Evening out volume in a track.

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Squirps

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Is there a program or plug-in that takes a track and evens out the volume in it? For example, when I record my friend singing vocals, he sometimes sings one section much louder or softer than the rest of the song. I need to even it out a little or else it sounds bad.
 
That would be a compressor.

I once had an evening out with volume on a track..It was a lovely evening, too.
 
RAMI said:
That would be a compressor.

I once had an evening out with volume on a track..It was a lovely evening, too.
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Ok, thanks a lot! :D

By the way, I took your volume out one evening and, and, um...slept with it.
 
...but in all seriousness, a compressor is exactly what you're describing in your query.:)
 
a compressor. one of the most important things in the final mixdown when it comes to the vocals. It makes the vocal sit right with all of the instruments, so it doesn't stand out, and it makes for easy listening, no sudden loud phases from high notes. What do you use to mix???
 
Squirps said:
Is there a program or plug-in that takes a track and evens out the volume in it? For example, when I record my friend singing vocals, he sometimes sings one section much louder or softer than the rest of the song. I need to even it out a little or else it sounds bad.
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Did you ever consider leaving the dynamics in the vocals and building the rest of the instrumental volumes around them to even it out?
 
Yes compressors but come on guys. Since the question is going for some basic guidence let's get the track volume moves done first (or pre/gain moves if you want to fix it before it hits the comp) before jumping on the compressor.
Doing your moves befor or after the comp are very powerfull options- Plays on whether the vocal lays heavy into the comp in the hot sections of not for example.
The result will likely be quite different (less comp overall for one). :)
If a section isn't sitting well there is a fairly good chance that there is some mixing yet to be done.
 
NYMorningstar said:
Did you ever consider leaving the dynamics in the vocals and building the rest of the instrumental volumes around them to even it out?
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Depends on the song, type of music, emotional direction of the track. Some songs would sound utterly retarted if they had the original dynamics totally intact without some bit of smashing from compressors and limiters. But, you could do that as well if the song required it. I'm all about treating the voice as just another instrument instead of approaching it the exact same every song and treating it always as THE VOICE.
 
oh yeah... just a tip to the OP...sometimes the notes in the vocal melody, or even the syllables of the lyrics can be a big factor in whether it fits or not... In a way, I can see what Morningstar was saying... there are sometimes some great results when the vocal parts are being written to "cut through" instead of trying to do it with the mix. Also the instrumentation could cause hardships as well. =D But yep, you need a compressor... I often find myself (almost always) going to either t-racks compressor or PSP vintage warmer. Not very surgical (but very musical).
 
mixsit said:
come on guys. Since the question is going for some basic guidence let's get the track volume moves done first
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Actually, this was the question:
Is there a program or plug-in that takes a track and evens out the volume in it?
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.

Sounds pretty straight-forward to me.:cool:
 
RAMI said:
That would be a compressor.

I once had an evening out with volume on a track..It was a lovely evening, too.
Click to expand...

I once had an evening out with a compressor. We had a smashing time.
 
Hard limit the whole track at -50dB threshold!!!!

Then add makeup gain. You'll be sounding "radio" in no time :D
 
Throwing a compressor at the problem of an inexperienced vocalist having wholesale volume differences in different parts of the song is..... WRONG, even if that's what they asked for. ;)
The compressor will be squashing the hell out of one part of the song, and doing nothing in another part. I'm with Mixsit on this.
You need to get everything in the ballpark first. You can use fader automation, volume curves, whatever your setup supports. Once the gross volume changes are evened out, then there's the question of whether the timber changes too much. If so, re-track the vocals, having him be more aware of control. Dynamics that support the mood of the vocal are fine.

Only when the vocal sounds pretty good without comprsssion should you turn on the compressor. Then it can do nice, consistant, musical compression.
 
masteringhouse said:
No that was someone else that I had a relationship with. I broke it off though because I found it too "limiting".
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Let me guess, she exceeded your threshold, you found nothing to gain from continuing the relationship, so you released her?

Same old story. Compressors; can't live with 'em, can't return them for a refund.

G.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
Let me guess, she exceeded your threshold, you found nothing to gain from continuing the relationship, so you released her?

Same old story. Compressors; can't live with 'em, can't return them for a refund.

G.
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Exactly. I saw no reason to dither around, and I started see someone named Aural. She was more "exciting".
 
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