Doubling up

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oneblood

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Generally when recording lead and backing vocals how many times will you double up a single vocal. For example, say you record your singer singing one phrase and then you record them singing the same phrase again in order to double that phrase. My question is generally how many times will you double up? I know this question depends on how many people will be singing, what kind of phrases they will be singing and the music that you are recording, so if you can please share with me your general techniques.
 
Usually I only double up certain parts of the vocal for more depth like strong parts of a verse and of course the chorus usually 1 or 2 additional vocal parts will do. I usually layer about 3 or 4 vocals for a scream to give it some extra depth. Of course even though I am layering, I am still trying to make it sound like one vocal part, unless I am doing a harmony. The more vocals you layer, the harder it is going to be to make it sound like only one person is singing. After too many tracks it will sound more like a choir than a single person. Basically trust your ears, if it sound funny or wrong than it is too much. I hope that helps.
 
That's one thing you will have to trust your ears on because every singer is different sometimes you might only need to do a total of 3 vocals (1 lead and 2 doubles) and sometimes you might want to do a total of 5 it all just depends on how the singer sounds and how you want the part that he/she is singing to sound. Trust your instincts better than that your ears that is what makes a good engineer
 
Do you guys use the same mic when doubling lead vocals. How about EQ, comp, and effects. I know it depends on what your doing. But there should be some genral why of going about it. Say it's a slow ballad or somthing like that.
 
oneblood said:
Generally when recording lead and backing vocals how many times will you double up a single vocal. For example, say you record your singer singing one phrase and then you record them singing the same phrase again in order to double that phrase. My question is generally how many times will you double up? I know this question depends on how many people will be singing, what kind of phrases they will be singing and the music that you are recording, so if you can please share with me your general techniques.

With doubling the same line, my advice is not to go further than 2 (or you must be after that 'hooligan, footbalstaium feel), backings and actave layers can have more doubles.
 
BrettB said:
With doubling the same line, my advice is not to go further than 2 (or you must be after that 'hooligan, footbalstaium feel), backings and actave layers can have more doubles.

That's not true. There is no set limit on how many times to double it's all about preference and what sounds good. and also it depends on the style of music R & B normally have to double 2 or 3 times depends on the singers voice and what sounds good to u. Rap I only double once but some ppl I have to double them twice because it sounds better with there voice. You just have to go by what sounds good.

Deepwater, yes I use the same mic with doubling the e.q. and the compression is a little different though not much just a little and sometimes with the right mic and pre amp, and person you might not need to e.q.
 
oneblood said:
How do you layer your harmonies?

As a general rule, and I can only speak for myself I just decide how many part harmony it is going to be. If it is just like a two part harmony I may throw an additional track per voice down to double both harmony parts. If it is a multipart harmony then I don't double them, I let the width of the harmony take over. There is no rule to it, just what sounds good. That is how I have gotten the best results.

Deepwater, I too use the same mic for doubling harmonies. When I have a good thing going, I usually don't change eq either. I change eq's and stuff on guitars because they perform a different function than vocals. Layering guitars with different eq curves can have some very impressive effects.
 
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