How do you process screams for metal?

[koleDS]

I'm using FL Studio 10 producer edition and cannot get screams seated properly into the mix of my song. They always sound like they're too thin and detached. I've tried compression, slight distortion, reverb, parametric EQ. I don't know if it's a hardware issue, or maybe the vocalist's position during the recording, I didn't use any preamps or anything since they're pretty raw screams. I've processed them solo, and with the song, and can't figure it out. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MrWrenchey]

What mic are you using?

 

[AscendRecording]

Please post an example of your vocals, i'm sure we will be able to give you a more accurate response

 

[jaynm26]

I'm using FL Studio 10 producer edition and cannot get screams seated properly into the mix of my song. They always sound like they're too thin and detached. I've tried compression, slight distortion, reverb, parametric EQ. I don't know if it's a hardware issue, or maybe the vocalist's position during the recording, I didn't use any preamps or anything since they're pretty raw screams. I've processed them solo, and with the song, and can't figure it out. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Same way you process everything record @ -18 dB. You should proly rebalance everything else in the mix you can't get vocal to fit. (FL Studio is not ideal for mixing & recording) record solo yeah external pre amp might be good you can get double it or triple. Are you compression correctly to get the Vox to sit forward in the mix? Delay and reverb will jus enhance what you set once you get it right. Again try rebalancing the mix.

 

[koleDS]

Please post an example of your vocals, i'm sure we will be able to give you a more accurate response

View attachment Melodal.mp3

Screams at intro, 1:03 - 1:16, and 1:52 - 2:06

Same way you process everything record @ -18 dB. You should proly rebalance everything else in the mix you can't get vocal to fit. (FL Studio is not ideal for mixing & recording) record solo yeah external pre amp might be good you can get double it or triple. Are you compression correctly to get the Vox to sit forward in the mix? Delay and reverb will jus enhance what you set once you get it right. Again try rebalancing the mix.

I'm probably not even close to the right compression settings, I just kind of tweaked all of the parameters until I thought it sounded better. But FL Studios compressors aren't that great to begin with lol. I also compressed the vox on the way in, but idk if that was the right thing to do. I separated the lows and highs into two different mixer tracks to process them separately. I used compression, distortion, reverb, and parametric EQ (to clean up excess frequencies).

Here's the specs on my mic:

Capsule 3 Blue-proprietary 14mm condenser capsules
Polar Pattern Cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, stereo
Frequency Response 20Hz - 20kHz
Sensitivity 4.5mV/Pa (1kHz)
Max Input Sound Level (SPL) 120dB (THD: 0.5% 1kHz)

 

[AscendRecording]

So in the example it sounds like you've high passed pretty high. They also sound like they can use a de-esser.

Try bringing some of the low end back in but instead of boosting the low end on the vocals, try setting your highpass filter a littler lower. If that doesn't work, I'd suggest carving out space from other instrument's to make room for your vocals. Also try bringing them in a little bit instead of panning them out so much. I never pan my vocals out further than 50%.

I noticed your whole mix is pumping through out the whole mix and it's also clipping in some spots as well. I'm thinking it's your compressor on the master bus.

 

[JeffroMixesYou]

Low-mids. The whole mix needs 'em. That would help the vocal to start.

You could also try some parallel compression on the vocal. Distort/compress the parallel chain and add in copious amounts of all the stuff that is missing in the original track. Sneak that in back under the original.

 

[Guitargodgt]

Usually something along these lines. Delay taps in sync with the temp of the song, some slight reverb after and slammed to death through a comp.

 

[JeffroMixesYou]

Awesome post. So interesting to hear what they're doing with the vocals underneath. Damn shame about Randy Blythe and that kid in the Czech Republic...

Usually something along these lines. Delay taps in sync with the temp of the song, some slight reverb after and slammed to death through a comp.

 

[Guitargodgt]

Awesome post. So interesting to hear what they're doing with the vocals underneath. Damn shame about Randy Blythe and that kid in the Czech Republic...

I watched the video on the making of that record, IIRC machine just used a sm58 for the vocals (there is a possibility that there were other mics used, but that was what I saw).

 

[witzendoz]

I watched the video on the making of that record, IIRC machine just used a sm58 for the vocals (there is a possibility that there were other mics used, but that was what I saw).

Whenever I have a metal band in to record I often use an SM58 or something similar for the screams, and use a normal LDC for the rest of the vocals

Alan.

 

[sixer2007]

Usually something along these lines. Delay taps in sync with the temp of the song, some slight reverb after and slammed to death through a comp.

Wow man, thanks a lot for that clip! I listen to tons of this style metal and always try to pick out the vocal effects. This helps a lot!
Do you know if there are other clips like this from other artists around the interwebs?

 

[Guitargodgt]

Somewhere on the net Sybreed released the multi tracks for Doomsday Party.

I have no idea where or if they are even still up. It was for a remix contest.

Lacuna Coil did the same thing for To The Edge.

I dunno, if you search around stuff is there. I came across the top 2 legally via a remix contest. The Lamb of God sacrament CD came out with a version that had every song's multis on a 2nd disc. It was pretty cool, although being in MP.3 version was kind of disappointing.

 

[jaynm26]

This post still goin strong huh?

 

[rfahey86]

Usually Compress the hell out of 'em. Add a little saturation, and EQ to taste until they fit in the mix. I used to use an sm57 to do the screams, but have recently switch to an Audio Technica AT4033. I find it is much more "open" sounding. During choruses and parts where the vocals should be a little beefier, I double track them with both mics using the AT4033 as my main mic. I then apply heavy limiting to the sm57 track and blend it to taste.

 

[Guitargodgt]

When I say slammed, I literally mean there is almost no dynamics to the vocals. I mean this genre is slammed to death and back across the board, the only way to get the vocals up front and clear is to smash the hell out of them. Honestly I pretty much end up with limiter settings the way I use compression on screamers. Ratios in the 20-30:1 area, 10-15ms attack, semi slow release and set that threshold for some good GR.

I do want to try riding the fader around at some point and see if I like that, or vocal rider from waves (will probably snag that the next time it goes on sale). For now the above method is what I go with.

I try not to eq to much on vocals personally, YMMV but I tend to not mess with them much beyond some roll off on the top and bottom of the spectrum in areas that are not missed.

Then I send that to an aux (or group or whatever your daw's terminoligy uses) with both a multi tap delay set to usually quarters and half note taps on both the L and R sides of the spectrum and maybe a whole note or something up the center, set the feedback of those delays so they don't ring out to long. I actually don't like the amount that was used on that sample I posed of Randy's voice.

Then throw on some slight verb after that and I'm good.

That's whay I do, I've done other stuff but that works for me most of the time.

 

[sixer2007]

When I say slammed, I literally mean there is almost no dynamics to the vocals. I mean this genre is slammed to death and back across the board, the only way to get the vocals up front and clear is to smash the hell out of them. Honestly I pretty much end up with limiter settings the way I use compression on screamers. Ratios in the 20-30:1 area, 10-15ms attack, semi slow release and set that threshold for some good GR.

I do want to try riding the fader around at some point and see if I like that, or vocal rider from waves (will probably snag that the next time it goes on sale). For now the above method is what I go with.

I try not to eq to much on vocals personally, YMMV but I tend to not mess with them much beyond some roll off on the top and bottom of the spectrum in areas that are not missed.

Then I send that to an aux (or group or whatever your daw's terminoligy uses) with both a multi tap delay set to usually quarters and half note taps on both the L and R sides of the spectrum and maybe a whole note or something up the center, set the feedback of those delays so they don't ring out to long. I actually don't like the amount that was used on that sample I posed of Randy's voice.

Then throw on some slight verb after that and I'm good.

That's whay I do, I've done other stuff but that works for me most of the time.

Sir, thanks again. Great pointers!