Vocal Recording and Mixing Advice for Pop Punk / Rock

[grimtraveller]

I'm here to enjoy the process and get down a satisfactory vocal

When I say 'satisfactory' don't get the impression that this means substandard or that I'll take any old shit as long as it's in tune. But a vocal that took 24 takes and 7 hours to accomplish isn't by default better than one that was done and dusted in 35 minutes.

 

[Papanate]

Thank you Papanate for the listen! Are there specific sections that sound notably off?

All the transitions and trailing notes.

I also wanted to ask generally in regards to re-recording: how many takes does one recommend?

I recomend one or two - if you can get it - then you need to practice a hell of a lot more - till you’ve got it down.

I know one could say "do as many as it takes." For motivation purposes and to not be too much of a perfectionist, I've set my goal to release my 20ish songs by years end on Spotify, with vocals that are "mostly on pitch and not annoying." Lol. Mostly just hope to promote it locally and try to find a group of musicians around me who wanna form a band and have some fun.

Don’t do as many as it takes - do it without recording till you’ve got it down - then track it.

 

[TalismanRich]

I also wanted to ask generally in regards to re-recording: how many takes does one recommend?

Echoing what the other said... as many as it takes to do it right.

If you're a professional singer, that might be a 1 shot for a perfect take. If you're a hack singer like some of us, it might take 10 takes or more. I've done some where it's right in my range and I kicked out the whole song in 2 shots. It was like doing a live performance, and I was very familiar with the words. I've also done a couple where it took a half dozen times just to get the first verse done right, then I moved on to the next verse and repeated the process. I prefer to do it like that, just like you would do "punch ins" on a tape. I don't chop up verses and comp snippets together.

 

[pj11]

I rarely do a complete vocal in one take, although I try. Depending on the song in how I do the tracking. I use a stand alone recorder and import tracks to pc. I'll use a touch of reverb when tracking which doesn't transfer so all fx are done at mixing except for eq with the mixer while tracking. But I typically do verses, chorus's, and bridges separate. And use an A/B switch that I hold in my hand for punch ins. It's a process that works well for me.

 

[Flyguitarfish]

Hello,

2nd post ever here - 1st one was last month, saying how I'm gonna start working on re-recording vocals on projects I had started 8+ years ago and looking for advice. I am a solid way through re-recording my first one and was hoping to get input on the process I am using, as I am trying to get better results this time. My ultimate goal is to find a recording technique and plug-in "template" I can use for the large majority of all 20+ projects to help streamline the work and be more efficient.

Recording techniques: I am using my ST-59 mic, set to -10db, high pass filter, and cardioid in my untreated bedroom. I use a pop filter placed roughly 6 inches from the mic, and I sing roughly 0-3 inches from the pop filter (sometimes nose is touching the pop filter, others just a little past).

Mixing: I have all instrumentation mixed down from my Cubase file from 8 years ago and under 1 track. I am using Garageband for this project, doing stricly vocals only.

I have an individual track for basically each section of the song: Verse 1, Verse 2, Verse 3, Chorus (1, 2 and 4), "backup Chorus" (2 and 4, it's just copy paste same as other chorus but with no AutoPitch plugin and longer stereo delay (1/4 and 1/8, L and R)), quiet Chorus (chorus 3, and last phrase of Chorus 4), and 2 tracks for the backup vocals that sing the 3 word lines going into each chorus (5th harmony). Each track has different gain and volume automation for levels.

The tracks mostly share the same channel plug-ins and order, using either stock Garageband Plug-ins or the free MeldaProduction (M) plug-in pack:

1. MAutoPitch (just main Chorus (50%) and Verse 2 only (10%)),
2. Chorus (20%, not on main Chorus),
3. Channel EQ (-6db cut at about 1k, +3db gain at about 3k, low cut at I think 150, high shelf gain of 1db at about 5k),
4. DeEsser (did not change stock settings),
5. Compressor (-45 threshold, 3:1 ratio, 1 attack),
6. MSaturator (I use either the "bass, Hard or Soft 2" presets, depending on the track),
7. MCharmVerb (25%),
8. Space D (more reverb, main Chorus only, 90ms length),
9. and Stereo Delay (15%, left timed to 1/8 notes, right timed to 1/16).

You can listen to the track here to listen how it currently sits.

I'm looking for advice (specific, vague, w/e) on the process I'm using and how the project currently sits. Any other plugins one would recommend? Too much? Sections to re-record or remix? All comments and snide remarks are welcome.

I’m late to the party here, but I’ve gone through the same struggles trying to get a good pop punk vocal sound. Here are the main things that helped me…

1) Bite the bullet and learn to pitch correct vocals. Get something like Waves Tune where you can do it manually. It lets you pick and choose the parts you correct and let’s you make it sound more natural if that’s what you’re going for. It actually taught me a lot about how I sing and motivated me to get better vocal takes to begin with. Don’t be afraid to fix pitch issues, even in punk. This is the #1 thing that will help your vocal track.
2) No reverb! Save the reverb for an effect on very sparse, wide open sections of songs, and on backup vocals. But reverb can really mess up a punk lead vocal. This is your #2 mistake. Use delay instead of reverb.
3) Delay. Use a simple stereo delay and set the timing manually. Maybe 30ms on the L and 80ms on the R. Could go higher on those, but keep a little spread between the L and R. Blend in to taste…maybe 25%?
4) Cut all the low end and even the low mids. Figure out what sounds best with your voice.
6) Boost a little highs 2k and 8k ish…depending on your voice. And it’s definitely ok to follow an EQ with a de-esser. It catches the main offenders while leaving everything else alone and more intelligible.
7) Heavy compression, 10-20 db! I like the rock my vocals setting on Waves 1176.
8) Add saturation! Blend it in. Play with the EQ on the saturation. Sometimes you need to take some of the highs and lows out of the saturation.
9) Double your vocals. I like to put the double in during the chorus and occasionally during certain lines in the verse. Do the same delay spread with the doubles that you did with the main vocals but put them 80-100% wet so it’s out of the way of the main vocal (little to no double in the center). Sometimes it’s also good to cut some of the highs from the double to help with intelligibility of the main vocal.
10) Did I mention to tune your vocals and lose the reverb?

I like the song. Give these tips a try! And repost!