I need help...

[7string]

But I can't afford a shrink to try to explain to me just WHY or WHAT the reason is that I got into this music schtuff...

Anyway, I've been puttering with this mix for a while now and it sounds fairly clean and balanced to me, BUT... I just can't get the background vox where I want them. I've tried different panning, different levels, different EQ and they just won't get out of the way of the lead voc. They overlap at different points and that may be the problem but once you hear the song you'll see what I'm trying to accomplish. I've heard it on pro recordings so I know it can be done I just have to find out HOW it's done. So any help in this area would be greatly appreciated and feel free to comment on the overall mix itself. I only have my JBL 3-way monitors but after all this legal crap is over I'm thinking about upgrading to some MAudio 8's or something. So.... HELP!!!!!

http://www.jeffsounds.com/jeffsongs/way.mp3

[Strave]

They sound a bit out of tune... they are washed out sounding too... I'd make them sound where you want them before adding so much reverb or whatever you did... maybe work with some autotune eq and then compression? Compression is the key here though I believe. Hope that helps.

[7string]

Originally Posted by Strave

They sound a bit out of tune... they are washed out sounding too... I'd make them sound where you want them before adding so much reverb or whatever you did... maybe work with some autotune eq and then compression? Compression is the key here though I believe. Hope that helps.

Thanks. The verb was just something I added to try to bring them together. When I mute them one at a time the others sound ok, if that makes sense. It's when I put them all together and try to find a place for them that the trouble starts.

[scrubs]

I remember this song from last time. Nice tune. I would heavily compress the background vocals and bring them up to a level where they just fill out the sound under the lead. I would decrease the reverb on both the lead and background vox. I'm not sure how you're panning the BG vox, but I try to think of a group of background singers arranged around a mic. Pan one about 40% left and one about 40% right. If there's a 3rd part, put it up the middle, but back off the volume a bit, so it doesn't compete with the lead.

[7string]

Originally Posted by scrubs

I remember this song from last time. Nice tune. I would heavily compress the background vocals and bring them up to a level where they just fill out the sound under the lead. I would decrease the reverb on both the lead and background vox. I'm not sure how you're panning the BG vox, but I try to think of a group of background singers arranged around a mic. Pan one about 40% left and one about 40% right. If there's a 3rd part, put it up the middle, but back off the volume a bit, so it doesn't compete with the lead.

I've panned them every which way but to the garage, which is way over there on ----> THAT side of the house. But I'll give the 40% L-R a shot. I think of them the same way you do and try to put them in order from L to R, lower 5th, root, 3rd. I think the problem with that is the root and the lead vocal being in the same space, so maybe 5% one way or the other?

Now as far as heavily compressing the background vox, give some settings to use as a starting point? Right now, I have them going to a sub where I added the verb and I think the Classic Compression vst using the Vocal preset.

Sorry... until I learn the ins and outs of Compression I'm just gonna be a 'presets' kinda guy...

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by 7string

I've panned them every which way but to the garage, which is way over there on ----> THAT side of the house. But I'll give the 40% L-R a shot. I think of them the same way you do and try to put them in order from L to R, lower 5th, root, 3rd. I think the problem with that is the root and the lead vocal being in the same space, so maybe 5% one way or the other?

Now as far as heavily compressing the background vox, give some settings to use as a starting point? Right now, I have them going to a sub where I added the verb and I think the Classic Compression vst using the Vocal preset.

Sorry... until I learn the ins and outs of Compression I'm just gonna be a 'presets' kinda guy...

For heavier compression, turn up the ratio and turn down the threshhold. Try 5:1 or even 10:1 for a ratio (or even 25:1). Then turn the threshold down, so that the track is being compressed at all times (if it sounds terrible, back off some). Use makeup gain, if needed to boost the level back up after you squash it. The point is, you want the volume level of the background vocals to be consistent.

Also, for panning. I like the lowest register vocal centered (regardless of interval) and the higher vocals panned to the sides. It just sounds better to me and you don't get that big boom coming out of one speaker.

[bbocaner]

if you can re-track the background vocals, try backing a foot or two away from the microphone. It's magic -- the lead vocal will automatically sound more present.

[7string]

Originally Posted by scrubs

For heavier compression, turn up the ratio and turn down the threshhold. Try 5:1 or even 10:1 for a ratio (or even 25:1). Then turn the threshold down, so that the track is being compressed at all times (if it sounds terrible, back off some). Use makeup gain, if needed to boost the level back up after you squash it. The point is, you want the volume level of the background vocals to be consistent.

Also, for panning. I like the lowest register vocal centered (regardless of interval) and the higher vocals panned to the sides. It just sounds better to me and you don't get that big boom coming out of one speaker.

Thanks! I used 10:1 on the C1, brought the threshold down to -20, boosted the makeup gain to +6 and it seemed to fit a bit better. I also dumped the lower vocal and panned the other two 40% L & R and it's much better. Things are starting to come together on this one. But for some reason I feel the lead voc is TOO out front. I'm trying to find a happy medium. I may have to "ride the fader" with an envelope to bring it up during the quieter parts of the chorus. Oops... door knock... PIZZA'S HERE!!!!!!!