If you haven't read any of my other post..than yuor not aware that I'm an idiot noob beginner (o.k. now that that's out of the way) Are there any websites that give tutorials on different effects that you can place on vocals..ex: stacking voice to make it sound fuller, when & what should i pan , how and when to use reverb, chorus, etc. Please if anyone knows any good tips or tutorials let me know, I'm mainly creating hip hop, funk, r&b, type music via cakewalk. Thanks a trillion
Vocal Effects??????
- Thread starter Sirflex10
- Start date
mbuster
New member
the first thing I'd do is check out the search function on this BBS (especially in the mixing/mastering forum).
Also, go here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030204133354/www.studiocovers.com
Also, go here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030204133354/www.studiocovers.com
As far as when to pan and when to use reverb etc. I will tell you the Golden Rule of recording: "WHATEVER SOUNDS GOOD!" Let your ears be your guide and train your ears to know what is good and what is not. The only way to do this is to experiment.
I don't know if you are recording digitally(via computer), but if you are you can experiment to your hearts delight without changing a single thing in your file.
In a nutshell: duplicating your vocals will make them louder and sound fuller, but it still has to be a good vocal to begin with. If you think the vocal volume is too weak doubletrack it, see if that does the trick. If not triple it.
Reverb - Probably the most overused vocal effect, and with good reason. Don't drench your vocals in reverb though. Nobody wants to hear a vocalist singing in a cave for 3 + minutes. Play with the controls and start out light with different decay times, etc.
Panning - can be used for effect, but 98.6% of the time your vocals should be dead center. The center range grounds the song. Instruments should be panned depending on your ears.
If you have a rhythm groove going 50% to the left, you might want to put a syncopation beat or a lead lick 50% to the right right. Don't throw all rhythms on one side and all leads on the other. Mix up your highs and lows.
Basic rule of thumb:
Vocals and bassline dead center.
Everything else is up for grabs.
My .02 cents.
Good Luck.
I don't know if you are recording digitally(via computer), but if you are you can experiment to your hearts delight without changing a single thing in your file.
In a nutshell: duplicating your vocals will make them louder and sound fuller, but it still has to be a good vocal to begin with. If you think the vocal volume is too weak doubletrack it, see if that does the trick. If not triple it.
Reverb - Probably the most overused vocal effect, and with good reason. Don't drench your vocals in reverb though. Nobody wants to hear a vocalist singing in a cave for 3 + minutes. Play with the controls and start out light with different decay times, etc.
Panning - can be used for effect, but 98.6% of the time your vocals should be dead center. The center range grounds the song. Instruments should be panned depending on your ears.
If you have a rhythm groove going 50% to the left, you might want to put a syncopation beat or a lead lick 50% to the right right. Don't throw all rhythms on one side and all leads on the other. Mix up your highs and lows.
Basic rule of thumb:
Vocals and bassline dead center.
Everything else is up for grabs.
My .02 cents.
Good Luck.
Thanks, another question..
You guys are great!!! Thanks for all the help..(and for not newbie bashing me..lol) Let me ask you one more question and then I'm going home to play with all the new info...what effects are normally used for vocals? Ex: Reverb, Chorus, Tremelo,etc. Or is it just anything that sounds good? Thanks a trillion!
You guys are great!!! Thanks for all the help..(and for not newbie bashing me..lol) Let me ask you one more question and then I'm going home to play with all the new info...what effects are normally used for vocals? Ex: Reverb, Chorus, Tremelo,etc. Or is it just anything that sounds good? Thanks a trillion!
dachay2tnr
One Hit Wonder
Re: Thanks, another question..
Here's my suggestions for starters though:
Reverb (of course), but be gentle with it. Most newbies go a bit overboard
Delay
Chorus (only on BG Vox for me. I don't think I would use it on a lead.)
And not really under the heading of effects, but:
EQ and Compression (but only as much and where needed)
Autotune
I doubt I would use anything like tremelo on a vocal, but YMMV.
Whatever sounds good is probably the right answer.Sirflex10 said:
Here's my suggestions for starters though:
Reverb (of course), but be gentle with it. Most newbies go a bit overboard
Delay
Chorus (only on BG Vox for me. I don't think I would use it on a lead.)
And not really under the heading of effects, but:
EQ and Compression (but only as much and where needed)
Autotune
I doubt I would use anything like tremelo on a vocal, but YMMV.
tombuur
New member
Re: Re: Thanks, another question..
EXACTLY. I went to a collaborative site recently and listened to their projects. Almost all had far too much reverb. It actually sounded ridiculously. And that's the opinion of someone who himself tends to put too much reverb on his own vocals when comparing to professional recordings. I guess these collaborative guys transferred the "can't help singing in the bathroom because I can hear my own voice better" to their projects.
dachay2tnr said:
EXACTLY. I went to a collaborative site recently and listened to their projects. Almost all had far too much reverb. It actually sounded ridiculously. And that's the opinion of someone who himself tends to put too much reverb on his own vocals when comparing to professional recordings. I guess these collaborative guys transferred the "can't help singing in the bathroom because I can hear my own voice better" to their projects.
Effects
What about specific effects..ex: I ran across a sound foundry tutorial that showed you hwo to make "specific" effects like the doppler effect , a evil voice sound , a effect that sounds like your talking over a phone, etc. Are there any tutorials or websiets that show you how to create these type of effects? Or is it a trial and error thing? Thanks.
What about specific effects..ex: I ran across a sound foundry tutorial that showed you hwo to make "specific" effects like the doppler effect , a evil voice sound , a effect that sounds like your talking over a phone, etc. Are there any tutorials or websiets that show you how to create these type of effects? Or is it a trial and error thing? Thanks.
tombuur
New member
As far as I can see www.studiocovers.com is already closed.
dachay2tnr
One Hit Wonder
I believe there was an alternate site that you could still access Studio Covers (or an archive of it or something).
I see if I can locate the URL. I was there just a week or so ago.
I see if I can locate the URL. I was there just a week or so ago.
dachay2tnr
One Hit Wonder
< slaps forehead > How stupid am I? The place where I saw the alternate Studio Covers site was right in this thread.dachay2tnr said:
Thanks for reminding me Alanfc and thanks for the link mbuster.
Mountainmirrors
kaleidoscopic renegade
First, you need to clean up the bass frequencies on your entire mix.
The only instruments that should be occupying the frequencies below 100 hz are your bass and bass drums.
So apply a high-pass filter at 100 hz to your guitars and vocals. Maybe even 150 on your vocals. That usually crisps the vox right up.
Doubling kicks ass. Check out any Judas Priest, Beatles or Elliot Smith tune. Sounds great to me. Some people prefer a single voice.
Experiment with compression after you apply the filter. You might find you don't need it.
As for reverb and delay, I like to use envelopes on them. Varying the degree of Verb on a vocal at different key times can really enhance the emotion and dynamics throughout the course of a song. And when it comes to delay, set the repeat in synch with the rhythm of the track.
Just a few kickass tips I learned over the past few months.
Very Best,
Jeff
http://www.mountainmirrors.com
The only instruments that should be occupying the frequencies below 100 hz are your bass and bass drums.
So apply a high-pass filter at 100 hz to your guitars and vocals. Maybe even 150 on your vocals. That usually crisps the vox right up.
Doubling kicks ass. Check out any Judas Priest, Beatles or Elliot Smith tune. Sounds great to me. Some people prefer a single voice.
Experiment with compression after you apply the filter. You might find you don't need it.
As for reverb and delay, I like to use envelopes on them. Varying the degree of Verb on a vocal at different key times can really enhance the emotion and dynamics throughout the course of a song. And when it comes to delay, set the repeat in synch with the rhythm of the track.
Just a few kickass tips I learned over the past few months.
Very Best,
Jeff
http://www.mountainmirrors.com