Vocal Exhaustion and Electronics - Part 2

By Jeannie Deva


Points 1 to 4 are found in Vocal Electronics P1 in the Archives.

Let's take a look at the last four points that can cause vocal exhaustion when singing with electronics on stage or in the recording studio.

5. Problem: When singing with a microphone and PA, you "push" in an attempt to give your voice head-room (resonance and space) causing tension and vocal strain. This can occur when compression, EQ, or other effects are used improperly for your particular voice.

Compression is an electronic effect that is used to smooth out the dynamic range of a signal, or in this case the sound of your voice passing through the microphone and amplification system. Any instrument or your voice will vary in dynamics - decibels (db) of sound volume - throughout a song or performance. Too much variance between the loud and soft sections of a song can cause clipping (chopping off of the signal if too loud for the system) or drop off (too low so no one can hear you) or other unwanted consequences.

A compressor is used to even-out the sound but it can cause a singer to be thrown off if the compressor is set too high. Compression is set at a certain threshold of volume which determines at what signal level (volume) the compressor starts working. Any signal that exceeds this threshold level is attenuated (reduced in volume) by whatever the compression ratio that is set.

For example, if the ratio is set at 2 to 1, that means that for every 2 db rise in volume above the threshold coming from your microphone, the compressor will only allow a 1 db increase. If the ratio is high such as 10:1 or more, you would have to sing 10 dbs louder to get 1 db increase of volume coming out of the speakers. Such high ratios are called "limiting" because at that point the compressor/limiter is not allowing the signal to rise at all above the threshold level.

High compression ratios and improperly set thresholds make a singer feel like their voice is being squashed - because it is. This encourages you to push harder to achieve volume or space in your sound which in turn activates the compression as it attempts to even out your volume electronically. You can see that this will create a vicious cycle as you push even harder as the compression fights against you.

Solution: If compression is really needed, use it minimally. Singing with good microphone technique often averts the reasons sound engineers use too much compression. The common practice of "eating the mike" (keeping your lips on the microphone regardless of how loud you sing) is often why the engineer would need to use compression. When you sing louder pull back from the microphone and get closer when your volume is softer.

6. Problem: Your voice is severely dehydrated. This can be due to drinking alcohol, too much coffee, smoking cigarettes or marijuana. It could also be that you are not drinking adequate amounts of water through the day while are living in a very dry environment.

Solution: Don't drink any alcoholic beverages within 24 hours of singing. It takes about one day for your body to flush out the alcohol and re-hydrate, assuming you drink plenty of water. Caffeine in coffee, tea or chocolates is a diuretic (induces urination) and so tends to dry out your body. Everyone is different but generally one small cup of coffee a day should not present a problem. Large quantities of coffee will dehydrate your vocal folds.

If you live in a cold climate requiring continual heat in your home, the air will become very dry. Singers must keep the air moist by use of a humidifier. It can save your voice!

Cigarettes and marijuana are just plain voice killers. If you are committed to reaching your peak as a singer, you'll stay away from these or quit if you're currently hooked. Drink lots of filtered or bottled water and give yourself steam treatments to help your body recover from dehydration.

7. Problem: The only way to be heard is to shout when you sing. Your band is far too loud not permitting you to use dynamics and forcing you to shout above them.

Solution: Help them become conscious of band dynamics. When all the musicians in the group use dynamics together, your performance will sound more unified and professional. Use the information about PA systems, in part one of this vocal tip, to control the overall balance of the instrumental and vocal sound of the band. If you don't have an adequate sound system; are singing through a bass or guitar amp instead of a PA - they are not designed adequately for the human voice- it is time to invest in a sound system so that you can hear yourself.

8. Problem: You could be experiencing the effects of lack of adequate and correct warm-up and cool-down.

Solution: Use my Vocal Warm-Up and Cool-Downs CD just prior to your gig and then for a
short while afterwards, per the included instructions. This will save your voice, make it easier to sing and give you more stamina and endurance.

Vocal warm-ups limber and relax the muscles involved in singing. Just like an athlete warms up before practice or competition, so should singers. Use the "Free Warm-ups" navigation button on the left side of this page to obtain a Free copy of my recommended warm-ups. If you like those, then buy and use my Vocal Warm-Up CD.

Happy singing!
Jeannie Deva