double trackin tips would be awesome

[kidkage]

There's a certain depth I hear in songs where the vocals are double tracked occasionally. When I double track my stuff, it ends up having this overly "processed" sound. Is there any way I could get that depth im looking for? Would singing at a different volume, pitch, or something help?

P.S.- When I do it, I basically do the same take (same mic and all) twice.

 

[Steenamaroo]

do you pan the two takes apart? I don't like double tracking if the two parts share the same space in the mix, left to right.

Sometime's i'll double track with one of them being an octave lower than the other, but usually not.

Post up an example of your double tracking. The only other thing i can think of is how tight is your singing...
IMO, for double tracking to work well, it has to be two really really really close takes, like on nirvana's nevermind for example.

 

[grimtraveller]

If your DAW has the ability to speed up and slow down recordings, record one vocal a semitone higher than normal playback and the double track one semitone lower. When you put them together, have one only at partial volume so you can't tell it's been double tracked, but with sufficient volume to make a difference if you took it away altogether. You'll get 'presence'.

 

[mixsit]

.. When you put them together, have one only at partial volume so you can't tell it's been double tracked, but with sufficient volume to make a difference if you took it away altogether. You'll get 'presence'.

There. Try starting out with it low like an effect blend.
Interesting thing I find is if I'm in the frame of mind of hearing the main track in focus and sort of optimized in the mix first, and now we're going to enhance that my preception for the need for the doubing' (level) goes down, and my tolorance for whether the effect is actually pulling it off well.

something like that anyway.

 

[VomitHatSteve]

A few people have mentioned volume. I think that's the important thing. Adjust the volume so that it's not obvious that you've double-tracked it.

Also, as a few people have mentioned, get your takes to be as identical as possible. Nothing ruins the effect quite like having one of the vocals come in at the wrong time!

 

[mixsit]

A few people have mentioned volume. I think that's the important thing. Adjust the volume so that it's not obvious that you've double-tracked it.

Also, as a few people have mentioned, get your takes to be as identical as possible. Nothing ruins the effect quite like having one of the vocals come in at the wrong time!

One of the same things you might do with a bunch of harmony vocals, with automation trim tails, fades, to match the lead voice.

 

[DogmaticVox]

Here's what I have found:

1) First and foremost, focus on getting the double to be as close to the original as possible. Take it one verse at a time, even line by line if you have to, to get it dead on. The tighter the double the better it's going to sound. It will be full without easily noticing that it's doubled. A master of getting the doubled take SUPER tight is Dave Grohl. Here's a link to the Foo Fighters song My Hero without guitar. Missing the guitar you can really hear the vocals and how they were recorded. Notice how insanely tight the double is. HERE

2) Take the doubled track and lower the volume all the way. Now play the song back while slowly bringing the fader up for the doubled track until you just start to hear the vocal fatten up a bit, then stop.

3) Try panning the second one like 5% to one side while keeping the lead in the center. Experiment with it but don't feel the need to pan if it doesn't need it. And as far as panning is concerned. I like to have my lead vocals in the center and the backups doubled and panned hard right and left. See my example HERE. Skip to 2:30

 

[kidkage]

Panning a little to one side and low volume has helped a lot. They sound nice and tight... but just dont wonk on this particular song... the other song however sounds exactly like i want with a dbl tracked chrous