Audacity help - vocal quality

so all I have is Audacity (because it was free) and a $2 dollar mic....I know im not about to put out studio quality, and Im only recording for kicks, but I could use a few tips on getting better output on my vocals. Right now, im getting heavy clipping and really it just generally sounds like im drowning in the bathtub in small basment. Somebody told me to apply compressing, but I dont know what that is or how to use it....Any production hints for an amateur?

Well first off
1. ur clipping becaus you have your input turned up way too high. Try something like -6db or even -12db to record. Yes its low (i know blah blah blah) but the sooner you realise this is how pro's record the sooner your recording will sound pro.

2. Ur vocals are gonna need a few key pieces to sound more like "VOCALS" and less like "VoCAls". Your gonna need (then the horns sound) a compressor. A compressor simply brings down your highs (loud parts) and brings up your lows (low parts) making a more even signal to be used thus the name compressor.

3. Now in compressing these newly created vocals you mite notice your vocal sounds a lil dull (crap i know you thought you were almost done right). Well this is where we introduce our next partner in sound EQ! (it gets a lil tricky from here on out). See the eq is used to bring up the dulled frequencies the compressor effected like your high end and mid frequencies.

4. But now you run into a very ugly lil pest we all like to call "SSSSSS". Thats why we now use a handy dandy lil device called a "De-esser" to help reduce these lil buggers and fix that.

5. Last step but not the least step is simple yet the most difficult.....(deep breathe) You now must learn the art of recording mixing and mastering better than you have. The terms i used in my responce; compressor, eq, de-esser are things you really should educate yourself on using.

So yes im gonna do what my elder engineers have done to me and educate you on how to use these "KEY" pieces of gear/plugins (they are all doin the same thing and even if the look changes the purpose is what matters)

homerecordingcorner.com

look that up on "youtube.com" and your education will start from there.

NOW LISTEN RIGHT NOW IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE

What you learn from that page can be (and you will) applyed to all things with the same characteristics. The video on compressors applys to all compressors because all compressors (except the really cool ones*) have the same controls regardless of the DAW (digital audio workstation) your using (yes thats what audacity is considered to be).

Enjoy

Yo thanks a lot man, I'll get on this asap.

No prob fam
thats what im here for :D

What would be a good starting point for EQ'ing Vocals, I just need something to work with. I'm on my cell phone that's why I aint looked up that site on youtube. Thanks on advance I use audacity and sound studio for mac

Cut all the low end out of the vocal is usually a good starting point. Usually around 150 and down is where you will find the useless bass frequencies for vocals 9its just rumble and room noise). Then its on to the highs which are tricky because everyones voice is different but you wanna boost your highs til they sound like other professionally mixed vocals. Now at this point i want you to stop and listen to some well mixed and mastered tracks from your favorite artist and then star comparing the sound they have to your own. What your really listening for is what your missing when your eqing your vocals. The answer is clarity, always eq for clarity first.