Mixing vocals

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Wiskid

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What's the best way to record vocals using multiple takes to get a thick sound? Right now I record 2-3 takes on separate tracks. My problem is that I get a disgusting chorusy phasey sound. I've tried panning. I've tried inverting phases. Anything to try? Can anyone refer me to a vocal recording/mixing/mastering tutorial?

Thanks.
 
usually, when doubling (or tripling, etc...) you won't want to have them all the same volume. Get your main track at a good level, and then bring up the other tracks slowly until they fill up the sound, as opposed to sounding like a "gang" vocal part (unless that's what you want).

Inverting phase won't do anything if it's separate takes.

Also, as you've probably found out, if you want them to sound tight, you have to sing all the parts really tight.You especially want phrases to start and end together. One thing I sometimes do is not pronounce the "ssss" at the end of the line on the extra tracks. I'll only pronounce it on the main vocal part. It will sound and feel weird while you're singing it without the "sss" on those extra tracks. But it will help make the end of lines that end with an "sss" sound much tighter.

A lot of it is simple practice, trial, and error.
 
RAMI said:
usually, when doubling (or tripling, etc...) you won't want to have them all the same volume. Get your main track at a good level, and then bring up the other tracks slowly until they fill up the sound, as opposed to sounding like a "gang" vocal part (unless that's what you want).

Inverting phase won't do anything if it's separate takes.

Also, as you've probably found out, if you want them to sound tight, you have to sing all the parts really tight.You especially want phrases to start and end together. One thing I sometimes do is not pronounce the "ssss" at the end of the line on the extra tracks. I'll only pronounce it on the main vocal part. It will sound and feel weird while you're singing it without the "sss" on those extra tracks. But it will help make the end of lines that end with an "sss" sound much tighter.

A lot of it is simple practice, trial, and error.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. That's all very good information. Would you suggest having your main track in the middle, and then your dubs or trips panned hard one way or another? I know exactly what you mean with the phrases being off slightly, it drives me nuts! Unfortunately, I'm not the vocalist so this is something that I cannot fix. Maybe my vocalist will be able to heed this advice.
 
Massive Master said:
Probably a routing issue somewhere...
Click to expand...

Can you elaborate a bit? I've got each vocal track on an individual track for individual pitch correction (melodyne), EQ and compression. Then I have each of those tracks outputting to a bus (for further EQing and notching the vocal mix as a whole.)
 
I was going to mention the "s" thing too. There are some other sounds that you'll find pop out, just deemphasize them on the extra takes.

Pitch is super important. I'd recommend some manual pitch correction to get them all spot on.

Panning is tricky. If you pan it's going to sound like an effect...which you may like. Elliott Smith always had doubled vocals panned hard left and right. It sounded weird, but he was weird too so. I'd probably leave them right up the middle, or maybe panned no more than 25%...but you can always try and see what you like.

I think the most important thing is what are you going for? You mentioned thick sounding vocals. I think most of that is going to come from (the usual culprits) the performance, and the mic. You can also mess around with some different EQ and Reverb settings. I'm not 100% sure what you're going for, but I'd imagine doubling or multiple takes is going to make the vocals less thick.
 
Okay, guys... Thanks a lot for all of your help. I used all of your tips on my latest project. I also posted it over at the MP3 clinic. What I did is this:

1 main vocal track right up the gut -- Melodyne then Compressor then EQ then Echo (ever so slight.).
1 backup vocal panned +15 -- Melodyne Compressor EQ -- Set back in the mix quite a bit
1 more backup vocal panned -15 -- Melodyne Compressor EQ -- Also set back in the mix quite a bit

All vocal tracks are singing the same part -- no harmonies. All three tracks are sent to a bus where I added +4 Db around 1500 Hz, and then notched -4 Db on the other bus tracks for guit/drums/bass.

I'd appreciate if you checked it out and gave me some feedback on the mix (especially vocals). Thanks a lot!

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I have lag issues with my recordings. If I offset the second (and beyond) vocals just a tiny bit earlier it reduces the chorus.
 
In regards to mixing if you have a couple of vocal tracks that sound phasey try inching them up a couple of milliseconds and bringing down the volume of one of two of them
 
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