Which is much better to record the vocal track twice or to copy it twice for mixing?
Armistice
Son of Yoda
What you really should do is set yourself on fire, or lay down on a railroad track... your music sucks anyway. Why continue?
phriq
Freon Productions
And.....who exactly was this directed to? The OP? Bill O'Rielly? The Kooky Monster?
G
Greg_L
Banned
Thread derailed. And not by me.
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
one thing though ..... if you use a hardware delay you'll also get some tonality changes/timbre changes in the second copy which is useful when you're trying to simulate a second singer.For pure delay...there's really no difference using a delay effect/plugin VS duplicating/sliding one track.
It's IMO actually cleaner with the copy/delay method, as there is no need to add plugs/processing, it's just a straight playback of another track.
Now...if you wanted some kind of repeating delay with feedback, etc...then using an effect/plug is probably easier.
AFA as how it sounds....it sounds like a track with a single delay. There's no good or bad about it....it's all up to what you want for the mix. I've agreed that if what you really want is double tracked vocals....then double track the vocals.
That said, there are times when a perfect copy with delay might actually sound just right for the mix...because, you get the exact/perfect L/R delay bounce.
I've used the copy/delay approach on other things two, not just vocals...but same thing with instruments as with vocals, if you prefer to double track, then double track. Sometimes I prefer to double track, sometimes I copy/delay.
It's just production choices...there's no right/wrong about it. Try it both ways, listen to what yo have...pick one or the other.
I have little choice since I do everything analog style but even in the box I could see some use in using a delay that colors the sound a little as opposed to copy/paste.
I tried the fire/railroad thing once but although it was an interesting and unusual effect I didn't feel that it was very musical.
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
Yes...I agree.
You have to decide what it is you are trying to do, and then find the solution that works best.
I think if you are using a copy and trying to simulate two different singers or a double-tracked vocal, but you are not able to actually do the double track thing (for whatever reason), then as you say, "coloring" the second track does help. How you "color" it is again, your choice depending on what you are after and what options you have available.
That said...there are times when a perfect copy w/ clean delay is also the ticket.
As an example....
I'm working on a tune right now that has a rhythm guitar track where I'm playing chords and using the whammy bar to create a slow vibrato effect. Then I take that track, copy it and pan them hard L/R, and I use the right amount of delay on one of the tracks to sync it rhythmically with the BPM of the song and also to create a "swaying" effect from left to right with the whammy vibrato effect.
It's actually pretty cool, and the fact that the two tracks are identical, just delayed apart, makes the vibrato fit perfectly as it "sways" left/right.
It's always a song by song thing...there is no one formula that is always best.
You have to decide what it is you are trying to do, and then find the solution that works best.
I think if you are using a copy and trying to simulate two different singers or a double-tracked vocal, but you are not able to actually do the double track thing (for whatever reason), then as you say, "coloring" the second track does help. How you "color" it is again, your choice depending on what you are after and what options you have available.
That said...there are times when a perfect copy w/ clean delay is also the ticket.
As an example....
I'm working on a tune right now that has a rhythm guitar track where I'm playing chords and using the whammy bar to create a slow vibrato effect. Then I take that track, copy it and pan them hard L/R, and I use the right amount of delay on one of the tracks to sync it rhythmically with the BPM of the song and also to create a "swaying" effect from left to right with the whammy vibrato effect.
It's actually pretty cool, and the fact that the two tracks are identical, just delayed apart, makes the vibrato fit perfectly as it "sways" left/right.
It's always a song by song thing...there is no one formula that is always best.
Lt. Bob
Spread the Daf!
Dogbreath
Im an ex-spurt
OP's a troll.
I like peanut butter.
I copy/paste cheese.
boobzalot, boobzalot, I like boobzalot.
I like peanut butter.
I copy/paste cheese.
boobzalot, boobzalot, I like boobzalot.
JimmyS1969
MOODerator
A cold glass of milk, and an Oreo cookie.....
Mmm....milk
I like frogs.
Mmm....milk
I like frogs.
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
I've also come to the conclusion that there are some voices that are just not well lent to double tracking. Mine is one of those. It's OK in terms of backing vocals, it can be double tracked till the cows come home and leave again, but singularly, naw. On the other hand, there's a few friends whose voices sound great double tracked.
phriq
Freon Productions
It HAS to be crunchy!
Clam Soup
Project 49
Ah - here's that thread someone mentioned to me.
I tried saving time by duplicating and ended up spending more time in the end because there was no meat on that bone except for "more volume." Though, I did make use of a duplicated guitar track, vocally I way prefer to just sing it twice - or 9,000 times depending how many times I have to try to get it right once.
The second take is fabric to me. A sense of direction and the slight pitch differences can spice up the mix nice.
I tried saving time by duplicating and ended up spending more time in the end because there was no meat on that bone except for "more volume." Though, I did make use of a duplicated guitar track, vocally I way prefer to just sing it twice - or 9,000 times depending how many times I have to try to get it right once.
The second take is fabric to me. A sense of direction and the slight pitch differences can spice up the mix nice.