Mixing vocals into a all instrumental mix

[Nick The Man]

I always record vocals last, after all instruments have been recorded. But when I try to mix the vocals in they always end up being way to quiet. So what I do is lower the volume on all the instruments, but in return the final mixdown ends up sounding very quiet compared to other recordings. So I guess my question is, how does everyone else record vocals so loud but they never clip? Is this a simple mixing error or what?????

 

[Jack Russell]

Sounds like you haven't learned to use vocal compression. That would be my guess.

Parts that don't have some compression, will end up being 'quiet' compared to parts that do have compression.

 

[FajitaTone]

mastering engineers add the final "level" just focus on getting a good sounding mix. lowering the other tracks is generally better than cranking the vocal, leave yourself some headroom, use the vocal to duck some of the instruments that compete with it. and ride faders, there is nothing better than dynamics in a song. not everything has to stay the same level for the entire song.

 

[Nick The Man]

Sounds like you haven't learned to use vocal compression. That would be my guess.

Parts that don't have some compression, will end up being 'quiet' compared to parts that do have compression.

well your right but really its just the fact that i havent mastered compression on anything ... in fact i know very little

 

[Nick The Man]

mastering engineers add the final "level" just focus on getting a good sounding mix. lowering the other tracks is generally better than cranking the vocal, leave yourself some headroom, use the vocal to duck some of the instruments that compete with it. and ride faders, there is nothing better than dynamics in a song. not everything has to stay the same level for the entire song.

thats a good idea, but when i leave myself headroom my whole mix comes out really quiet ... really quiet.

what would you say is a good amount of headroom?

 

[Bulls Hit]

Why not just run your final 2-track through a limiter?

Resulto: Mucho volumino

 

[FajitaTone]

thats a good idea, but when i leave myself headroom my whole mix comes out really quiet ... really quiet.

what would you say is a good amount of headroom?

I mix with peaks at -10 and avg -20. figure out what headroom is comfortable to your system.

 

[Nick The Man]

I mix with peaks at -10 and avg -20. figure out what headroom is comfortable to your system.

wow why so quiet .. i dont understand