Getting "bright" vocals into the mix

  • Thread starter Thread starter mojotooth
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mojotooth

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So I'm mixing some stuff down and I'm having a hard time getting the vocals to kinda sit "down" in the mix a bit. The vocals seem very bright but leveling them down isn't having the effect that I want. Basically if I don't mix them down, the vocals are too "present" and they cut right through the mix. If I do mix them down, they eventually just get too quiet. I can't find a happy medium so I'm thinking I'm on the wrong path.

I suspect I need to apply some effects here. The vocals were recorded at close range with an Audix OM2 microphone. Anybody familiar with recording vocals with this kind of mic, and then mixing them into a track?

I've played around with a bit of parametric EQ but that's just experimentation. I haven't found anything that's really made me happy.

Can someone give some pointers on processing overbright vocals?
 
It's hard to say what "overbright" is. Normally you want the vocals brighter so that they do cut thru. If you're not wanting the vocals to be so upfront, then there simply has to a point when you bring down the volume that they sit well...or cut back on the highs.
 
it's hard to say without listening but compression can help tame some of the harshness.

Are you trying any reverb or delay on the vocals?
 
I don't remember where I saw this but I will try to tell you that in my own way:

You DON'T want the vocals to "Sit into" the mix. You want the mix to sit around the vocals.

Because the most important part of the mix are the vocals, you should build your mix around them. Often when you try to put the vocals in the mix, you will find that the feeling of the mix is just no suiting the feeling of the vocals.

I don't know if you understand what I mean.

Anyway,
Beathoven
 
Yo Big Teeth of "da" MOJO:

You seem to have a problem that seems to be a desire of most folks who want the VOCAL UP FRONT AND CLEAR.

I think you ought to expand and explain to the site how you get such bright vocals.

I like up front vocals and strive to achieve that end in my work. However, my work is only "my work." But, I like it.

Maybe you've discovered the "lost vocal?"

Green Hornet
 
Hrm.

Well, perhaps I'm not explaining myself very well then.

Basically, the vocals have too much bite. It sounds like someone singing karaoke or something.

Maybe, now that I'm thinking about it, the problem is that the rest of the tracks don't have enough bite.

Who knows. I'm getting kinda discouraged. Maybe I should post the mix so you folks can hear what I'm talking about?
 
Tinny or Bright?

mojo,

This may be a "stupid" response...but I think I was having the same kind of problem. The levels & effects I was applying were too high up-front, and (using single track approach) I would 'soften' later by pan adjustments.

But most recently, with experience and what in my mind - I was doing wrong from the start, I have a better feeling of the kinds of songs I'm recording & equipment/instrument output with the mics I'm using - and what comes out is better (to me).

Hope this helps..

JD
 
Have you tried a different singer? One with less bite?!?!
 
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