rest of the music.

For a) the remedy is to buy monitors or if you perform without them, the overall volume and blend of the whole band through the main (house) speakers will have to be such that you can hear the vocals clearly. If you have monitors and still can't hear your vocals, try turning down the volume of the main PA speakers and any instrument amplifiers on stage. Even if your voice is coming through the monitor well, a loud guitar amplifier on stage can overshadow the vocals. Too loud house speakers can also obscure the vocal sound you hear on stage.

b) is remedied by getting monitors which have better EQ (equalization) and more power. Sometimes the fault here lies with the rest of the PA system and not the monitors. The mixing board, amplifier and any effects units like reverb or compression should be adjusted to give a nicely balanced sound through the monitors and the main PA speakers alike. If this can't be done by a knowledgeable soundman, then the PA is not adequate for your performance needs.

c) To remedy other instruments coming through the monitors interfering with the vocal sound, have the sound man balance the monitor volume of your voice and the other instruments. Then he should be able to modify the EQ of each instrument and your voice so that any conflicting frequencies are eliminated.

If the PA is not sophisticated enough to do these things, try taking the other instruments out of the monitor mix. You will have to hear them from their stage amps, but often that works in a small venue. Remember to always keep a balance between the monitors and the main PA speakers. If the above adjustments don't resolve the problem, turn down the house volume so that you can hear yourself through the monitors. You can also look into getting personal ear monitors, but that can be an expensive remedy.

4. Problem: You do not have adequate vocal technique to support the demands of the musical styles which you are singing as well as the length of time or frequency of your performances.

Solution: Read and use the Free Lessons on this site and in the archives. If you still need further development to meet the demands of your musical style, take voice lessons or work with my self-study course: "The Contemporary Vocalist Vol 1" book and interactive CDs. Vocal exercises designed to help you develop stamina and endurance are vital for singers who sing a lot and want the most from their voice.

Thanks for writing and Happy New Year!
Jeannie Deva

Read the rest of the reasons and solutions in next month's vocal tip.

Find more singer's know-how in Free Lessons

Jeannie Deva, international vocalist, master vocal coach, recording session vocal specialist, and author is the author of �The Contemporary Vocalist� and founder of The Deva Method� and Jeannie Deva� Voice Studios. There are a growing network of teachers certified in her method on the East and West Coasts. Clients include Grammy Award Winners, Nominees and label recording artists. Her private voice studio is located in Los Angeles.

Jeannie Deva Voice Studios
www.JeannieDeva.com
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