Ableton Live Tutorial: Vocal Effect Techniques

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In this Ableton Live video tutorial, Professor Nalepa takes us through three music production techniques commonly used to spice up vocals. Using the lead vocal sample from Radiohead's song 'Reckoner,' Nalepa demonstrates a vocal effect that involves reversing a vocal sample, routing it out through reverb, resampling the reverb, reversing the resampled reverb, and then layering it underneath the original vocal to get a ghostly premonition-style effect heard in many popular dance tracks. Nalepa also deconstructs tracks from his friend Nosaj Thing and former Dubspot students It's Not Over Quebec, showing how they utilized sidechain compression and sidechain gating to achieve creative rhythmic vocal effects.
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[@bridog6996]

A further step to your first example (with the Radiohead vocal) is that you can then throw a compressor on the reverse reverb track and sidechain it back to the original. The compressor will duck the reverb according to the original vocal, and that way the reverse effect will only poke through in the little spaces between the vocal lines (if that makes sense). Helpful if you want that backwards echo effect but also want more clarity in the vocals.

[@hallermarcel]

After more then 10 years still very usefull! Thanks for the clear explanation.

[@BadTomorrow]

Always great good stuff. Finally getting to the point where with some vids, you just mention what you're going to do, and I can figure it mostly out, without watching the rest of the vid. Wouldn't have got this far without Dubspot tutorials.

[@mtjarrott]

This is super inspiring. Thank you.

[@dubspot]

glad we could help :)

[@DDaniels3000]

This exactly what ive been wanting to do for years but i nver new exactly how it was done. Thanx dub spot, this one video is gonna change my whole production

[@wannescuypers3109]

I was searching this for sooo long. Thank you!

[@humanifree]

That just blew my mind, man. I love it. Thank you!

[@MeisterEck]

Never've seen such a good explanation and tutorial video!!

[@JasonBradbury]

Been wanting to try this for ages - u just cleared it up for me. Great

[@BahFraz]

I just tried the first technique on piano. Works like a charm! Thanks Prof. Nalepa

[@djdede]

Man thanks for this great tutorial. some stuff is so easy you just dont see it. the technique with putting it backwards with reverb and record it again is totally awesome. thank you very much !

[@JDubeta]

Brilliant tutorial for some great sounding techniques! Thanks a million!!! :D

[@malamute8257]

Damn. Even without anything, thom york's voice is absolutely incredible. Very usable information, as well. Thanks!

[@c3sar0]

Professor Nalepa! You are a gentleman and a scholar!! Love the tips!

[@gpeddino]

I actually used the reverse reverb effect in a track from my album. Thanks for the tip!

[@AnOldString]

This is awesome! I've used it on a guitar and it sounds freaking awesome for an eerie effect!

[@mufcmusic8514]

Great vid mate thank you the reversed reverb vocal sounded great :) everyday is about learning so today after watching your video i achieved one of my daily goals :) 1 LOVE

[@walla134]

Reckoner. My god. Such godly. Also awesome tips!!!

[@Tr0ll321]

THIS IS SO AWESOME THANKS DUBSPOT

[@charmister]

the third tip just changed my life. thx professor

[@asrah55]

Wow. Absolutely amazing!!

[@JasonCWaite]

WOOOW... The compressor part cutting out the drums was cool. I'd like to take some airy powerful pads and do this with ... GOLD. Thx you.

[@caseynolan3946]

I've wanted to know how to make that ghost effect for years! Thank you!

[@Krashevil]

I love the sidechaining compression part! i use it on my hats on drum and bass and it sounds soooo good! :D

[@matthewceiley1928]

thanks mate, your a genius. really helped some of my vocal effects

[@thanasis_beatbox3555]

really good tutorial, a thousand thanks for this

[@Guava_noise]

Such a good tutorial. Thanks so much!

[@vStylerJohnG]

very well presented in an understandable way, and.. good 'radio voice' Thumbed.

[@lloydstarr1767]

this is an awesome technique! thank you.

[@lloydstarr1767]

i meant the first one as i knew the others but truth be told they are all great techniques

[@11dancingfish]

Fantastic tutorial! Thx alot

[@adehaan11]

that last effect is awesome

[@tommisaarinen2394]

That "ghost vocal" thing is called backverb.

[@matthewmcnab1125]

you the G.O.A.T

[@samsote]

its called a reverse reverb, that's been the name for it ever since it was popularized in the 80's by poltergeist. And even before that when Jimmy Page used it in led zeppelin songs.

[@P.Gillett]

its called brever.

[@supplantermusic9413]

@@samsote backverb sounds better ;)

[@jmotter92]

definitely trying side chained gating in my next track. thanks for the helpful info! :)

[@hotspot5149]

Amazing and inspiring! Thank you

[@DVelox]

superb tutorial!

[@soulgoodmusictube]

Wow, This was the best tutorial on this technique!......thx

[@bluntpuffa666]

this taught me something useful, thanks

[@leonmanzanares9275]

Great, great and simple tutorial congratulations!

[@THEH0WLER87]

i love gating, so useful whether it be writing or mixing :) nice tutorial

[@TheFrontloader]

Great video. Thank you for those tips!

[@lonelywolfy]

sweet. that first one was kinda new to me. i mean ive done techniques similar but hadnt thought of it exactly as you showed. thats pretty dope.

[@kinddmusic]

this is very useful, thanks for sharing!

[@Goldee420]

thank you much for this technique man

[@CLU4ever]

Always come back to this

[@slctr5313]

This is great! Thanks man.

[@dubspot]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mutationx06]

ooooh my... GOD... dud you blew my mind!! frekkin amazing!!!..... more I need moreeee!

[@ariellaworks]

helpful for sure, thank you!

[@technodance_me]

I just did it. Sweeet. Thanks brother.

[@rickjames3411]

Everything i have ever picked up musically i learned on my own because my parents could never afford music lessons so i showed my self how do everything and now im happy that i am self taught mind you i did do some studying on mixing and mastering before i tried to send out anything for some people like my self music is just in the DNA and some people need teachers but at the end of the day it does not matter because really its just a passion i watch these videos to learn new things and try and think of way i can twist it and make it my own from the learning but i must say i would love to go to school for audio engineering and go professional with you know movie sounds and all that hollywood shit haha but my point is it really does not matter weather you have a teacher or you teach your self of course you can appreciate the music you make a bit more when you are self taught but it really does not matter your just doing what you love to do :)

[@supplantermusic9413]

alright, we get it, you're Rick James

[@CBAN_]

Yea i agree if you got ears and the passion you can definitely teach yourself. Self-taught student here too 😁

[@-__-_-_--__--_-__-_____--_-___]

Amazing help. Thank you

[@carinasagittariusproject4764]

so cool many thanks!

[@ANTIDOTE561]

Thanks for the tips i really appreciate it

[@Leon3th]

i enjoy your tutorial on youtube and thankyou god bless and keep up the good work

[@virginiaanton]

Thank you very much for this helpful video 🍀

[@WilliamDWalls]

I want to come in this school.. Nice tutorials.. Thanks you for that DUBSPOT TEAM

[@chloedwards89]

Amazing, thank you!

[@Donder1337]

This is so great :D

[@Taco_Peterson]

Very awesome!

[@eningotv]

thank you so so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@miglrodri]

great tutorial mate!

[@triangularmerkel]

wicked tutorial, thanks

[@KelmoMusic]

oh man, I used that last effect on a piano clip and it sounds so cool. linked it to my bass and its pretty sweet :)

[@lejuwaan]

So helpful. Thank you

[@dubspot]

Glad this was helpful!

[@FonkyLynx]

Nice work Prof. I like the insights into your local scene too, gets the word out on whats up in your area...BR

[@Vetne]

love nosaj thing!

[@FelupiReal]

thank you! this is very helpful... i can't thank dubspot enough.

[@HimFinancial]

Damn thanks for this!

[@christianale]

Fantastic trick!

[@jahmbo]

Wow this is great stuff.

[@BUGHAKARASTA]

super cool, thanks, great explain!

[@Apotrhophe]

Awesome!big up from italy

[@jfslim25]

This is so good and easy!!! :D

[@PaulusLink]

Believe it or not, I was just looking for a way to create something like this. Thx for the tip! :)

[@_deers]

thank you so much for this

[@jonasbrothers3000]

Thank you man!!

[@orlandocastill0]

every effect is awesome whit thom yorke s voice

[@howardroark4227]

very helpful. thank good human

[@ashadedreflection4486]

Holy shit that ghost effect was dope as fuck

[@nicasmirnova]

soooo cool thank u!

[@bluba1lz144]

this is not what i wanted but it was dope and will deff have to use later on!

[@byranunes13]

very good!

[@derekmindmusic]

Thanks ! I will use it in my set ;)

[@oliversol5196]

This is dope...xx

[@MustangSalley1969]

Do you have one of these for Paul Banks Vocals / Interpol. Ie. That doubling effect that is done somehow.

[@CPTechnoWizard]

sick! i always wondered how they dod that and derrrr it's so damn simple

[@wilmenls]

Thanks for the explanation moreover on side chainning process.

[@musicandanimals1273]

really cool man :]

[@JimmyGr90]

Great video! "Let's just use the 'oohs' we have here" haha! I just want to ask a couple of things: On the Radiohead song, did you extract Thom York's original vocals from the song with some phase cancellation trick (if that's possible) or you already had the sample from before? Also on the second tip when you sidechained the vocals, did you mean to raise the knee or the ratio on the compressor? Thanks!

[@memorymachina]

Thank you, has opened up a door !

[@lonelywolfy]

@blueandmax to get the full affect you have to push the wet/dry to 100%. if you do that with the reverb on the track itself you wont hear the original vocal clearly enough. plus to demonstrate this for us it was a lot easier for him to use the return track instead, especially since he showed multiple techniques and used different audio track to show us. it was a lot easier for him to just use the sends.

[@bballkings7]

i was laughin at how awesome and easy you made that seem lol

[@Lalola123]

That was spooky!!

[@juanp2924]

Very Nice..!

[@fabrizionemomancini]

REally Thanks !!!

[@abstrCtbeatz]

Nosaj Thing is DOPE!!

[@SeanPowell913]

good tips thanks

[@mobspeak]

Good shit bro.

[@therealrussellsmyth]

Legend !!!

[@BitteKeineWerbung]

amazing

[@zpurpz]

Low end is awesome