Alterboy Is Ruining Your Vocals

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In this video, I go over a phasing issue that arises when using Alterboy on specific vocals. While interviewing Millean during in the DOJO we got on the topic of one of the things he learned from working on his new track FOOL. This is one of them
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[@cashew_music]

alterboy be a bad boy sometimes

[@ZenWorld]

😅

[@1119-2]

​@@ZenWorld😂😂😂😂😂

[@ercanakyurekli]

Another amazing tip I don't start any project before I watch Zenworld thank you mate👍👍

[@ZenWorld]

No problem 👍

[@blainewalter8933]

Thanks Zen! Always looking out for the top quality.

[@Hesster_dj]

what is the Logic Pro equivalent of the utility tool?

[@starsmash7491]

utility gain

[@NylonMusic]

always on point, nice Zen

[@ZenWorld]

Try to be fast and EFFECTIVE 👿

[@erekhronmusic]

For me the best fixt o use MSED and adjust the stereo/mid checking the correlation meter, and put a compressor after to glue stuff together :) Of course not 100% working in every possible case, but it does it's job for me when i use some phase cancel intensive processing Psst. it was a secret :)

[@gsuberland]

I wonder if this is also fixable using a phase alignment VST, or if vocals are just too broad-spectrum in the frequency domain to be fixable in that way.

[@ZenWorld]

Can try it and let us know.

[@gsuberland]

@@ZenWorld I'm not set up to try it unfortunately. More of a DSP nerd than a producer :P

[@RMVibes]

I don't think so , because it is not fixed desaligned ... It will varying... They way to fix it is not to use 😂 or choosing 1 side of the sound and process a little bit to be wider without f&@k the mono compatibility

[@MattHatterDJ]

I constantly have phase issues in my production. One thing I was taught and I like this method, is to have a Send channel with just the Utility plugin set to Mono. Then start to crank up a mono signal into your stereo signal. until your phase issue is gone. You will end up having to rebalance the volume as this will make your vocal much louder, but you will have a nice balance of centre and width without cancelation. This will also keep all your effects like alter boy on your vocal, without having to remake an entire new channel sucking up CPU. Love ya!

[@OperculumAudio]

That's pretty smart. Is there an alternative plugin in FL Studio to do that?

[@gravity00x]

fuck this is genius!! my projects blow my cpu up because i was constantly making mono duplicates of each and every track thats too stereo

[@gravity00x]

@@OperculumAudio cant u sidechain to a send track that has tp-basslane(free simple and goat mono-plugin)

[@MattHatterDJ]

@@OperculumAudio I dont use FL studio but it shouldn't be hard to find something that will put your audio into mono. Many stere enhancers have a negative rating that would push it into mono

[@DaddaPsy]

This is indeed one method of solving the problem. You could distort the mono signal as well to beef it up even more and ofc rebalance the mix.

[@connollytunes]

Why don't they just put a width slider on the plugin?? Formant shift has nothing to do with width. It's two different effects. I have wanted Little Alterboy for ages, but this has put me right off. Dayum. Helpful vid!

[@djse]

This is a problem knew with Alterboy since a long time (I think I got this tips from one of your all video some years ago, but I'm not sure), I don't understand why Soundtoys never implement a function to do this directly in the plugin

[@djerikfox]

..it only happens on stereo vocals with alterboy, you can use autotune artist formant with less phase problem..😀

[@lukang1154]

I started hearing this phasing in my vocal mixes too when I first started using alter boy a while back. I was able to use the same trick 👍🏽. Why would soundtoys even make the VST fuck up the stereo image? Lol. Anyways thanks for creating the video and spreading the knowledge!

[@cekirdekci32]

Your channel is so good and followers are impressively knowledgeable that I even learn from the comments on your videos. I appreciate you exist Zen 🙌

[@netronisreal]

Yoksa Zen World u takip eden Türk bir prodüktör mü ???? :O

[@DJMRAsingh]

I have gotten better results with Ableton's inbuilt pitch shift( conplex pro). The pitch shift is more consistent than Alter Boy.

[@briancouture6033]

I get that with melda autotune

[@TRNQUL]

FL Studio workaround, someone?

[@STEVEITTO]

I used logic for years and never had this issue. Switched to Ableton and now I have this issue on every mix it’s annoying

[@TheRealXira]

I personally put it on a separate track and send the dry vocal to it. If I have several "backing vocals" I will bus them separate to the dry vocals. Then use M/S processing on these "Backing vocals" to push them out to the sides further, leaving the mids fairly clear of these and in turn creating space in the mids predominantly for the dry vocals. Route all these into one main vocals bus, to then process them all together with some light compression to help glue all these together.

[@torpedojoe3451]

Brother I literally have a track that I’ve been sitting on with this issue on the vocals. It sounds clear and loud on my monitors but then on any other speakers my friends will tell me they can’t really hear what I’m saying too clearly, and I can hear what they mean. This hopefully will solve this issue for me

[@CharlieCarlos123]

Nice video, I always leave 1 dry mono vocal, 1 left wet, 1 right wet and 1 wet mono. Then I group all of them and glue them together =p

[@iamnixing]

Does anyone know how I can use the Gain Plugin in Logic to do that?

[@Main247.]

is there a utility plug-in to buy? I use fl studio and I'm still desperate :(

[@mantymusic]

Hi ! What can i use in Fl studio ?

[@stizan9185]

Fl has pitch format build in, u don't need alterboy

[@dutchdroomdenker592]

Every mastering studio should have a JBL speaker

[@avationmusic]

A good rule of thumb is to NEVER use the mono switch on Utility if you're trying to make a signal source mono, as it sums the mid and side signals and can cause phase issues. If you want to make a source mono, always do what Zen showed here, just solo the left channel. ONLY use that mono switch for checking mono compatibility or if you specifically want the side information in your mono source and are absolutely certain you won't have phase issues.

[@andreaparolini1755]

A lot of ppl also tell you to make your bass mono compatible with the "bass mono" function on the utility. Isn't that just making a stereo signal to sound mono? To make a proper mono bass you need to synthesize a monophonic bass.

[@avationmusic]

@@andreaparolini1755 yes exactly. fix everything at the root/source. alternatively, I'd use mid side EQ to remove the side signal, thus leaving only the mid source in the sub region rather than summing them and causing the very phase issues you're trying to prevent. If you reallyyy wanna be technical, use an advanced 3rd party EQ (like ProQ3) on zero latency mode. This prevents pre-tonal ringing that can occur from linear phase and oversampled EQs.

[@eyasnajem]

Zen you are the best Ninja ever.....peep peep for you

[@dancingdeadpromo]

Hey bro, i see u updated the studio with the Sub37. Would be insane if u could do a bank for that one.. Toughts?

[@TCISBEATHUB]

Waiting for that too 🤙🏽

[@Boaugustin]

yes i saw that by myself some times ago, and it's really really strange, sometimes there is a trouble and voice begin de be wtf, and sometimes it's good, i had to but a new alter boy on it and freeze it directly before the plug in begin to mess it up !

[@ZenWorld]

Wise

[@mikaelsjodin1963]

Is it a robot speaking?

[@buzlanes]

I normally use utility and right click on the width and take off the stereo signals, I think that works too

[@RMVibes]

That makes the sound mono ...so it will sound bad on mono as before and now bad in stereo too

[@buzlanes]

@@RMVibes sure? Cause that would be the mono button or not = turning als mono and stereo information together into mono But the i mean deletes als stereo info 🤷🏼

[@RMVibes]

@@buzlanes if I understand what you mean : this function will only keep the phase in comum (mono) and turn off the different phase (sides)...and since the plugin cancel your phase in mono , it didn't work. (If I understand what you mean lol) the best way is choose L or R

[@buzlanes]

@@RMVibes okay thanks! Maybe you‘re right I‘ll try the L R one

[@IRWING123ful]

Yes I get worried sounds when I use this plugin

[@ivanovichdjproducer1256]

Any alternatives for Logic Pro users?

[@GaryOuistiti]

Use 'Gain' in the 'Utility' section ;)

[@matthewjforreal]

I knew that shit sounded weird when I used it

[@navin_bhatt_official]

Hey bro, im really having this issue right now, your fix helped it 20 percent. Is there a way to make it 100%

[@JUICE-wk2tz]

This phasing issue you speak of, this is a different problem related to their patch note from 2019 of "Fixed a bug in Little AlterBoy that could cause left and right channels to move slightly out of sync when used on a mono track in DAWs like Ableton and Cubase that process mono tracks in stereo.**"?? because I thought this issue was only with the old version and was fixed, I used to do this same trick to set it to only left or right as a fix but I ended up no longer using it until I can buy the full (updated) version, which I been waiting for a sale, however, if the phasing issue hasn't been fixed then idek now...

[@chidongongoful]

How would you solve that problem in FL Studio? 🤔

[@PontiacBeats]

frr

[@EirManTV]

I always use little boy 😭

[@sidjex1]

Hey man great video. Did you happen to release the song played in the video ? Sounded great

[@ZenWorld]

Nah didn’t make the cut 😔

[@prodRegularDude]

saved me! Thanks

[@kidsonicofficial]

This was really helpful even for me hahaha. I was thinking of getting Little Alterboy until someone told me that it causes phase issues (which is vital in Drum and Bass). I have vocal bender but I'm not a fan of the way it jumps around sometimes creating artefacts.

[@illusion8820]

Bro can you please help me with track bye giving a pro feedback. Please.....

[@bestkoreanjesus]

unsubbed just to sub again! Thanks for everything!

[@stlkr2247]

I gave up with Alterboy and switched to MAutoPitch, no phase issue at all and free

[@AlekHey]

what can I do if I use fl?

[@Rozarchy]

try using stereo imager / stereo shaper

[@jorgedejesustejedavaldez5283]

That happens to me in a vocal I was processing a month ago after that I think twice before using this plugin

[@benixmusic]

Good job! I know that before :DD

[@JonJon-bx1ww]

I use Vocal Bender because I'm broke as shit. But I imagine the same problem persists. Thanks for bringing this to light.

[@cekirdekci32]

Thank you sooo much Prof Zen and Millian for this tip🙌I never knew about this on alterboy. Zen vocals at the end sounds really good by the way

[@Runninback405]

Does Ableton's built-in transpose function for samples also create this issue?

[@ZenWorld]

No that's the weird thing IDK Why alter boy does this

[@CAFECADERAS]

@@ZenWorld soundtoys should address this

[@jonastrex05]

What about using just a compressor after the alterboy in the mixing chain?

[@DaddaPsy]

Why would that make any difference? A compressor won't fix phase issues which is the issue

[@MattHatterDJ]

You need to introduce a mono signal into your mix. see my post I made for another tip.

[@JJ-sq3jj]

I love you. This has saved me massively For those of you on logic you could do this with their gain utility as well

[@fredericyearedstoa2446]

i waited two hours for nothing!!! 😂😂😂

[@ZenWorld]

Chill foo

[@Lockdown-music]

Your a wizard zen 🔥

[@kkidha]

bro thank u so much for this vid!!!!

[@Narz3000]

Always the best advice on this channel. You are so good. Thanks man!

[@meowsenburg3488]

Sick video as always. That video with Millean was Gold

[@deadlycurry5384]

Such a great vid solved my issue instantly.

[@ZenWorld]

thats the goal always my brother join my famil!

[@ZenWorld]

I watches this via my IPHONE PROVES THE POINT TRY IT

[@Ozfish75]

The wide effect sounds so good on Little Alter Boy

[@ZenWorld]

😢😢

[@tilda140]

it sounds so good it disappears in mono!

[@dirtytech69]

i was so disappointed when i bought this plugin. i thought i can transform vocals like a boss from now on but the vocals are just thin and weak and not mono compatible after using this effect

[@MattHatterDJ]

Vocal processing is a beast on its own. Add vocal layers, add Reverbs and delays, vocal doublers, Add Saturation above 8K, Compress, Cut Lows, De Ess and that should give you a pretty lush sound. Dry vocals never sound good on their own. Thats your job to make em sound good.

[@RMVibes]

The unique plugin i am regret to have bought... I don't know each mode sounds worst , transpose or that other .... Even to pitch down i still prefering the tradicional transpose from Ableton. 🥹