,,, Hi, to me, for this, it would really help to see the session, or at least some pics of the compression settings on the vocal and mix bus,,, lol...
Have gotten a lot of great advice here, but haven't applied much yet, as I was giving the song a break for a few days. So the mix that is up is still the current mix. There was plenty of Clip Gain adjustments made at first, trying to get it as even as possible by ear. Here's the current vocal chain:
1. Slate VMR (Virtual Mix Rack): Just the mic emulation (C-12) and a 1073 preamp. (used the Slate VMS Mic)
2. Pro Tools EQ3: Hi-passed at 100hz, -1db @ 508.4, -2.1db @ 1.02, -2.3db @ 2k, and -3.0db @ 2.39.
3. Slate VTM (Virtual Tape Machine)
4. CLA-76 Blue: 4-1, Attack @ 4, Release @ 7 (getting about 1-3 db of compression)
5 Slate VMR again: Virtual Channel (VCC) on the Brit 4K G Series SSL (entire mix is on this setting)
FG-N (Neve EQ): 12Kshelf +1.82, and +.63 @ 4.82
FG-A (API EQ): +2.0 @ 5K, and -2.0 @ 50hz (vocal preset)
Revival: Shimmer +4.35
6. CLA-2A: Getting 1-3db's of compression.
7. Eiosis De-esser: (set to "Female Vocal Smooth Split" preset)
8. Waves MV2: Low Level @ 2.0, High Level @ -0.2
9. Waves L2: Literally not doing anything; high ceiling set to -0.2, threshold at 0.0.
SENDS:
1. Plate Reverb: send level at -9.9, decay at 1.65s, pre-delay at 47ms.
2. SansAmp: send level at -17.2
3. Slap Delay: send level only at -14
Parallel Compression Track: CLA-76 Blue: 4-1, Attack @ 3, Release @ 4. (Getting 3-7dbs of compression) Track level set at -19, compared to main vocal track at unity, 0.0.
Vocal Double Track: So low it's practically non-existent. It's set at -16 and barely audible. It has nothing but the same mic sim, the same EQ cuts, but a lo-pass all the way down to 5K (no boosts) and a CLA-76 Blue set to 8-1, Attack-3, Release-4, getting 3-5db of compression.
The 'RearBus' also has a CLA-76 Blue, at 4-1, Attack-3. Release-4, getting 3-7db's of compression. Sent everything minus the bass and drums, all sends at unity, RearBus track level at -17.4.
I think that's everything. Was giving the song a few day break to go at it fresh. Could just be that it needs more Clip Gain adjustments, and that's it. Or maybe split the loud sections to their own track and compress them harder...