Double Track Vocals?

Brian01 · #1 03-06-2002

Yet another question.

I think at times a double tracked Vocal sounds ok, like on a chours, or during a harmony, but not the entire time. What are your views on this? Im talking for something like Amie Mann type sound (Magnolia soundtrack), more of a dry sound, Later Beatles type sound (Abbey Road), or stuff from The Wall. It sounded like a lot of that was done with just one Vocal and no over dubs (besides harmonies).

It seems very obvious to me when a band double tracks, a lot of the new stuff is like that. I like the single track better. I guess a good rule of thumb is "whatever sounds better". What have you all done about this?

postalblue · #2 03-06-2002

i think the beatles did a lot of that from the very beginning.
r.e.m. does that quite frequently too, among the more recent acts.

adriano

TexRoadkill · #3 03-06-2002

I like it when you need a more processed sound. It works well for pop and modern rock. It also helps when the singer has a weak voice or pitch problems.

shackrock · #4 03-06-2002

our singer is good at singing...but there are always times when it's off, and it seems we can't ever get it "perfect".. we double ever track, always. (even when it comes to screaming).

VOXVENDOR · #5 03-06-2002

Dave Grohl of Foofighters always double tracks vocals...

scodu · #6 03-06-2002

Can someone explain what double tracking is. I just did a search for it and came up with nothing to do with whats being talked about here.

Thanks,
scodu

shackrock · #7 03-06-2002

doing the same vocal track twice. makes for a fuller sound, etc.

somebody on this forum..i think its VOXVENDOR or something...ends up doing litteraly around 100 tracks of most chorus'! i wish i could remember who that was...well if you read this - post about it! with a link!

nave · #8 03-06-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by scodu
Can someone explain what double tracking is. I just did a search for it and came up with nothing to do with whats being talked about here.

Thanks,
scodu

The easiest way to double track a vocal is if you have a computer sequencing program.....You can just clone or copy the track to another track without singing it over again....Later on you can then bounce them back to one track and they will retain their separate settings e.g. volume, panning etc....etc....

Otherwise you could just play or sing the track over again to get the doubled up sound......

VOXVENDOR knows alot about doubling up and layering tracks ask him about it

.........

*75 damn layers VOXven I still can't believe it!!!!!*

I usually double my vocals because, I'm the text book example of texroadkill's scenario: I can't sing very powerfully...I'm a guitar player.....

BTW, My ears must be getting somewhat better cause I realized that Dave Grohl always doubles up too!!!

- nave

nave · #9 03-06-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by shackrock
doing the same vocal track twice. makes for a fuller sound, etc.

somebody on this forum..i think its VOXVENDOR or something...ends up doing litteraly around 100 tracks of most chorus'! i wish i could remember who that was...well if you read this - post about it! with a link!

LOL.....Read above.....Shackrock you must have posted simultaneously w/me or just a second before me

VOX your starting to get a reputation around here

shackrock · #10 03-06-2002

ha definately.... i remembered that one - pretty amazing vox!

but a lot of people i know like to just copy and paste the same vocal track again, and pan it differently or eq it differently or reverb it different or delay it, etc. BUT - i hate the sound that gives, sounds a lot more "fake" to me - ...etc. i'd suggest 2 different tracks.
i dont remember where, but somewhere on here i remember reading a link to an article about how the voice' sound waves...and how singing the same part twice would always prove to be "better sounding", as long as the singer can double thier track as closley as possible as the first time.

VOXVENDOR · #11 03-06-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by shackrock
ha definately.... i remembered that one - pretty amazing vox!

You just like me for my body... Not the vocals....

*tsk*.. I feel so used...

Yeah, cutting and pasting suck when it comes to vox layers...

the whole point of vox layering is to compile layer upon layer of vocals and vocal artifact.. and yeah cutting an pasting will make a million *copies* of the first vocal... you won't be "compiling"

As much as I dig putting hundreds of layers in the chorus, I always like a crisp clear and up front lead...No doubles

Thats sort of funny, considering how big I am on layering..

Whyte Ice · #12 03-07-2002

Whenever I sing a song, I can never get it to sound like the first one alot, its always a bit different because thats just the way I sing I guess.

I hate to do double-tracking the "easy" way by copy/paste, it sounds too unreal for my ears, I like it when its a real double vocal take.

How can I get my voice to go with the first track well without doing so many punch-ins and not the copy/paste method?

P Hallin · #13 03-07-2002

Mick Jagger did it in a cool way on "Hideaway" by double tracking chorus and panning the two takes hard to each side and keeping the voices fairly dry. The result is not a full single vocie but instead like you have two Micks´s in the room.

shackrock · #14 03-07-2002

vox, can you post a link to one of your songs again?

meriphew · #15 03-07-2002

Obviously the benefit of double tracking (or multi tracking) lead vocals, is a fatter sound, but, there are downsides as well - you lose some of the nuances and a little intimacy in my opinion. I guess it all depends on what you're after.

www.meriphew.com

synergy · #16 03-07-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by meriphew
Obviously the benefit of double tracking (or multi tracking) lead vocals, is a fatter sound, but, there are downsides as well - you lose some of the nuances and a little intimacy in my opinion. I guess it all depends on what you're after.

www.meriphew.com

Yeah, would never want an intimate acoustic song double tracked on vocals. It works in a lot of cases though.

VOXVENDOR · #17 03-07-2002

Quote:

Originally posted by shackrock
vox, can you post a link to one of your songs again?

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/...vendor/singles

"In my head" is the mega vocal layer tune being talked about...

Joe

Cyrokk · #18 03-07-2002

Ozzy vocals always sound prestine on his albums.. Is he double tracking as well?

Cy