Double Tracking Vocals

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TelePaul

TelePaul

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Hey guys, I know double-tracking is a popular technique but how do you guys ensure it's spot on in terms of timing and emphasis? it's hard to describe, but the few times I've tried it, it sounds like two people singing different takes rather than a strong one-vocal line. Am I missing the point?
 
Ive had the same problem... even when I think I am singing the same exact part, upon playback it sounds like two people singing the exact same part, jsut a tiny bit off from one another. That then introduces phasing problems, etc etc.

I haven't tried this, but it occurred to me, perhaps you could try adjusting the doubled part back a bit in time (probably on the order of milliseconds), to sync it back up with the original track. This may very well be 100% incorrect, but it seems to me that adding the very slight lag from the time the audio leaves the machine and gets to your headphones, your response time, and the lag from your mic to the computer, would yield enough to create this effect.

You might try searching for prior posts about this, as it may be a common problem. Most would probably say "sing the part closer to the original", but I get the same effect if I play the same track through two channels, and apply a very slight delay to the second one.

Fortunately, I haven't had to double my own track as I think they come out Okay (not great, I won't flatter myself), or are at least full enough to sit in the mix.

I'm going to poke around on the topic, as it has sparked my interest too :)
 
Try recording one line at a time. Monitor the pre-recorded take while tracking and try to duplicate the enunciation perfectly. Loop it until you get it right. It will take a long time, but it works. You might have to nudge the timing of the tracks if you have any delay/latency in your system.
 
scrubs said:
Try recording one line at a time. Monitor the pre-recorded take while tracking and try to duplicate the enunciation perfectly. Loop it until you get it right. It will take a long time, but it works. You might have to nudge the timing of the tracks if you have any delay/latency in your system.
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Cool, I direct monitor vocals so latency isn't an issue for me, but it seems like this is just one more aspect of music that requires pratcice! I guess it helps to know the vocal inside out.
 
In hip hop, we do it very often, having 6 vocal tracks (I only use 4)
I just got to know the lyrics, know where they should go, and have at it. Usually, if I mess up on the second track, I'll just cut that part out, and punch in later on it.

As for lag. Not really. Sound travels pretty fast, and electricity travels even faster (near the speed of light). So direct monitoring, you'll get maybe .0000000000001ms off. From the interface, that's going to be different.
 
Double tracking really depends on the vocalist being in control of his/her performance. Some people are good at it and some people aren't. Doing it line by line does help. (sing the line, then sing the line again, then move on to the next line)

sometimes you have to edit the hard consonants (T's, K's etc...) off of one of the takes.

You could also try to put the second take quieter in the mix.
 
getting the 1st take perfect is crucial in acheiving the double tracking technique for vocals.
Once you ahve the 1st take perfect with the attack and tails. (you can edit the attack and tails to get it perfect) then recor the 2nd take while listening to the 1st take.

Eck
 
If you could do it perfectly, which you can't, there'd be no point - you could just copy the first track. Practice to the first take till you have it nailed, then do the dub track. Edit any timing mistakes, and then lower the volume of the dub track till it almost disapears, except in places where you want it to stand out as a doubled part.
 
For R&B and Pop, I almost almost always double up lead vocals...you get the richer sound...however, it's usually a good idea too record the double track (2nd track) at a lower level than the first to really keep the "Lead" sound on the track so that it really doesnt sound like two people. I would't look for perfection cause it takes away from the texture of the vocal in my opinion...
 
scrubs said:
Try recording one line at a time. Monitor the pre-recorded take while tracking and try to duplicate the enunciation perfectly. Loop it until you get it right. It will take a long time, but it works. You might have to nudge the timing of the tracks if you have any delay/latency in your system.
Click to expand...
Badda Bing.
 
It also helps to eat your closing consonants on all but the first take.

1st take:

I want to rip your head off, leave a bloody stump...

2nd through 27th takes:

I wan to rih your heah off, lea a bloddy stumm.

It's often the closing consonants that'll give you away. And of course, you need to be able to recreate delivery very faithfully each time. Lastly, it also helps to not try to mix them at exact same levels.

Here's a recent song that has 6 identical vocals tracks throughout (not countying harmony lines):
 
scrubs said:
Try recording one line at a time. Monitor the pre-recorded take while tracking and try to duplicate the enunciation perfectly. Loop it until you get it right. It will take a long time, but it works. You might have to nudge the timing of the tracks if you have any delay/latency in your system.
Click to expand...

Wow, this never works for me. You'll hear a pitch wobble between new and old and you can't tell who's flat and who's sharp, and you'll inevitably mis-attribute and correct the wrong one.

I ALWAYS defeat previous vocal tracks in the phones before singing the next. Yes, it is hard to get them to align perfectly, but if you practice, you'll nail it.

BTW, some singers, Prince being the most notable, do a great job of falling out of sync on doubled vocal tracks. It's not always a bad thing.
 
Todzilla said:
BTW, some singers, Prince being the most notable, do a great job of falling out of sync on doubled vocal tracks. It's not always a bad thing.
Click to expand...

agreed. too much emphasis on "perfection"
 
TelePaul said:
Hey guys, I know double-tracking is a popular technique but how do you guys ensure it's spot on in terms of timing and emphasis? it's hard to describe, but the few times I've tried it, it sounds like two people singing different takes rather than a strong one-vocal line. Am I missing the point?
Click to expand...

For me, double tracking imperfections make my voice tolerable. It thickens it up. The second part is kept at a lower volume. Much lower.
 
I sometimes double-track the vocals. I'm no singer, and my shit aint perfect, but I find it helps to A) obviously sing it as close to the original as possible and, B) drop the doubled track pretty low in the mix just enough thicken up the main track without making it sound like 2 people singing the same thing. Not pronouncing everything as clearly, as mentioned already, helps too.
 
You can get what sounds very much like double tracking vocals with a pitch transposer tuned up around.35% or so and modulated a bit. Gives that "Ozzi" kind of sound.
 
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