Can I borrow your presets?

[TheMH]

I USE ADOBE AUDITION 3

I recently got a studio mic... nothing to impressive (samson c01u) but will do for now. I have a track that I really want to sound perfect because i feel like its some of my best work so far and i wont let anyone hear it until i'm staisfied with the quality.

Let me first say that im not trying to become a rapper. at the moment its just a hobby but i do take my work serious. I was recording with a headset at first just because i figured recording low quality is better then not recording at all. This will be my first song i have recorded on the mic.

I'm looking to do some mixing on my vocals. i ususally run some of the standard presets and i have been doing alot of research lately seeing what others do and taking several others techniques and applying them to see what sounds best. However none of them are giving the sound i want. They all seem to be too heavy on reverb and change the total sound of the vocals. I kind of like them but it doesnt sound professional or anywhere near it in my opinion.

Basically im asking for different sets of FX you all do to mix your vocals.

Not sure how relevant a clip of what i have recorded would be but i will upload upon request.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[audio_leak]

most presets (plugins) that would be used in any serious studio, are purchased or come with the software/hardware you buy. either way most decent plugins are purchased and are almost never free.

put basically its like this...

if you buy "......X......" audio interface, it normally will come with software that runs well with the hardware you just bought(could be Cubase, Protools, ect).
that software usually comes with the plugins your talking about. each company has there own plugins, and you can then buy other high quality plugins to add to your collection. this can be very pricy

the first thing id look for is a good compressor plugin, actually before that
do you even know how to use a compressor, or what its used for?
if not, read up on that, and learn how to use a compressor PROPERLY! just having one and messing around the dials normally doesnt work, because a compressor does a specific job and you need to use it for that.

ive never used adobe audition, you might have these plugins already and you dont even know it.

you can search google for a compressor plugin, im sure there is a bunch around. i downloaded one called the "classic compressor" from somewhere a few months ago. it was completly free and was a pretty nice compressor.
nothing like what i have with pro tools, but still it works as a compressor.

you say you run some of the standard presets, what are you using? and how are you using it?
you only mentioned reverb.

and i know its not what your going to what to hear, but your not going to get professional quality recordings, because your not a pro and neither is your setup, sorry to give you cold hard facts.
try not to get so stuck on wanting the perfect vocal track, or the perfect mix.
learn your equipment and use what you have to its fullest potential. forget about perfect, and go for the best that you can possibly do.

a talented musician will shine through on the crappiest recording, because normally talented musicians dont make "crappy" recordings, even when the quality is bad.

 

[mattr]

Presets won't help you.

You've already said that all the presets you've tried so far never get you the sound that you want... why would getting any more presets help? The unfortunate truth is that continuing to try more and more in the hope that you'll eventually find the 'magic preset' is never going to happen!

The processing that you deem necessary when mixing is down to the source/recording itself, the context of the mix, and to a certain extent your own preferences and mixing decisons. You need to develop a good understanding of the tools available to you, such as EQ and compression, so that you can make a decision about the mix and then be able to pinpoint exactly what you need to do to achieve it.

Certain presets (usually the ones you make yourself) can be helpful as shortcuts for particular commonly-used settings - after all, this is what the whole concept of presets is for - but never as a substitute for the understanding.

I have a couple of 'go to' plugins (particularly some of the UAD ones) that I like to use and which I will often reach for when mixing vocals, but how I use them (if at all) always varies.

And remember that before all this processing happens - before you even hit the red record button - you should be looking to get the raw sound as close to as you want it to sound "when its finished" as possible... vocal technique... mic technique... room acoustics... the mic itself... preamp... they all add up.

 

[TheMH]

oh i know that i am not capable of doing anything professionally when it comes to mixing and editing music at all. I was simply saying i want the best/better sound with what i have. I am not skilled at any of this but i am learning alot fast.

Audition to my knowledge has almost everything that the top programs have. I am currently experimenting with this:
>filtering (pop and hiss)
>and i just started messing with multiband compressor to liven up the sound and make it fuller.
>adjust them to 1db

those are the only things done directly to the vocal tracks
these FX are indierect
>Parametric EQ = R&B Groove
>dynamic processing = rap vocals or classic soft knee
>a plug in called mastering = 20% reverb, 60% exciter

i used another set up that used Reverb directly and added small studio reverb but i dont like that for this particular track.

To answer your other question i have a mild understanding of compression. What i have read is basically it make the lows high and the highs low to even out the overall sound of a track.

Dont worry about offending me. I'm only looking for help and whatever manner you choose to do so is fine by me.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

As long as you undertand that presets are only starting points, and not actual settings to be *used*, I, for one, will be happy to share my fail-safe presets with you

Track level: Mute

EQ Bandwidth: One-half octave
EQ Frequency: 1KHz
EQ level: Flat
EQ Plug Status: Bypass

Compression Ratio: 1:1
Compression Threshold: 0dBFS
Compression Attack/Release: Auto
Compression Plug Status: Bypass

Reverb Preset: Warm Room (or similar)
Reverb Wet/Dry Mix: 0%
Reverb Plug Status: Bypass

Start with those presets and use your ears to fine tune - if necessary - from there, and you can't go wrong. Unless of course you don't have the ears, in which case you're up the creek regardless of what presets you may or may not start with.

G.

 

[TheMH]

Presets won't help you.

You've already said that all the presets you've tried so far never get you the sound that you want... why would getting any more presets help? The unfortunate truth is that continuing to try more and more in the hope that you'll eventually find the 'magic preset' is never going to happen!

The processing that you deem necessary when mixing is down to the source/recording itself, the context of the mix, and to a certain extent your own preferences and mixing decisons. You need to develop a good understanding of the tools available to you, such as EQ and compression, so that you can make a decision about the mix and then be able to pinpoint exactly what you need to do to achieve it.

Certain presets (usually the ones you make yourself) can be helpful as shortcuts for particular commonly-used settings - after all, this is what the whole concept of presets is for - but never as a substitute for the understanding.

I have a couple of 'go to' plugins (particularly some of the UAD ones) that I like to use and which I will often reach for when mixing vocals, but how I use them (if at all) always varies.

And remember that before all this processing happens - before you even hit the red record button - you should be looking to get the raw sound as close to as you want it to sound "when its finished" as possible... vocal technique... mic technique... room acoustics... the mic itself... preamp... they all add up.

Great info. What I am trying to build is a set of "go to plugins". I see i was a little unclear but i actually meant that i am looking for different effects, compression and eq techniques, etc. that i should look into.

i'm listening to it now and i see i will have to re-record it because im not liking the eq'ing and filtering i did earlier. I'm gonna try a different location, mic placement, volume but once thats done i will still have to mix the vocals accordingly and will be back at square one.

 

[TheMH]

As long as you undertand that presets are only starting points, and not actual settings to be *used*, I, for one, will be happy to share my fail-safe presets with you

Track level: Mute

EQ Bandwidth: One-half octave
EQ Frequency: 1KHz
EQ level: Flat
EQ Plug Status: Bypass

Compression Ratio: 1:1
Compression Threshold: 0dBFS
Compression Attack/Release: Auto
Compression Plug Status: Bypass

Reverb Preset: Warm Room (or similar)
Reverb Wet/Dry Mix: 0%
Reverb Plug Status: Bypass

Start with those presets and use your ears to fine tune - if necessary - from there, and you can't go wrong. Unless of course you don't have the ears, in which case you're up the creek regardless of what presets you may or may not start with.

G.

Thanks, that's exactly what i was looking for! Gonna try this as a starting point and see where it gets me.

 

[Massive Master]

As hard as I tried, this was the response from the system:

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to SouthSIDE Glen again.

 

[mattr]

Some nice suggestions of settings there

You've reminded me of something... I noticed before that you said about "pop and hiss filtering" but forgot to address that in my last post. It won't take long though, as my simple suggestion is... don't use it. If there are pops, crackles or hissing then you have other things to worry about and should be looking at your signal chain and remove this noise at the source, and if you don't then, well, err, you have no reason to use it!

Also, forget about the multiband compressor at the moment. They can be useful, I can't think of many times that I've actually needed one, and even then its usually more for a 'surgical' kind of use than something 'cosmetic' (if those words mean the same thing to you in the context as they do to me). Once you understand a compressor, you also understand a multiband compressor (though they can take a bit more practice to get used to using proficiently).


By saying "go to plugins", I meant ones that I like for their purpose. For example, if I want a compressor I will normally load up either the UAD 1176, UAD LA-2A, Bootsy Density or DFF Blockfish... they're all still compressors, and will still require me to set them up in order to achieve the kind of compression I had in mind when I thought "this needs compression".

Thanks, that's exactly what i was looking for! Gonna try this as a starting point and see where it gets me.

I don't think you could have proven Glen's point any better than you just did

Those settings that he posted will do nothing to your track... flat EQ... 1:1 compression... 100% dry reverb... hence why they are the only safe, 'suitable for any track' starting points.

 

[Bristol Posse]

As long as you undertand that presets are only starting points, and not actual settings to be *used*, I, for one, will be happy to share my fail-safe presets with you

Track level: Mute

EQ Bandwidth: One-half octave
EQ Frequency: 1KHz
EQ level: Flat
EQ Plug Status: Bypass

Compression Ratio: 1:1
Compression Threshold: 0dBFS
Compression Attack/Release: Auto
Compression Plug Status: Bypass

Reverb Preset: Warm Room (or similar)
Reverb Wet/Dry Mix: 0%
Reverb Plug Status: Bypass

Start with those presets and use your ears to fine tune - if necessary - from there, and you can't go wrong. Unless of course you don't have the ears, in which case you're up the creek regardless of what presets you may or may not start with.

G.

Wonderful!! Made my morning

 

[TheMH]

yeah i figured the pop filter thing out when i just listened to it. does more harm than good. as far as the multiband goes, i picked that up when learning to master a complete track, i figured it would do almost the same for vocals and tried it yesterday to see how it would turn out. Its a new tactic so it wont be hard to let go.

Compression is what i will focus on for now. In audition 3 i have Dynamic Processor, multiband, and tube-modeled compressor. Looks like my options are limited. I'll be experimenting with those for now.

 

[miroslav]

Track level: Mute


EQ Plug Status: Bypass


Compression Plug Status: Bypass


Reverb Plug Status: Bypass

But the funniest thing is that the OP doesn't get it yet!

 

[RAMI]

But the funniest thing is that the OP doesn't get it yet!

SSShhhhh.....He gave him the best starting point.

The cool thing about those pre-sets isn't just the "MUTE" and "BYPASS" settings. They don't even matter considering we're talking about things like "Ratio 1:1" and "Threshold Odbfs".

It's pure genius.

 

[RAMI]

I wonder if panning the vocals in the middle would be a good suggestion for a starting point.

 

[grimtraveller]

Don't want to bust your chops friend, but just experiment ! Keep experimenting and do a bit of reading up. Check out the various arguments. Twiddle about and see what sounds you can come up with.


Presets won't help you.

You've already said that all the presets you've tried so far never get you the sound that you want... why would getting any more presets help? The unfortunate truth is that continuing to try more and more in the hope that you'll eventually find the 'magic preset' is never going to happen!

The processing that you deem necessary when mixing is down to the source/recording itself, the context of the mix, and to a certain extent your own preferences and mixing decisons. You need to develop a good understanding of the tools available to you, such as EQ and compression, so that you can make a decision about the mix and then be able to pinpoint exactly what you need to do to achieve it.

Certain presets (usually the ones you make yourself) can be helpful as shortcuts for particular commonly-used settings - after all, this is what the whole concept of presets is for - but never as a substitute for the understanding.


That's fairly sound advice.

 

[miroslav]

SSShhhhh.....He gave him the best starting point.

The cool thing about those pre-sets isn't just the "MUTE" and "BYPASS" settings. They don't even matter considering we're talking about things like "Ratio 1:1" and "Threshold Odbfs".

It's pure genius.

But I would think words like MUTE and BYPASS would set off some lightbulbs...even for a total newbie.

I wonder if panning the vocals in the middle would be a good suggestion for a starting point.

EXACTLY!!!

Thanks for pointing that out...I think I just won my debate with Glen.

Vocals dead-center is the PERFECT "safe" preset to use for the starting position.

 

[mattr]

I always pan my vocals above me and slightly to the left. I keep them out of the way there, so there is more room for the chocolate filling.

If we're being picky, a 0dbfs threshold doesn't really imply anything as you could (if you for some reason felt inclined to) have an input higher than 0db, which most well-written plugins would happily play along with The 1:1 ratio is the all-important one...

 

[Chibi Nappa]

As long as you undertand that presets are only starting points, and not actual settings to be *used*, I, for one, will be happy to share my fail-safe presets with you

:lol:

I'd rep you if the boards would let me!

 

[TheMH]

Come on now. My response was sarcasm. Maybe i should have thrown one of these at the end >> I mean the first thing he said was mute. But whatever, I'm loving yall sense of humor.

I'm gonna re-record later tonight and i'll come back with more specific questions when i go to mix.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

But I would think words like MUTE and BYPASS would set off some lightbulbs...even for a total newbie.

...

Thanks for pointing that out...I think I just won my debate with Glen.

You'd be wise to not jump so fast at Rami's thread bait. Considering the fact that I have already muted the track as the starting preset, any talk about pan location is trumped.

But then again - not being a total newbie you already lightbulbed that idea, which makes your last post completely insincere.



God, Rami, what did I ever do to you to deserve this?

G.