5 Quick Modulation Mixing Tricks - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro

➡️ ➡️ Before you start using modulation, make sure you download this FREE Modulation Tricks cheatsheet right now: bit.ly/2CKDJ0C
5 Quick Modulation Tricks:
1. Widening a mono guitar 0:32
2. Modulation on your reverb 4:04
3. Detuning the snare low & to the key of the song 8:32
4. Create an octave down vocal 13:16
5. Modulation to thicken vocals 16:04
Get the multitracks for the song used in this tutorial here:
promixacademy.com/audio-cours...
5 Quick Modulation Tricks in detail:
producelikeapro.com/blog/5-qu...
1. Widening a mono guitar 0:32
This trick can work for any mono instrument source you get. Very often I hear mixes where someone has taken a mono guitar and panned it to one side and then panned a delayed version of the same guitar to the opposite side in an attempt to create stereo width. This never seems to sound that satisfying, even giving the feeling that there are phase/polarity issues. The way to combat that is to adjust the pitch of the delayed source. By simply flattening the guitar a few cents the width is properly created and also gives a very cool guitar sound! Many delays, like the stock Avid one I used in the demonstration have Pitch Change built in, however if they don’t you can simply add pitch before the delay to create the same effect!
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[@MrCornelius234]

I have to say I'm really loving this "5 quick tricks" series. Hope to see more. Great job

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks thanks ever so much!! Glad to be able to help!!

[@toilettunes1]

book marked this one..... this is so useful especially the reverb ...man all for free to boot...

[@Producelikeapro]

Yay! Thanks ever so much! Thanks for your great comment my friend!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Modulation is something we just think about being Flanging or Chorusing. But simple pitch change can do amazing things in a mix! Here we explore 5 tricks to change up your mix! Please let us know what you think and tell us about any tricks you employ.

[@miasampaoli7587]

Thank you Warren for the amazing tips !! Again!! lol

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much Mia! I'm extremely glad to be able to help!

[@chrispinelli]

Thanks for making my hour-long drive home from work a little bit more bearable with these videos 👍

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Chris, thanks ever so much my friend! Glad to be able to help!!

[@marcchurch1245]

Keep your eyes on the road

[@miasampaoli7587]

we are so lucky to get such amazing content from warren again and again! I feel he is one of us, he doesn't talk down to us like other people do!! thank you warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks thanks ever so much Mia! You Rock!!

[@xaosnox]

Just love Warren's approach. A little seasoning here and there, not enough so you can acutally tell what it is in the final product, but lots of little bits put together to make a grand difference! It's how I like to work with cooking or fragrance. Love it! On pads and strings, another great effect is what Dan Worrall does with FabFilter Pro-MB. He uses the free side chain trigger to use things like the snare coming in down the middle and has it expand the higher frequencies of a pad and uses it to expand it and push it out to the sides. This gives incredible dynamics to something boring like a stock pad and makes it sound like a person was adding some creativity to it. It really tickles the ears!

[@redmonkeeproductions5978]

Brilliant Warren. Thank You for taking the time to share, it's very much appreciated.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thank you for appreciating me!!

[@MrNicknayme]

All those click-baity video pictures makes me not wanna click your videoes, but when I do, I'm never disappointed. :) Great tricks!

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha click bait? Me holding up my hand? haha I'm not sure who that is bait for? Thanks for watching Nick!

[@patkelly3966]

That snare tune trick is Gold. Gold I tell thee!!

[@noisesoundtonevibe]

The snare trick is really neat! Thanks Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! I'm so glad to be able to help!!

[@TheErow44]

These 5 tip videos are my fav!! Very well done, might I dare say....marvelous 😉

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha thanks ever so much! Have a marvellous day! ha

[@MRorPA]

And here I was just slapping Chorus or Ozone Imager on vocal tracks. I guess doing it your way gives you more fine control though. Btw. I love the series. I've already incorporated some of your tricks into my mixing repertoire (especially the one with dry track and reverb panned oppositely). Thanks Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! I am so glad to be able to help my friend!!

[@DavidGilden]

The Detune stereo in to Reverb is killer - this the first time I have heard of this trick. Thanks Warren you rock!

[@LetMeDieLord]

Thank you Warren! Your 5 Tricks Series is AWESOME!!!

[@willischirwa3992]

oooooh, man, this 5 quick series is marvelous as can be. Great work!!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Glad to be able to help! I hope it gets you creating my friend!!

[@kallekontio2322]

Love the positivity in the comment section! Hats off to you Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

You're very welcome!!

[@tawandaloneeagle3076]

everything you teach is of value...I enjoy your lessons here in Zambia....keep it up.

[@1900stratoliner]

Man, every time I watch your vids I learn something cool.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks! That's great to hear!

[@troymosher4877]

Hey Warren, another amazing video. That snare trick is so sweet! Thank you.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Troy! Yes, I expect to see 100's of copycat videos coming out soon! Hahaha

[@billhall6625]

What a great set of tips!This will elevate the song I'm on now. Thank you Warren!

[@darrenross9168]

thank you warren ,cool tricks for a magic mix .

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much Darren!!

[@willierice2461]

This was great! Most don't go into detail as you just did. Pretty straight forward.

[@jonasbambrough1790]

Tasty tips Warren, cheers! To add to the the low-octave vocal trick... I sometimes like to use that with a spacial panning effect on it. Set the effect (I use Waves Brauer Motion, but there are many) to just go L&R slightly out of centre (2-4%), to the song's BPM. It gives a kind of nifty illusiveness, but width to the effect. peace!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Jonas for sharing your insight! I really appreciate it!!

[@LuigiElettrico]

I've been using different tricks of this kind, in my tracks... yet there are more to learn and have fun with. Thanks, man! Subbed!

[@lahattec]

Love these 5 tips videos, Warren. Please keep showing off! :)

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!!

[@Wayne_Robinson]

Detuning reverbs is now on my list of things to try. Nice effect.

[@haydencluff896]

Oooof! That detuned snare sounded prime! This is my favorite series haha!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Hayden! You Rock my friend!

[@greengo9]

Simply the best mixing channel! thanks as always!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks thanks ever so much greengo!

[@darlenesheffield9835]

amazing tips as usual warren !!

[@Producelikeapro]

You're very welcome Darlene!

[@MaartenFranken]

I love your videos! You taught me so many useful things, already and when I listen to mixes I did a year ago, compared to what I do now, there's so much difference. Thanks for everything you do, mate! Keep up the good work! :D

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! Thanks ever so much Maarten! That is extremely kind of you!!

[@gigamone]

your videos about mixing and mastering and recording tricks and tips are so inspiring Good job man

[@knumbugs]

I've made so many mistakes in my couple of years as a novice producer. Can't wait to try these tricks. Hopefully no more horrible surprises when listening to wide mixes in mono. Thank you Warren!

[@MartinLuxen]

Great stuff! Really subtle but it makes a lot of difference!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Martin! I'm really glad to be able to help my friend!

[@nothingnothings2264]

You are one gorgeous man. I love you Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hahaha thanks ever so much!!

[@0tto777]

Another great tip with pitching the snare: Duplicate the snare track, pitch it down a minor or major third or fourth dependant on the song and what sounds best and use 100% wet reverb on it. Use that reverb instead of reverb on your main snare. It will give it a perceived phatness without eating up headroom.

[@SJM2]

Bowie's Sound and Vision had a nice little snare effect...:)

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, Steve! I love the sound on that Album!!

[@SJM2]

Produce Like A Pro...recordingology.com/2015/09/10/sound-and-vision/

[@dimoscondos]

great stuff once more Warren!!! Cheers mate

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks very much!!

[@dbroche]

Super cool Warren, dig you're handy tricks!

[@adamwasthefirstman]

As always, new things for me to try! Pitching down an octave was something I discovered trying to make some sampled tympanies have some real girth, worked wonderfully! Will definitely try it with thin vocals. Also love the Crystallizer mention! Absolutely one of my "secret" weapons! So much so I tend to hoard it for my personal stuff! I didn't say that...

[@Reggi_Sample]

Had to replay number 2 on slow speed. Detune a reverb makes no sense why it sounds so good. Another level unlocked 🎉

[@tonypistilli532]

Warren thanks SO much for stuff like this. I can't tell you how much this helps newbies like me. I am mixing and album for a band and the look on their faces when they hear the results of my mixing using many, many of your tricks is just priceless!

[@petemusgrove7422]

Thanks for another great video, Warren!

[@michal.ochedowski]

Unusual, creative thinking is the way to go. Awesome tips!

[@Producelikeapro]

I agree 100%!! Thanks for the great comment!

[@LAstudio8]

Needless to say... "you're marvellous!" I cant wait to try a couple of these tricks.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!!

[@louiswhite4909]

As always thank you for another great video

[@timothybrannigan]

Brilliant! Thank you Warren!

[@user-ok7hm9bv9q]

Great tips！Appreciation from China！

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much in China!!

[@mvh2275]

Hey Warren, it’s a marvelous day when I get pro tips from you. Your videos are the best. Thanks for sharing, mvh

[@Producelikeapro]

AW shucks!! Thank YOU very much!

[@stephenzeagman9985]

Great video Warren! Have you ever thought of designing your own plug-in in conjunction with waves? If so, what type of plug-in do you think you'd design?

[@Producelikeapro]

I have Steve! That's a very wonderful idea! Lot's of different ideas come to mind!

[@angelomustaine777]

im going to do my tesis on audio eengeniering whit all your trick.... thanks for sharing this!!!! greettins from Chile!!!

[@AMB666]

That's awesome my friend!

[@Producelikeapro]

Wonderful AMB!! Thanks ever so much!

[@felixurbanoberglund9267]

For the first tip, i usually set the delay time in mono and search for a delay time where i find the tone is improved and i often find that there's atleast one specifik timing for the delay where the it's in phase enough to sound good and the only frecuencies cut are the ones i don't want to behin with. I've also done this specifically to get rid of low mid rumble in guitars, also looking for wheere it sounds the best in mono and then turning them back into stereo

[@lazarosantos9730]

I like the techniques very well.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Lazaro! I'm very glad to be able to help!!

[@BadChizzle]

Thank you!

[@claudius3124]

Wow! You've outdone yourself once again! Great bunch of tricks indeed! Thank you again Warren ... You know, those VDOs are really inspiring.. :-D :-D :-D

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Claudius! You Rock my friend!!

[@kickassTV-yh1tj]

Thank you once again!!!

[@_patrikjay_]

Love when Im Mixing a new track at the same time Warren gives us some ridic stellar mix tips..... Warren I love these videos but I would love at the end of this mix series a: ORDER video...i.e gain staging them Aux, parallel Bus layout, verb etc busses...etc etc....the order of all these steps is where i'm a lil lost.....

[@eddypalogrande6090]

6:49 Reminds me of The Killers - Read My Mind and Brandon Flowers - Crossfire. Wonderful

[@PhilStoodley]

Great tips!!

[@CaryChilton]

So informative Warren!👓

[@marshallhawkins3754]

Fun stuff!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Marshall!!

[@beetroot1]

A new video yayyy!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Anish!!

[@tonedowne]

Excellent work. Makes me pine for the "Pitch change C" on the SPX90. The pitch always stayed on zero as the processing was so rough that it would delay and hype whatever you put through it. Going to do that vocal L/R pitch trick right now. Maybe I don't need that double track after all.

[@anaiytv2120]

great tricks ,am trying it now

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic! Glad to be able to help!

[@sonidodemoniacostudios7752]

Cheers from Chile, aguante Warren, manda un saludo a mi estudio si ves esto, sería genial

[@MichaelBLive]

That guy creating phase issues. Yeah that was me. :). Thanks Warren for the tips.

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha it's ALL of us! We've all made those mistake my friend! There's no experts! Only self proclaimed ones!

[@nabonilbanik726]

Very beneficial indeed

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@harikrishnan4411]

1000thanks for this video , love from india

[@karth1kts]

I'm Sure that one day i'll attend your online course :) Hopefully moving forward sir

[@Producelikeapro]

Wonderful! Look forward to seeing you there!!

[@karth1kts]

Thank you so much giving back to us (:

[@nuoutdoor]

nice tricks

[@moz7130]

nice nice Warren The Man.

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks thanks ever so much MozTV!!

[@jasonvotaw5966]

I am starting to understand how to achieve stereo width - thank you

[@georgekay372]

That pitch shifted reverb and snare are definitely going to join my arsenal of mix tricks. Such a cool idea with the tuned snare! I wonder how well that works for samples when I can't record live drums...

[@Producelikeapro]

very much George! So glad to be able to help!!

[@MatthewDiamante]

Yes!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Matthew!

[@aadithyaam3059]

Nice

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@octopusonfire100]

Here's a little extra thing I do if I'm printing several copies of one track, like for the thickening trick: use some plugin that adds random little differences, like a tape or console emulation with effects like wow or flutter cranked up a little more than usual. Try it, it's subtle but really cool.

[@octopusonfire100]

Also: uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco!

[@GOLDSMITHEXILE]

i dont need low octave breathsLOL I tried that style where you duplicate a track and make one slightly sharp, the other slightly flat (EG 41.67/41.73). I had done that after playing self built 2 string diddley bows and observing how the strings make fantastic gritty sounds when they are very slightly "out of tune" wether to the same octave or 2 different ones, andsometimes they ring and buzz in an amazingly "marvellous" fashion. I liked the unclean rawness. I never knew it was an actual studio method, I thought I was cheating I tried it on frame drum tracks and it worked great to improve clarity of the overall visual image and definition, and I dont have especially good microphones

[@Producelikeapro]

If it works it works! Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@jonnyshock9165]

Hi, I've watched a few of your videos. They are really interesting! The only problem is with me being new to all this a being fundamentally a guitarist, I don't understand all the jargon when it comes to recording, except for messing about with reverb, eq. Bypass filters, modulation, shelving etc are all new words to me except for putting a kitchen shelf up. My software seems to work differently from your also. I know you are very busy and not able to answer everyone's comments. Maybe there are some people in the comments section who can explain the technicalities to me. Using my ears at the moment to achieve a modest sound. 😃😄😁🤣

[@powerserg187]

Hello im a fairly new subscriber to your page and i am very thankful to you Sr. very useful info. i have a question totally off the subject of this lesson, i found a plugin called Bass Professor just wanted to know if you have ever used it and if so witch is the best way of use of this particular plugin....thanks again for all your help and guidance very much appreciated!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Sergio, thank you ever so much! I've never used the Bass Professor! I'll have to check it out! I am so glad to be able to help!

[@Shuzies]

Ron.....Thanks Warren

[@Producelikeapro]

You're welcome Ron!

[@LasseHuhtala]

Thanks Warren. I'm just going to start mixing a synth heavy album, and the de-tuning tips will come in handy. (Did you ever get around buying a Boss HM-2?)

[@emiete]

Amazing ideas Sir, I'll let this happen on my shit☺️💪❤️thank you🎶

[@basilmusicproduction]

Thanks for the great content! I am wondering who the artist is. The track sounds marvelous.

[@LunaticTheCat]

It feels like I'm back in college studying chemistry with all these detailed notes I'm taking lol.

[@gavinjackguitar3482]

Thanks for another great video! At 7:50 you said you can "narrow" the synth. Do you do this often to make things fit in a mix? I found making some tracks more narrow helped a recent mix of mine but I've never heard the pros talk about it much....

[@Producelikeapro]

You're very welcome Gavin! Yes, indeed! Narrow, widen whatever it takes to get a great mix my friend!!

[@viper11romeo88]

@15:06, Warren gives a subliminal message and it was marvelous! #timetostaratgoats lmao!

[@martinbiemmi7919]

Hi Warren, love your videos. I am about to buy my first condenser mic, and i am looking at the rode nt1 and the nt1a. I saw in another video that you recommended the nt1; what do you think about the nt1a? I kinda like that boost in the hi freq, but im reading a lot of bad thoughts about it; moslty about being better to have a flatter response and then applying eq or plugins to achieve other stuff. What do you think about it?

[@oscarortegarey635]

Are you learning Spanish with an Andalusian, Warren? ... That "número doh" has sounded to Chiclana. Thank you very much for the tricks

[@rocktonmusikschule]

Thanks for your videos. What about the bass guitar modulation to keep the low end tight? Should i try that out?

[@dftweedie3021]

Warren, you are 'mahvalously' generous! I would appreciate a little insight into your use of level on these and other 'tricks' you've provided ... since I don't see this in the videos. I am assuming that you leave the aux channel(s) at unity and adjust level with the send (s). Correct? I also assume these are typically post-fader sends so that coherency remains with any automation of the level of the source signal. Correct? But what about in the instances where you use pre-fader sends? If you then are automating the source signal, after you initially set the send level, do you add the aux track to the same group/ VCA as the source and target the track gain instead of the send? Or? Thanks!

[@harmonystudios1182]

Marh-vell-ous lol! Thank U Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha Thank YOU!

[@LarryGreenMusic]

I tried the octave down trick a while back with standard digi pitch plugin but didn't like the way it sounded. I then tried Soundtoy's Little Alter Boy...whoa what a difference! Check it out.

[@Producelikeapro]

No problem! Whatever works for you my friend! You can hear on a few songs I did like 'You Found Me' by The Fray. open.spotify.com/track/4IoYz8XqqdowINzfRrFnhi?si=Mm5Gp5mZT_qCYCMwhwQFGg It's definitely how you blend it!

[@tawandaloneeagle3076]

you should make a video of how to eq vocals sir...

[@user-xu5eg1dr4w]

又涨姿势了！

[@janfikejz2779]

Thanks Warren! A question: How to make "the pitch shifted detune reverb trick" in Studio One 3 with stock plugins?

[@MrStandridge]

Hey Warren! Excellent video as usual. Two quick questions regarding the 3, 6, and 9 technique...Are you referring to three separate aux's with -/+ 3, -/+ 6, and -/+ 9 semitones? And is this after initial processing like eq/comp?

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes! Great question! Yes you can create three separate ones, or use a plug in has multiple pitch changing options in it!

[@heavymetalmixer91]

Thanks for the tips Warren! A question: how good or bad are these tricks for mono compatibility?

[@Producelikeapro]

Wonderful question! Everything should work in mono capability if you keep the pitch changes wide enough away from each other. Meaning if I were to do the vocal thickening trick in mono only I would just use a simple 3 step system, not the double. However they do work panned centre, but remember they should NOT be too loud! The idea is push the vocal forward, not for them to be particularly audible!

[@Shuzies]

Ron have you ever used a Akai Professional MPC X ? Or do you have one? Thanks...I love these tips

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Ron, yes, I've used an Akai MPC!

[@Shuzies]

Good,bad,other?

[@Producelikeapro]

I loved them! When they first came out they were a game changer!

[@joshuaharrison5299]

Warren, what are some cheap/free synths you may use?

[@banigrisson]

It amazes me how long it takes to make an auxiliary in pro tools. In reaper you can have it completely set up in like literally 5 seconds. The same with audio tracks...

[@Producelikeapro]

Hi Bani, I'm working in slow motion when I do this on the tutorials! Also I will use a template and have this immediately ready to go! I know people I respect who love Reaper! I hear great things!

[@banigrisson]

Thank you for your answer, Warren! Templates are great time (and effort) savers. My comment wasn't about criticizing you, I apologize. I understand that you do it slowly to show other people how its done and narrating/explaining the process also slows things down. My point was that 'choosing whether the track is mono or stereo and select the send bus, then turn the send fader up (?) and select the receive bus on the aux and lastly click in the track to change its name' is a little tedious. In reaper I just press Shift+A (could be any key or key combination you want it to be) and than a window opens to name the new aux (the aux is automatically named as the original track, so you can either modify that name partially or completely or if you press enter the aux is just named as the original track was but with the word aux added to the beginning of it or possibly the end) and than all left to do is one click to set the send/s and receive/s and done. Keystroke, name, click, done. Setting up a summing aux is even simpler... it's just one keystroke! Thanks for the great tips Warren, I'm always thrilled for many reasons whenever you upload a new video. Cheers!

[@Producelikeapro]

That's quite alright Bani! I appreciate your very kind words my friend! Great to hear your insight, it is very valuable! It's great to have you as part of our community!