Question on Vocals

[A7X]

Hey, for every song i've recorded, i've always recorded everything and then mixed it down, all the intruments and vocals. But does anyone mix down the intruments then bring it back in the program and then record the vocals?

 

[kojdogg]

i used to do a little of this when i first started using computers to record because of processor limitations on track counts, processing etc. i still kind of will do things like track in one program and then comp tracks/takes together in another one to make a finished basic track and then record vocals and/or leads over the basics if i'm concerned about track counts and/or working at high sample rate (generally work at 88.2), but i always import the vocals and leads back into the mixing program to do the final mixdown because you avoid having to use the daw(s) summing algorithms (the process by which the recording program compresses your mixed tracks down to stereo (and the reason many people use analog summing units) any more that you need to.

 

[mikeh]

The vocals are a track (or more than one track if you double) just like every other track. The only way to get the vocals to properly "sit in the mix" is to mix all the tracks at the same time - vs. your approach which I consider laying the vocals over the mix.

Sitting in the mix and laying on top the mix are two different things - the latter perhaps more suited to a voice over for a jingle - the formal more suited for an actual "song".

In fact some producers/engineers like to bring the vocals up first (perhaps with the drums) and then build the mix around the vocals.

 

[Dogbreath]

In fact some producers/engineers like to bring the vocals up first (perhaps with the drums) and then build the mix around the vocals.

That's what I usually do.

Oh, and, like Mike, I'll keep all my tracks separate till mixdown. Seems to help the cohesiveness.

 

[Rokket]

I like to have all the rhythm tracked before I do vocals and leads. I tend to not mix anything until I have all the tracks down.

When I do start mixing, I go from the drum tracks up. Get the drums and bass so that they sit well together, and once again, bring in the rest of the rhytm tracks and then the vocals, and finally the lead instruments.

I've experimented with other ways, but this way seems to work best for me, and it helps avoid too much mud in the lower freqs.