Vocals and Mixing

[nutso2020]

Hello All,

This is my first post and i had a few questions about recording and mixing with adobe audition 3. First questions is when I record my vocals(hip hop) what volume should they b at b4 i get to the editing stage? I also need to kno, the steps to making my vocal blend into the track so it doesnt just sound like vocals on top of a beat. Sorry Im just unsure of myself at times. Oh last question what are the initial steps to a final mixdown not as in creating the file but for the final product of a record? Thanks and any reply would b greatly helpful......

 

[arconwarrior]

Well, looks like it has been awhile, but I will offer my thoughts.

As you can imaging this is a very complex topic with a lot of variables. So here is what I will assume. You want a vocal track to sit in a hip/hop mix without any special effects (vocoder, autotune, telephone effect, etc.). Just a nice straight on vocal. I will also assume you have access to some basic plug-ins (i.e. compressor, reverb, etc.)

So, I would follow the steps below to get you started. You said you are just getting started with mixing, but I won't go into a lot of detail about effects, edits, etc.

Step 1 - EQ
I will use your EQ to roll-off the low end of your vocal track to remove low end rumble (your bass/beats will fill this space) and allow you vocal to sit better. I will suggest a shelving EQ and start about 1Khz. Look here for more detail:
http://www.homerecordingconnection.com/news.php?action=view_story&id=154

Step 2 - Compress
To even out the vocal track and remove its "raw" sound you will need a some compression. I would suggest a 3:1 ratio with small attack and release.

Step 3 - Effects
I would add a little reverb. Just a little. This will "glue" the vocal in with the other tracks in your mix. Too much and the vocal is pushed behind the other tracks. Use a pre-delay in the 50-100 ms range and a reverb-time of about 1.7 sec. This should get you started...

Step 4 - Volume
I would just about always mix with all tracks, I mean, don't mix your vocals as a soloed track. Have said that, listen to your mix and turn up/down the vocal until it is just above the rest of the mix. Now, season to taste

Once you have this in place your vocal should be sitting better in your mix. From here, you can tweak. Also, you can begin to add dynamics to your mix by doubling the vocals on the chorus and other things, but that is yet another topic.

Happy mixing...

 

[Runaway]

Arconwarrior has made some very good points.

I'll just add that reverb 'surrounds' a voice in normal conditions and this 'reverb' is usually eliminated when recording the voice usually in a vocal booth or similar as well as how the vocal is close mic'ed. As suggested the reverb acts as a 'glue' replacing the eliminated natural reverb and allowing the vocal to 'sit' in the mix.

The general rule I use is that if you can 'hear' the reverb then there is probably too much. While everything is subjective you can try this old trick I used when starting out and was trying to determine the correct level of the vocal.

Very slowly turn down the master level of the mix until it is off - the very last thing you should hear as you bring the fader down is the snare drum and lead vox - just a thought and to be used as a guide and may not apply to your genre.

There are no rules and as always save early, save often and use your ears.

 

[gethypedmusic]

Great Info Arcon!