How to mix human voices?

[vivien]

Hi!
I am mixing a capella songs, but I really don't know how to mix human voices. I tried to add reverb but I don't like the result(the reverb settings must be wrong). Can anyone advice me? Must I apply reverb on each track(if yes, what would be the settings for each track?) or only on the final mix? Can you give any examples of your reverb settings for human voice?
Thanks for your help.

[Queue]

How many voices?

Do you have a separate track for each voice, or are you using a single track for all?

If you have separate tracks, you should spread them across the stereo spectrum similarly to how you might arrange the vocalists on stage. I'd try to keep the reverb timings set the same for each track to keep things from getting confusing.

You should check out this thread:
http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthr...threadid=30874

Queue

[vivien]

They are between 4 and 7 voices(it depends of the songs). I have a separate track for each voice. But I have also all mixed songs.

[chrisharris]

Vivien:

I don't post much, but you asked for some specific reverb settings for a capella vocals, so I'm gonna' throw in my 2 cents.

(1) There's no law mandating the use of reverb...(i.e., ya' don't hafta' add it if ya' don't wanta' add it). Depending on the type of room you're recording in, and what type of mics, and how far away from the mic the vocalist(s) is/are, and about a ka-billion other factors, your vocals may sound fine "as is." This is cool when it happens, but my experience is that the odds are against it. SSSsssoooooo....

My Own Personal Favorite a capella vocal reverb setting:
If you're using Cool Edit, (that's where I am, right?)...try altering one of the preset reverbs as follows: The preset is the one labelled "Vocal - Nice Presence." Click on it, then change the numbers to the left as follows:

Total Reverb Length (1500)
Attack Time (90)
Hi Frequency Absorbsion Time - (1500)
Perception - (65)
Original Signal (no change)
Reverb Wet (between 10-20%)

No SINGLE reverb setting is right for all situations, (I know you know that)...but on mid-tempo a capella tracks, this altered preset has worked best for me. If the tempo is slower and the number of vocalists is smaller, I increase the "attack time" number and the "reverb wet" percentage.

Also, my PERSONAL preference is to mix the vocal tracks together completely dry before adding any reverb- or, I should say, mixing the vocal tracks that are occupying the same position together...I don't mix the backups together with the leads...does that make sense? I guess in theory, it shouldn't matter if you add reverb to each track individually before mixing down, but my ears tell me it makes a difference (incidentally, my ears also tell me it makes a difference if you record 4 vocal tracks on one mic as opposed to recording 4 seperate vocal parts onto 4 tracks and then mixing, but that's another topic altogether).

If you're mixing up to 7 vocals, my guess is that you're wanting some of the vocals to be supporting a lead or leads, right? (7 part "harmony" would scare me). If that's the case, then you might try cutting some EQ between 5K-7k on the vocals that you want to blend more into the background. While reverb can act like glue to blend vocals, a lot of times EQ will help more than reverb. I see a lot of advice in these threads about using effects like "chorus" to make a vocal stand out...but to me, chorus in particular sounds unnatural, which is probably not your goal if you're recording a capella vocals. Ozzy can get away with it, but he doesn't do a whole lot of a capella 4 part harmony. Instead of reverb and chorus, try using direction (i.e., pan some left, some center, some right, somebody said that already), and try using EQ (cut between 5-7k to make 'em blend, and boost in the same area to make 'em sound different - like when you're recording your own backups to your own lead vocal and you want them to sound not quite so "it's the same guy singing"-ish.

Man, I guess that was about 4 cents worth. But the reality is that it may be worth 0 cents for your particular situation...I hope you get something out of it...because my fingers are tired.

[dobro]

yeah, I think reverb's one way you can deal with it, and I think that *any* effect that sounds good is a similar way to deal with it (not to mention EQ). But before I got into that, I'd follow Queue's advice and start panning things so that each voice has its own position in the stereo field.

[Modus]

Good stuff Chris.

[dobro]

Yeah, it's a good post, isn't it? You can tell he or she has spent some time with Cool and vocal tracks. Anyway, there's nothing like the right time, so...

Chris - I'd like to hear some of your stuff. Reason is: I'm doing more and more stuff with layered vocals and although I think I know what to do with it, I'd really like to hear what other people are doing with similar stuff. Have you got mp3s up somewhere yet?

[chrisharris]

Dobro - I'm always happy to contribute to the musical mayhem in any way I can. If nothing else, my recordings may annoy you to the point of realizing that you DON'T wanna' record like I do...and that can be helpful in its own way.

The only place I've posted MP3's is on a "secret" link to my band's webpage that we use to work-up songs (and that I've been sworn not to reveal). Hrrmmm...If audiogalaxy was still up, you could get a couple, but I can't even grab my OWN songs off of that anymore...bummer.

Tell ya' what, if you've got a place you want me to upload them, lemme' know. If you want me to just email a couple, let me know that too, and I'll be happy to do so. Heck, I'd even mail you a CD or 2 if you didn't live in Singapore. :-)

I'd appreciate grabbing some of the more vocally prominent tracks you've recorded too.

Thanks

[chrisharris]

I'm replying to my own thread...how sad is that?

Anyway, DOBRO, here's a link:

http://www.nowhereradio.com/honestmango/singles

The a capella vox are on the song entitled "OUR SONG"...right at the beginning of the song...