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kdoggity
New member
How do you guys mix your vocals. I generally just play with echo's and treble/bass cuts until I find what I think sounds right in the mix. Any standard tricks of the trade in cool edit around here?
dobro
Well-known member
"Any standard tricks of the trade in cool edit around here?"
Nope.
I add more high end to the vocal in a busy mix, often around 5K, and maybe even a high shelf up around 12K. In a more sparse mix, I add less high end, cuz my mic already has a boost up there. I like a small amount of verb, almost so you can't hear it unless you take it off and play it dry.
But's its the low mids you gotta attend to. Everything piles up there - voice, guitar, bass. Learn how to do cuts in that region. You want everything to sound clear and easy to hear in the mix, but without sapping each track of its muscle. I'm just *starting* to learn how to do it.
Nope.
I add more high end to the vocal in a busy mix, often around 5K, and maybe even a high shelf up around 12K. In a more sparse mix, I add less high end, cuz my mic already has a boost up there. I like a small amount of verb, almost so you can't hear it unless you take it off and play it dry.
But's its the low mids you gotta attend to. Everything piles up there - voice, guitar, bass. Learn how to do cuts in that region. You want everything to sound clear and easy to hear in the mix, but without sapping each track of its muscle. I'm just *starting* to learn how to do it.
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
For what it's worth, I don't add reverb until I've done a mixdown, then apply it to the mix. Reverb can make a vocal sound far away or in a different room from the rest of the band. A good rule is to add reverb until you can hear it, then back off!
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kdoggity
New member
when do you guys compress vocals? do you just record clean, then add compression? I'm just frustrated because I've done a fair amount of recording (4 or 5 complete songs: acoustic guitar, background guitar, piano, backing vocals, lead vocals) and I can never seem to get the lead vocals both upfront, yet fitting into the mix. Any suggestions?
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Strryder
Member
For reverb, I usually put a reverb onto Bus "A", all tracks routed, and setup the verb for no dry, all wet on the bus, then adjust the channel wet/dry sends to taste, I could never be happy with the "dry mixdown and add reverb to the whole mix" concept.
I usually don't want any reverb at all on my bass tracks, and sometimes none on the kick drum as well, plus a little bit more on the snare and just a touch on the drum overheads.
I also usually apply a bit more reverb to background vocals than I do to the lead vocal.
I will usually compress both the snare and the kick, the bass, acoustic guitars, and all vocals at least a little bit, usually not quite enough to hear it as an effect, but just enough to "tame" the peaks so that they are a bit more controlled.
As for EQ, for starters, you could try giving a slight cut to all guitars/bass/keyboards around 800/1200 hz, and giving the vocals a slight boost in the same area, just to get you started with the idea of "making a hole" in the music for the vocals to sit in, as you do it more and more, you'll develop different ways to get to the same place soundwise.
I usually don't want any reverb at all on my bass tracks, and sometimes none on the kick drum as well, plus a little bit more on the snare and just a touch on the drum overheads.
I also usually apply a bit more reverb to background vocals than I do to the lead vocal.
I will usually compress both the snare and the kick, the bass, acoustic guitars, and all vocals at least a little bit, usually not quite enough to hear it as an effect, but just enough to "tame" the peaks so that they are a bit more controlled.
As for EQ, for starters, you could try giving a slight cut to all guitars/bass/keyboards around 800/1200 hz, and giving the vocals a slight boost in the same area, just to get you started with the idea of "making a hole" in the music for the vocals to sit in, as you do it more and more, you'll develop different ways to get to the same place soundwise.
dobro
Well-known member
"when do you guys compress vocals?"
I do it all the time, but slightly. I use mild compression when I'm recording to tame the peaks so I don't clip. Later on in the mix, I'll often compress the vocal a bit so I can boost the overall volume for one thing, and so that the quiet parts are louder and can be heard.
But like Strryder said, if your vocals can't be heard in the mix, it's probably because of overlapping frequencies with other instruments. He showed you how to create a hole for the vocals EQ-wise up around 800/1200 Hz. Try that. In my experience, a whole lot of frequencies pile up from about 250 Hz - 500 Hz. Explore that range too, cutting 4-6 dB with a Q of about 1.3 from this or that instrument and adding 2-3 dB with the same Q to other instuments. Another thing you can do with voice is to boost the highs a bit. Try boosting 2-3 dB at 3K or 5K. It helps voice cut through a busy mix. Try a high shelf of 6 dB at 10 KHz or 12 KHz.
Just don't start boosting everything. LOL
I do it all the time, but slightly. I use mild compression when I'm recording to tame the peaks so I don't clip. Later on in the mix, I'll often compress the vocal a bit so I can boost the overall volume for one thing, and so that the quiet parts are louder and can be heard.
But like Strryder said, if your vocals can't be heard in the mix, it's probably because of overlapping frequencies with other instruments. He showed you how to create a hole for the vocals EQ-wise up around 800/1200 Hz. Try that. In my experience, a whole lot of frequencies pile up from about 250 Hz - 500 Hz. Explore that range too, cutting 4-6 dB with a Q of about 1.3 from this or that instrument and adding 2-3 dB with the same Q to other instuments. Another thing you can do with voice is to boost the highs a bit. Try boosting 2-3 dB at 3K or 5K. It helps voice cut through a busy mix. Try a high shelf of 6 dB at 10 KHz or 12 KHz.
Just don't start boosting everything. LOL
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Smoove03
New member
A compressor is sometimes a good idea to use on vocals. Maybe even a gate on it. But this isnt always a good idea.
I usually play around with the delays. They make good effects. Depending on what kind of sound you want, you can run it through one of the filters. But only if your looking for a different kind of sound I think.
Definately eq your vocals. this is a good idea.
For vocals: Scoop at around 240hz. If it sounds muddy, boost at 4k for presence, and anywhere above 8k to brighten (sibilance is between 8 and 10k).
A reverb might be helpful but dont overdue it. It dosnt have to be heavy. Reverbs arem sometimes added when your ready to mix down, but if you want to add a lil reverb, that never hurt me. DONT OVERDUE IT!!!
Also, I recommemd recording your verse a second time with all the same words and energy as the first time. Offset it a TINY TINY bit and this should give you a nice thick feel to it. You may also pan one to the left and the other to the right. Then you may want to add your adlibs to that also. Maybe center your adlibs and you'll have a nice stereo effect. Dont use this technique in EVERy recording, or it may always sound the same, but of course be creative. And if it sounds good, then it is!!!
PLEASE DONT EVER OVERDUE A TRACK!!! IT IS POSSIBLE TO DROWN YOUR TRACKS IN EFFECTS. IF IT SOUNDS GOOD, THEN IT IS!!!
I usually play around with the delays. They make good effects. Depending on what kind of sound you want, you can run it through one of the filters. But only if your looking for a different kind of sound I think.
Definately eq your vocals. this is a good idea.
For vocals: Scoop at around 240hz. If it sounds muddy, boost at 4k for presence, and anywhere above 8k to brighten (sibilance is between 8 and 10k).
A reverb might be helpful but dont overdue it. It dosnt have to be heavy. Reverbs arem sometimes added when your ready to mix down, but if you want to add a lil reverb, that never hurt me. DONT OVERDUE IT!!!
Also, I recommemd recording your verse a second time with all the same words and energy as the first time. Offset it a TINY TINY bit and this should give you a nice thick feel to it. You may also pan one to the left and the other to the right. Then you may want to add your adlibs to that also. Maybe center your adlibs and you'll have a nice stereo effect. Dont use this technique in EVERy recording, or it may always sound the same, but of course be creative. And if it sounds good, then it is!!!
PLEASE DONT EVER OVERDUE A TRACK!!! IT IS POSSIBLE TO DROWN YOUR TRACKS IN EFFECTS. IF IT SOUNDS GOOD, THEN IT IS!!!