2 double track or not 2 double track vox

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makes

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Hi there,

Im wondering what is the status quo for tracking vocals these days.
I personally like to record the vocal twice, making the singer sing it twice.
Of course this is not a rule. My writing/recording buddy doesnt like to cut tracks twice on anything!

I like to double track guitars and vocals, sometimes even drum tracks, not bass drum though. Ever hear the beginning to We're an American band by Grand Funk Railroad? If not give a listen.

Is there a tool/plugin/effect that will accomplish that double tracked sound for vocal? I have a Lexicon plugin thats OK but not like the real thing.

Thoughts, suggestions?

Thanks,

makes
 
Two vocal takes is usually standard, but rules are broken all the time.

I personally reserve doubling for clients that have weaker/shy singing voices.

It's all about personal taste.
 
In my world we usually cut 4 vocals all the way through, plus an "over the top" performance then build one great peformance out of all the other performances.

True double tracking is a production decision you will need to make on a song by song, artist by artist basis. If you're working with Ozzy Osbourne you don't have an option... if you were working with John Lennon, you'd A) be dead, and B) not have an option... but if you're working with someone who isn't locked into an effect as part of their regular thing... it's a production decision.

If you're looking to do an "ADT" [Automatic Double Track] all you need is a digital delay with like maybe 20ms of delay, and a little modulation if you wanna get cute with it. They never sound as good as a real double track, but will often get the point across.

Best of luck with it.
 
that foo fighter band seems to make a living off that type of sound. it can sound cheap sometimes or like a million dollars. i tend to think its for a weaker voice that needs it or dare i say a singer that cant sing that well and is more of a talker. think william shattner
 
vocal double take

I agree with your posts and thanks for them!
The sound is certainly an effect.
I will use it sometimes on certain sections of a tune for that purpose or to achieve that certain "vibe".
I have been recording a thin voiced singer that doesnt like to double track. Im trying to fatten him up somehow, he's got a bright thin voice and Im trying various mics on him, I started with a 4033 and have tried a 57 and a beta 57. I wish I had a tube mic to try out. Any suggestions on tube mics to try, I can rent from local shop here in Nashville.
This guys voice is similar to Ben Harper, not that musical, but same tonal quality.


Makes

thanks,
Ruben
 
gemsbok said:
think william shattner
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention him. I actually heard a new william shatner song on the radio yesterday. He has a new cd out.
 
that sound you hear is everyone jumping up at once and running out to get the new CD...
 
oh. that's what that sound was.

is there anyone who doesn't double track now? listening to the radio these days, i can't think of anyone for whom i think... pure vocals.
 
maybe this is obvious...

the most stupidly obvious way I double track is to just physically copy and shift (timewise) whatever I'm doubling by whatever millisecs sound good... and pitch shift very slightly too... but I find this dry/technical/processed method only works if it fits metahorically with the content (ie- if I want it to sound processed for metaphorical reasons)...

otherwise, for a more "natural" (in quotes, because that's a vague word) result, two different takes will produces a millions tiny differences that you can't replicate, even with plugins IMO.

Thinking about this, I remember reading an interview in Tape Op with the engineer who recorded Stevie Wonder on...I believe "songs in the key of life"... who said that double tracking Stevie's voice didn't do anything because Stevie was so locked into his vocal performance that it never changed enough to the differences that make up a "double track" sound..ahaha

sorry, this post is too long.
 
If you need it, and can afford to go the hardware route, check out the TC Helicon processors, which are expensive because they are supposed to be the best. A cheaper, but still viable route is to look into Digitech. Both of these processors have an "automatic doubling" feature. I've been on the websites and listened to the samples. Pretty good sounding.
But doing it by actually making the singer do it twice is still a better option, IMO...
 
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