vocal levels on a stereo (no seperate tracks)

Vocal levels on a stereo what? A stereo mix? A car stereo?

If you have no separate tracks, you can't do much other than maybe eq it to make the vocal stick out more, but that will most likely make everything else sound worse.
 
bouldersoundguy said:
Before starting to track look at the backing tracks. If they peak at or near 0dBFS turn them down 12dB.
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+1

Too many times the beat makers "master" the beats before they hand them off. This makes it harder to add something because they have already smashed it to the point that it is almost too thick to add anything. It also becomes hard to match the totality, to make the vocal and the beat sound like they belong together.

Turn it down by about 12db. If you are still having problems, ask for an unmastered version and work with that. Mastering should be the very last thing done.
 
If the gang are right about you mixing your vocals with pre-mastered stereo backing tracks, then a few hints.

First, don't JUST reduce the level by 12dB (though that's a great start). Actively mix your voice against the track using whatever form of automation or volume envelopes your DAW offers.

Second, if the back track is heavily compressed as they often are, use a similar amount of compression on your voice.

Third, give a good listen to your backing tracks and, if they use things like reverb, try to emulate that effect on your voice so you sound like you were in the same place.

Finally, you can often make your voice stand out better by doing some light EQ to knock down the levels just a touch in your vocal range...you'll have to work out what suits you best but we're likely talking something like 3 or 4dB cut between 200 and 800Hz. This can make your vocal sit better with the backing.
 
Maybe, just maybe, a clip would help convey your message/question a little clearer.
 
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