why does my vox recording sound better un-layered?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ilovecoke
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ilovecoke

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i have been doing some recordings lately and i normally put a few layers on them to make them sound better. but i have been just doing one take and putting a short delay on them and it sounds better than my doubled version. is this because i do not have a plug in to auto align the layers or is there something i should do to make the layers sound better? no matter how hard i attempt i just cannot get my double to line up exactly with my first take and it sounds so unproffessional. so what would one sugesst about my layers sounding a little un pro versus just using one take with a good fx. thankxxx


:rolleyes:
 
Unless latency is an issue here, it just comes down to practice.

Some people are good at double tracking (Kurt Cobain), others aren't (David Bowie). :p


Maybe you should work at one or two short phrases. Listen to them and sing along.
When you're certain that you've got it in your head, record those short parts again.

If you get the timing right and you still don't like it, maybe you just don't like the sound of the technique.

Panning is another factor. Doubled vocals straight down the middle can sound messier than if they're panned apart a little.
Hope that helps.
 
thanks alot that does help
i'll try pannning them apart
i can usually get them right on together and the match between my double and my lead take is superb
and my voice ends up sound really cool
but i just seems kinda like there to much squashed in there
is there any record of someone having a good song done with just one take and no double?
i am weary that my one take might not have enough punch to it and that if i go the layered vocal route it will sound to un clear.
 
Ok, I see what you mean.

If a single take lacks punch, but doubling is unclear, you could try doing three.

You keep the main one straight down the middle. Set it up so it sounds as good as can be on it's own.
Now record two more. Bus them together and pan them apart an amount.
Then maybe take an eq to reduce some of the lower frequencies; You don't want them to sound muddy.
Now put on a compressor and be reasonably heavy handed with it.

The above isn't a rule or anything like that. It's just a suggestion.
I find that taking the mud out and squashing the duplicates lets them add something, without taking over.
 
ilovecoke said:
no matter how hard i attempt i just cannot get my double to line up exactly with my first take...
Click to expand...

You could just edit...cut up one of the vocal tracks and line up the words against the other track.
 
miroslav said:
You could just edit...cut up one of the vocal tracks and line up the words against the other track.
Click to expand...

That's what I have to do most of the time, even with good double tracks.

I usually make one track the lead and the other the double, using eq, compression and level to keep the double tucked just behind the lead. That gives the thickening effect without making things sound sloppy.
 
thanx alot. that is defintily something im going to do. or at least try. becuz the main thing is that it sounds to muddy. so i guess i could take out the lower frequencies of my doubles and pan them a bit. becuz that is exactly what i am looking for a thicker vocal track but not all muddy and un proffessional sounding. is there any tips for fx that could help maybe. also on my software i dont think i have the best comp. its sony acid. pretty cheap but does the job. and i just cant get a good sound from compressing it. usually i just add some eq, and delay. for some reason my reverb wont work. and there is a smooth/enhance fx that i have been using and when i enhance it it makes just about everything more clearer.
 
One hint that might help, is to make sure to severely low pass/notch out/get rid of/cut out ess's and 't's on the backing tracks completely. They can really make a doubled track sound crappy, even if lined up with the main vocal.

It really depends on the genre, as well as any particular song within it, whether doubling vocal tracks will work or not. Sometimes it is just what is needed, other times, it is just not something the song needs. That is only for you to decide. A single, well recorded vocal, with the appropriate mic, in the appropriate sounding room, can be perfect for a song. Sometimes, not. OMG, I'm comma happy. lol!
 
Wait, is the double being mixed at the same volume as the lead and right in the middle? That will sound really phasey and odd. Try to put the lead at whatever volume feels right. Now turn down the double all the way and bring it up bit by bit until it starts to feel like it's thickening.
 
sixer2007 said:
Wait, is the double being mixed at the same volume as the lead and right in the middle? That will sound really phasey and odd. Try to put the lead at whatever volume feels right. Now turn down the double all the way and bring it up bit by bit until it starts to feel like it's thickening.
Click to expand...


+way too many numbers to type....
 
Bear in mind that you just might have one of those voices that doesn't sound good double tracked. I have a couple of friends that sing on some of my bits and they're voices are delicious when double tracked. And they're really good at it, real tight. But I think my voice just doesn't cut it when I double track unless I'm doing backing vocals. I've just got one of those voices that doesn't lend itself well to double tracking. On it's own, it sounds much better.
 
thanx, i think i just like the sound of layered, but not the unclarity, and i like the clarity of a single track, i just have a serious problem with ocd, lol, so im like uhghh if i do a double on one of my songs choruses, then i have to double all my songs choruses, lol, i'll probably just play it by ear, but most likely just keep all single tracks for my vox, because if i start doubling some, then i start doubling them all, and then tripling and quadrrifelling and just gettting out of hand, im probably better off getting another engineer to do it, but i just cant do it right now, and i actually like the way it sounds on my music, just the single track, anybody got any tips on if i just decde to do the single track? like fx or eq, or other things to keep a close eye at
 
ilovecoke said:
thanx, i think i just like the sound of layered, but not the unclarity, and i like the clarity of a single track, i just have a serious problem with ocd, lol, so im like uhghh if i do a double on one of my songs choruses, then i have to double all my songs choruses, lol, i'll probably just play it by ear, but most likely just keep all single tracks for my vox, because if i start doubling some, then i start doubling them all, and then tripling and quadrrifelling and just gettting out of hand, im probably better off getting another engineer to do it, but i just cant do it right now, and i actually like the way it sounds on my music, just the single track, anybody got any tips on if i just decde to do the single track? like fx or eq, or other things to keep a close eye at
Click to expand...

Maybe you should lay off the coke? lol!

Sorry man, I had to...:D

Post up a sample of what you have now. We could have a better idea of what it is you have going on that way.

You can quickly get your post count up to 10, so that you can post a link HERE.
 
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