Simple Question

[Hyydro]

This is my problem,
Everytime I mix down something, the vocals don't blend with the beat like I want to. EVen though the volume levels are adjusted so that they are about the same, it still feels as if i recorded it live. Is there any preset that I can apply to my acapella or final product that can make the vocals blend more with the beat?
Thank you for your help

Hyydro

[camn]

compression.

how much compression is on big name CDs??

compression.compression.compression.compression.compression.
compression.compression.compression.compression.
compression.compression.compression.
compression.compression.
compression.

That much.

xoxo

[mastahnke]

I would recomend recording vocals with compression on if you have that option....if not compress the track slightly, then start editing it...pans, volume etc, then compress again. Probably compress the whole mix again at the end. Also, don't underestimate what panning things in a good stereo field can do. Put the voice where you want to hear it... It might blend it a little better then.
MIKE

[Kelly Holdridge]

Heya, Hyydro!

I built a great little four-band compressor a while back and emailed it to some of the folks here on the board. It took the low, low-mid, high-mid, and high bands of your finished track and compressed them in exactly the same ratio that one of the radio stations here in town did (I took hom e the compresssion manual one day when I worked there and reverse-engineered it).

The bad news is that I wiped my drive a while back, and forgot to save that "mastering" script. The good news is that some of the folks here will have it on their computers.

I haven't used CEP in a quite a while (I think someone has been playing with voodoo on my soundcard), but I'll be glad to jump into it and try and remember the specific bands and settings that were tweaked.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is if anyone has that compressor macro (I think I called it "Mastering II" or something), throw ol' Hyydro a line and give it to him. Then toss it back over this way, if possible.

Live and learn.

[Scott Tansley]

Camm is right, compression is the key. You can learn more about this elswere on this site.
To add my bit, try just compressing the high's only then compress the whole mix.
I don't understand why you want the vocal to blend with the drums. The bass guitar should blend with with the kick drum, but the vocal ? Maybe you just want he vocal to sit on top of the mix better. Try mixing down the vocal tracks to a stereo wav, then apply alittle left to right echo about 2 to 3 milliseconds then put this wav back into the mix instead. Could even add a bit of stereo chorus to the vocal mix.
Don't know if this answers your question, but hope it helps anyway. Have you tried doble tracking the main vocal line. recording it twice, not just copying it.

[camn]

oh, yeah!

Doubling. Doubling. Doubling. Doubling. Doubling. Doubling.
Doubling. Doubling. Doubling. Doubling. Doubling.
Doubling. Doubling. Doubling. Doubling.
Doubling. Doubling. Doubling.
Doubling. Doubling.
Doubling.

Effects are for sissies!!

xoxo