Doubled takes?

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morejaylesswar

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I've been on the quest for great vocals for some time now. The most common thing I hear is doubling the vocals to get a thicker sound. However, I am not a fan of the sound. My records take a more personal, conversational tone. I want it to sound organic.

If you listen to J. Cole's records, his vocals are much how I'd like mine to be.

Example: J. Cole - Grown Simba

Now maybe I'm doing it wrong and he actually doubles his verses, I just don't hear it. If there's a way to double it and get a fuller vocal, I'm all ears. I do enjoy doubling certain parts to add a little more exciting sound to it. Especially hooks and stuff. Even parts of a verse to add a bit of intended dissonance for the effect. That, I have no problem with.

I guess I'm looking on more of a clarity about doubling vocals and as well, what can be done to make them sound a bit more fuller?

I just bought a Rode NT1-A and it sounds a bit frail...
 
I've been on the same quest as you, and I've finally started to find a technique that suits my voice.

If you could link an example from one of your songs that may help me better understand where exactly you may be messing up. Because what I'm about to say is totally speculation.

I can tell he is double tracking his vocals in that song, and it's done very well. What you may be doing wrong is not having the doubled track at a low enough volume, and depending on what you are going for you may want to experiment with which effects you want to add to each track. Also, are you moving the doubled track back, but not too far back? And are you rerecording your doubled track, or copying and pasting it? If you are redoing it, it may not be coming out sounding close enough to the original take. Another thing that's important when double tracking is panning.
 
moresound said:
What are you using as a microphone pre amp?
Click to expand...

Nothing other than my M-Box as of right now. I'm in the process of redoing everything. I had been looking at this PreSonus Studio Channel. However, I don't know how I would hook that up with what I'm using or if I could use that with Pro Tools, etc. If not, I'll just upgrade to PT9 this week and research a better interface the next time I come across a few bucks. I think you're a Reaper guy, right? You've helped me a bunch with my other questions.
 
Bugz McNair said:
I've been on the same quest as you, and I've finally started to find a technique that suits my voice.

If you could link an example from one of your songs that may help me better understand where exactly you may be messing up. Because what I'm about to say is totally speculation.

I can tell he is double tracking his vocals in that song, and it's done very well. What you may be doing wrong is not having the doubled track at a low enough volume, and depending on what you are going for you may want to experiment with which effects you want to add to each track. Also, are you moving the doubled track back, but not too far back? And are you rerecording your doubled track, or copying and pasting it? If you are redoing it, it may not be coming out sounding close enough to the original take. Another thing that's important when double tracking is panning.
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"Precious" - Jay Adams

This was recorded with an MXL 990, though. I adlibbed certain parts of the verses. I turned them down so much that they were barely noticeable.

As far as your questions about what I'm doing with doubling: All I did with this record was record the adlibs twice and then pan both takes left and right, then turned them down to a barely audible level. I don't know anything about moving back and forward, though.

Thanks for your reply!

Edit: Here's one without any dubs at all, same MXL 990 mic.

"The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen" - Jay Adams
 
morejaylesswar said:
Nothing other than my M-Box as of right now. I'm in the process of redoing everything. I had been looking at this PreSonus Studio Channel. However, I don't know how I would hook that up with what I'm using or if I could use that with Pro Tools, etc. If not, I'll just upgrade to PT9 this week and research a better interface the next time I come across a few bucks. I think you're a Reaper guy, right? You've helped me a bunch with my other questions.
Click to expand...

Reaper at home, Pro tools in the studio ..... but a DAW is a DAW - just boils down to what you may ultimately feel comfortable with.
 
moresound said:
Reaper at home, Pro tools in the studio ..... but a DAW is a DAW - just boils down to what you may ultimately feel comfortable with.
Click to expand...

That's what I've always been told. I've only used a few DAWs, but I can agree. For me, I was taught the basics of Pro Tools by a guy I'd consider a mentor, so that's what I stick with until I feel comfortable enough with that to get into something else. My mixing now is just a series of mistakes that come out sounding okay. I don't ever think I can replicate anything that I've done! LOL! I'd be so embarrassed to show my sessions to anyone else.
 
Yeah like a controlled fall if you do it just right and with grace it looks cool in the end.
I've had mixes and tracks with that *series of mistakes* that sound so cool but was so wrong.
Many great things in the world have come to light in just that fashion.
 
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