Software Effects

[cincy_kid]

I wasn't sure which forum topic to put this thread in but here goes:

I use Acid Pro 6 and after I lay down a vocal track I can then click on it and add effects, like reverb, chorus, etc...

Is there something I can download and/or buy that will give me like TONS of options for vocal effects instead of the basic ones that I can choose from? I hear so many cool effects on vocals in songs I hear on the radio and would love to be able to duplicate some of the effects.

Where can I get these?

[cincy_kid]

No one with any help or suggestions on this one?

[travelin travis]

well, there are tons of effects available, both free and commercial. just get some and try them out. i'm missing the question i guess.

www.kvraudio.com

[cincy_kid]

Travis - soory I guess I wasn't too clear I am looking for a website or place that I can download free or purchase some cool vocal effects that I can use when tracking my vocals. I use ACID PRO 6. Will any work? Do they have to be a certain format? I am trying to find some that mimic some of "today's" vocal sounds instead of simply using rever, chorus and whatever default ones come with ACID. Does that make more sense? hehe

danny - hey Danny, thanks for the link! I am looking through it a bit now ..wish it was all vocal type effects, but I will parse through it :P

[scrubs]

It looks like Acid supports VST effects, so there should be plenty of options out there. Just about any effect can be found by doing a google search on "free VST __whatever effect you want__." KVR is a good place to start looking, though.

[cincy_kid]

cool, thanks scrubs, but how do I know what to put in the place of "_whatever effect you want_" ?

I mean, I have no idea what the effects are called. Like for example, I would like one that makes it sound like you are using a megaphone. IS there a certain name for that one?

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by cincy_kid

cool, thanks scrubs, but how do I know what to put in the place of "_whatever effect you want_" ?

I mean, I have no idea what the effects are called. Like for example, I would like one that makes it sound like you are using a megaphone. IS there a certain name for that one?

Well, if I wanted an effect like a megaphone, I would probably use a Band Pass Filter (basically, a specialized EQ with hi-pass and low-pass - search for BugPass and Kjaerhus Classic Auto Filter for a couple of examples) and some distortion (there are tons of distortion plugins for guitar, etc. - look for the Camel Crusher and the Simulanalog Guitar Suite plugins for starters).

[cincy_kid]

once again, thank you ~

[scrouch]

Vocoders can be used to make some pretty cool effects as well. Could also take a look at izotope Spectron. I haven't really played around with it too much but you can add some interesting effects to different frequency bands within the same track. There should be a demo version on the izotope website. They also have a pretty good distortion plugin (Trash) which can be handy. Again you can use it in multiband mode to have different effects on different frequencies.

[noisewreck]

I guess what we're all having problem with is the way the question is posted and the implied expectation behind it.

There is no effect that's called "Instant 2007-ify my vocals". Everyone uses the same "standard" effects as we've done for the past several decades. The difference is the method of the usage, the settings on those devices, the order in which said devices are put in the chain (if chained), etc.

[travelin travis]

Originally Posted by noisewreck

I guess what we're all having problem with is the way the question is posted and the implied expectation behind it.

There is no effect that's called "Instant 2007-ify my vocals". Everyone uses the same "standard" effects as we've done for the past several decades. The difference is the method of the usage, the settings on those devices, the order in which said devices are put in the chain (if chained), etc.

yep. cincy, there are tons of ways to use a basic set of effects. changing the parameters and signal chain order will produce endless results. it might help to pick out some songs with effects you like and try to reproduce them or ask about specific effects here if you have any trouble figuring out what's being used. i don't know what the quality is of the effects included in acid are but until recently a lot of the effects included with other daw software has been kind of crappy. i'm sure there are some exceptions (sonar comes to mind). i think the software developers have been getting more competitive in that area lately. acid supports vst and dx plugs so you have endless options. after playing around with the effects parameters and order, combined with listening to how effects are used in other songs, i think you'll be able to set up some combinations that will be useful to you. remember to create your own presets.

[DopeSickKid]

Yamaha Vocal Tool Rack, and Antares AVOX Vocal Bundle.

Edit: Also a little plugin called Voxciter is very good has compression/limiting, special EQ's. Also many presets http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1899.html . Add that with a little reverb, or chorus, and you will be sounding great

[dzara 4]

Waves vocal bundle , expecially the doubler you can get some cool effects.

or buy a cool hardware unit like the mutronics mutator. you can also get

great effects with different types of convolution reverb IR samples

[cincy_kid]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. This really helps me and I will be looking into some of the ones you mentioned.

Travis there are probably too many to name for examples, but just off the top of my head, for example, the vocal effetcs that the Killers have on "When you were young", especially on the lines "...were young.." in the chorus

If you dont know the song, here is a link to the video:
http://music.aol.com/video/when-you-...illers/1726737

Like i said, many to name but thats just one off the top of my head.

Thanks again all...

[cello_pudding]

whoa...killers vocalist has a bright eyes thing going.

i think you were on the money...telephone EQ with a hi/lo pass...distortion..reverb.

There may have been some vocal doubling too. i'm on a laptop right now, can't really listen well.

[travelin travis]

the ambient sound of the vocal sounds like a short delay, could be double tracked in a live sounding room, or a combo of both. i'm with cello on the eq thing.