![]() However, in the age of audio interfaces and digital audio workstations, our vocal recordings are cleaner than ever before, at the cost of sounding completely sterile. In the analog days, vocal recordings would get a subtle saturation treatment from the microphone preamps, console preamps, and analog tape. One of the best tools for mixing vocals is saturation, but this secret sauce isn’t always considered a must-have on the vocal channel. Saturation is an often-forgotten vocal mixing technique So, use volume automation as the primary tool for leveling vocals, and use compression as a more gentle gain reduction effect to bring out the finer details in a vocal recording.Ī plugin like Waves Vocal Rider can help you save time by controlling the volume of the vocals for you. This may result in compression artifacts that negatively impact the quality of your mix. However, if you rely solely on the compressor, you’ll have to pump the comp harder than you otherwise would. You may be thinking that the compressor will deal with this. Once the problem areas are identified, automate the volume to boost the silent vocal parts. Use automation to level the vocal before it hits the compressor. Use your DAW’s insert marker feature to highlight those sections of your vocal performance. ![]() To get started, listen carefully to each phrase and identify words that are notably softer or louder than the other vocal sections. Thankfully, volume automation can help you normalize the volume and result in a lead vocal that sounds consistent. ![]() Leaving those volume inconsistencies untreated does not present the vocal part in the best light. Your vocalist will naturally vary the intensity of the vocal throughout the phrases, resulting in uneven volume. Automate your vocals to achieve natural-sounding gain reduction even before you compress the signal. One key trick when editing and mixing vocals is volume automation. Use volume automation on vocals before compression In most other cases, it’s best to treat the vocals in the context of the entire mix. Of course, it’s acceptable to solo the vocal when using EQ to remove specific resonant frequencies surgically. Similarly, mixing vocals in isolation may result in a great vocal sound, but when placed in the context of the entire music production, it may not fit well or sound balanced. You could select a tie that looks fantastic on its own, but when paired with the rest of your ensemble, it might look ridiculous. It’s like choosing a tie without taking the rest of your outfit into account. Spending a lot of time mixing soloed vocals is often counterproductive. You should spend most of your time mixing the vocal track while the entire mix is playing, allowing you to see the bigger picture. When mixing vocals, it’s crucial to keep the rest of the song in mind. The best parts of multiple takes are combined and consolidated into a single vocal track. Use comping to combine the best parts of the performance before mixing vocals. The trim tool is then used to isolate the good part of the vocal from the rest of the track. The vocal takes are typically aligned vertically in the DAW and played individually to identify the best vocal parts. Vocal comping is the technique of compiling the best parts of multiple takes into one “perfect vocal” recording. So, edit your vocals to perfection and make them sound as good as possible before mixing. Any noises, breaths, and other non-essential parts of the vocal track will become more audible after you apply EQ and compression to the vocal. Once you’re happy with the comped vocal, edit all the unnecessary parts of the vocal recording. What comes first when mixing vocals?īefore mixing, use vocal comping to find and combine the best vocal takes. However, you should consider the order in which you apply these techniques to achieve the optimal mixing process. Mixing vocals is a complex task that includes editing, EQing, compression, saturation, and other mixing techniques. Use editing and vocal comping before mixing vocals How well you mix your vocals will determine the quality of the entire mix.įollow our vocal mixing tutorial to get the great-sounding vocals your mix deserves. ![]() Vocals are often the most prominent part of a song. So today, we will show you ten tips to supercharge your vocal mixing process and get professional-quality results. Since the human voice is an incredibly complex instrument, there’s a lot to get your head around when mixing vocals. Even if you closely follow our mixing guide, the vocal sound can make or break your song. ![]()
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