Creating vocal stacks with Kuk Harrell

[@mixwiththemasters]

Full video available exclusively on mwtm.org/kh-for-you

[@DanBires]

That has always been my weakness not being that good a figuring out the right harmonies. I worked with a really good producer one time that had me singing all these different parts harmonies 5 parts I had no idea how he figured all these different notes out. He used an acoustic guitar hitting single notes and would have me go back in the booth and tell me to sing this line like this and he would hum the notes. After it was all done I sounded like I had a choir behind me. Then there is the whole little parts in between parts to fill gaps up. I really appreciate your talents. Sounds amazing.

[@Keviekev115]

We start to realize how much goes into these hot songs. The DAW looks crazy, AlL those bars

[@TreyGoose]

@@Keviekev115 I knew it was complex cuz I can hear it🤣☝

[@MrArtVein]

Kuk is a legend don't sweat it. I like to use the keyboard if I can't feel it out in my head. Once you can hear the root note of the stack part you're doing it's 100x easier.

[@garbygarb31]

It's not hard

[@mellaytheghost]

You can use a plugin like Melodyne or Antares' harmonizer to figure out the harmonies you like and then go back and record them. I find it sounds better if you record over it because the plugins sound too robotic. Hope that helps!

[@prongpraison8463]

More of Kuk Please and more vocal production series.

[@bw2937]

Get it on mix with the masters

[@tycrabs]

Wowwwww. I unfortunately have never heard of Mr. Harrell and since this incredibly dense lesson in mastering sparked my interest, I looked him up and his credentials are just STUPID. Holy hell. This guy is a genuine icon and I appreciate some insight into how he made all these hits. Instantly a new favorite.

[@JasonAhl]

Step 1: have an insanely good vocal

[@blankcheckguy69]

**many insanely good vocal takes in varying styles

[@JacobZirkin]

I am sure these tracks are autotuned

[@m3rify]

@@JacobZirkin But they are well perform I think they say

[@JacobZirkin]

Agreed they are well performed

[@alexsenna1559]

step 0 hahah

[@BeatsChill]

This guy’s catalog is crazy if you know you know!

[@ctyboy-bm6pg]

RedZone team was crazy with it. The Dream, Tricky, and Kuk. Fiyaaa

[@heartstrings110]

KUK! So good seeing him on here. I know him mostly from producing Rihanna’s song, ‘Umbrella.’ Insanely good vocal producer.

[@thecurdge5934]

Damn this was so good, I needed this. Also, the enthusiasm on the playback was good to see lol most engineers play their mix back and look uninterested or emotionless.

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

It's the best way to listen objectively

[@markvirgo9833]

Being creative is super important when it comes to the vocal process and not being afraid to experiment with new ideals.😊

[@maailmanalku]

Love this. Very concrete demonstration of how to do stacking, and how to create movement with the arrangement of the stacks (some notes are only doubled, some have the full stack, etc.). I've really struggled to understand how many layers to add, and how to treat them. Thank you so much!

[@victorolsson7202]

As a Swede, his name makes me giggle.

[@jonasfonn1638]

Hehe. As a Norwegian, I concur

[@svengali5862]

I honestly can't believe how many people are hearing his name for the first time. This man is one of the best vocal engineers of all time

[@artemyeden]

god bless google translator for i get it 😄

[@monstie2795]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@amanjoshua4562]

@@svengali5862 bro I just checked his discography and I was like 😮

[@sugabrownmusic]

7:26 - Amazing insight about when to use vocal stacks. Kuk is a legend 👑

[@artticaudio]

Old school tricks🔥🔥💯 “pan hard left and right right away “

[@nickepic1863]

It's stupid and amateur trick. Your left and right vocal needs to be different in dynamic, if you have same copy of the vocal in center, left and right it sounds like crap. Yeah it sounds better than mono vocal but it will sound 100 times better if left and right vocal is different and unique.

[@robert_tee]

@@nickepic1863 I think you still need to learn about pitch and tone... How they effect the dynamic of an audio, combined with compression and automation you can bring a feel that is different in texture.

[@gideonblockent]

@@nickepic1863 facts 💯

[@nickepic1863]

@@robert_tee Pitch and tone has nothing to do with this, and it would sound stupid if left vocal is differently pitched than rest of a song. You need new take on vocals with different mic setup than main vocal take, you need different FX and many other things. That is how you make better and wide vocals not by copy paste same thing.

[@ardan981]

@@nickepic1863 He didn't copy it, he recorded two different takes and panned them hard left and right

[@xquizzeat8348]

Completly offtopic but you just gotta love those little head moves! He is feeling it

[@faticabello]

as long as you enjoy what you do, everything will be fine ❤

[@LovenArtiste]

Whenever he listens back to the track he gives me life 😂🔥

[@ricflomusic]

seeing this help me be more confident with my harmonies thank you

[@Akusound]

you make swing the vocals , CRAZY work !! Thanks for share !

[@dulla8469]

i always focus on how many harmonies to put in, and max i always go for was 2 for each note L and R, guess this just shows that ive been thinking about the notes when i was supposed to think about the microseconds of timings in each track that would make it sound big

[@albertm647]

No matter what style you mix, that’s amazing :)

[@D3RTmusic]

I YELLED at my computer when that high track came in... so good

[@ThisCreepingLife]

Im about to record the singers for my album and this came in perfect timing! Very useful

[@jazminedukes3276]

He's a genius and a legend.

[@shackjonz]

Kuk is a genius.

[@nth7485]

🤭

[@ZHEER]

6:08 he's spitting facts. Seriously though, that was informative.

[@supremeoftheartss.o.t.a8047]

lol

[@gfiny]

at 2:25 he really be spittin

[@ariewdhana]

lolz

[@dvntlife]

This is GREAT vocal production wow

[@TonecrafteLuthiery]

Oof that’s angelic stuff right there. Really high production value.

[@_Kim_Possible]

That song was my favorite from that album and it makes sense lol. I was confused why they didn't do harmonies like that on their other tracks and it's bc Kuk was behind that song and not the others.

[@spadeguzman6001]

When I stack my vocals in Protools one will sound gud then I do it again then it'll sound Robotic? Idk why

[@garnetbey4227]

those stacks sounds really strong in those panning spaces.

[@ArmorKingEmir]

never worked with vocalist this good

[@JeremyHazeTV]

This is pretty neat.

[@syedarmaghanhassan4652]

Wow! The best video and info i have ever seen on the topic till now.. as a beginner, I appr3ciatr a lot his calm way of talking with stright forward, to-the-point quick information. Thanks man! It would be so great, if you could show us all the different examples of harmonies with vocal ttacks for different singers and for different songs. Maybe in separate videos. That would be so amazing..

[@thefunkgodeloheem2278]

Great information & lesson. Thank You. 🔥🔥🔥

[@ChantmanTV]

I love it 🙏🏾 thanks a million for sharing this knowledge.

[@SarawiwiD]

Great information. Thank you so much

[@SweetScaleTV]

This guy is incredible!

[@JamesWestMusicMan]

It's always reassuring when I already know everything he was talking about

[@nr126]

But can you apply it.

[@JamesWestMusicMan]

@@nr126 I mean yes, because I know what he's talking about

[@FatalBlow113]

@@nr126 *You are miserable, aren't you?*

[@NatureEnergyBeing_N-E-B]

This is really a great video, very informative. Appreciate the share.⚡️🌪⚡️

[@KalltuniClassics]

Nice...

[@emigambino10]

This dude is on another level! Im trying to follow along but his expertise is honestly intimidating at times 😅

[@beatsbyblu6374]

this is so beautiful

[@Babeceliazane]

It sounds so nice😮

[@melindamullins9971]

amazing and thank you for stacking tips in studio.

[@houseofgraceworship]

How or where could I learn how to arrange the harmonies in a way that fits the lead vocal?

[@iyoran4838]

just experiment l, he mentions it around 6:05 or so

[@BaileyPickles]

Does anyone know the song?

[@DanBires]

One more thing can you tell us the delay you were using on the super high harmony. It had such a nice soft warm delay beautiful

[@konamipls]

I think it’s h delay ping pong with reverb after

[@Lashawnjohnsonmusic]

What does he mean by “blended down” when he’s talking about the harmonies at 2:24?

[@pinnacleproductions6275]

It’d be nice if someone could make a video on how to stack vocals without auto tune.

[@overflowbeats6965]

This video was much more informative than the last one. Thank you.

[@shahrecordskarachi2070]

My vocals choras with harmony clashing and cancelling each other please make a tutorial how upfront big stereo width choras and harmony mixing and lead vocal in the center 💕💕💕💕💌

[@naijadancehallafro8007]

Please can someone tell the DAW he's using 🙏 4:12

[@darneljoseph388]

I love the passion

[@ggez9580]

This is Why dont we, such amazing artists

[@jahhe2611]

02:00 he says 2+1 makes 3 but then says do 4... but how does that 4 not make 5 if u count the lead? it seems like when he says 2+1 he does count the lead but then with the 4 example he doesn't? can someone explain pls :D

[@KTMusik]

true work of art

[@GregLassalle2015]

Beast!! Great voice and insanely cool parts. Respect.................🙌🏾

[@oseghaleokoyomon6921]

This is too beautiful

[@MAJALIJU]

thank you!

[@vanderloo1978]

What does he mean by four stacks? See timecode 2:04. Does he mean four copies/duplicates of the same "take" panned differently? Or does me four different takes of the same lyrics?

[@konamipls]

four differently recorded takes, 2 left, 2 right, im pretty sure if you duplicate them that just makes it louder

[@RhythmxRecords]

Amazing information

[@SaamColeOfficial]

For me, the best vocal producer ❤️🎶

[@PrimeJoyy]

max martin too🖤

[@bhaveshtochabbra6853]

@@PrimeJoyy overrated

[@vvvinblue5557]

True! Love his work on Melodrama so much!

[@bw2937]

@@bhaveshtochabbra6853 Pahaha how? He's the best out there.

[@bhaveshtochabbra6853]

@@bw2937 oh i was just having bad day and wanted to argue with someone lol. No one cared. I like him.

[@ZebSound]

so everything 100% to the left and right except the main vocals???

[@1NOnlyAdityaOfficial]

You should also release a record kuk 😎 🤙 Very helpful ❤️🙏 Sukriya

[@waynepayne864]

his reputation is so fucking well deserved it aint even funny

[@betrayallabel]

Thank yuu so fucking much I been FUCKING my vocals up for 5 YEARS Daym on moms this shit elevated my damn thinking on vocals. Used to think vocals were so simple and the beat was so complex but I been ending up putting too much shit at once for my beat and my vocal mixing and stacking were lackin. I just wrote a song too if I finish it imma fucking credit him and yuur channel no cap 🧢 one luv 🙏🏼💯

[@angelsmusicchannel1836]

This Man Is Genius!!!!

[@saixgebeatz]

5:06 this is magic

[@producerdonpaul5979]

Wow!!! Stupid good, and opens up creatively

[@caseestarr]

Go off with the cross fade 😩

[@djdrewpyroproduction]

Incredible sounding and incredible information. Thank you!

[@dennissong3754]

Thanks

[@eyeslikeoceans]

This guy would be popular in Sweden

[@yvesdje820]

Why

[@dannyho6786]

cus he in the den makin shit sweet

[@KYAMIofficial]

@@yvesdje820 kuk in swedish means d..k

[@phenomena17]

THANKS

[@seanbrucemedia5695]

This is the way right here! LOL! Mastery for real!

[@jimmylennon3088]

the best ive seen so far.super.sound.great.help.to.me.thank you .

[@AnwaarAliOfficial]

What's the vocal chain?

[@kevinjohnson4877]

I love this

[@alexbrathwaite2924]

Soooooo Good!!!! I love this!!

[@avelinileva]

Doctor! Amazing vocals

[@Agape_Fikru]

Thanks, Man! Will definitely use these tricks.

[@bhargavdobhal5327]

Great Video🔥🔥🔥Thank You🙌🙌.

[@brandonwolf6702]

At 1:27 when he’w talking bout levels. So he’s not touching the levels on the actual vocal stem but is decreasing the fader by -9.9 right?

[@spwaff.]

yeah! i think so!

[@misslyricalpenny]

Is each stack a separate vocal track? This sounds wonderful. I don’t do vocals often but I like how full this sounds.

[@CanadianBully]

@desdentado9 music and it also causes phasing if you duplicate the same tracks on top of each other

[@SH-jv5uf]

@@CanadianBully What if you double the track and add delay. Would that reduce the odds of phasing issues? (btw I’m a different SH lol)

[@CanadianBully]

@@SH-jv5uf it would still phase as long as it’s the same wave, ur best bet is to pitch it down or up an octave so it acts as a harmonic vocal

[@joshfrench6426]

​@@SH-jv5ufa double of the same thing does nothing for layering. You can do whatever tricks you want and it doesn't matter

[@harryolive1853]

backing position on lyrics. 0:16 ."...for me *there*...." has some halftone 'nice issues' on 2 tracks of 4.. no one hear this?

[@joebuckley9181]

Kuk can sing too!

[@iameyben6987]

Thank you

[@OrneeMendii]

alta chabon

[@rsv3857]

Do you stack 4 left and 4 right of same vocal copying same performance Or each one is an independent vocal performance?

[@onstandard]

whats the name of that mouse ball that hes using?

[@jaymax4579]

Kensington trackball 🖲

[@svengali5862]

Darude sandstorm

[@hang-sangitch]

@@svengali5862 🤣

[@CarlyonProduction]

This would sound so much better with a more transparent melodyne treatment as opposed to the glitchy auto tune. That sound is overplayed and it works well for some things, but I feel it strips the emotion from this vocal when a less glitchy sound would come across more sincere and emotive.

[@Quintopia1]

so good, thank you

[@mixedbymikael]

Sounds so good 😁

[@stuartwrigglesworth9339]

Nice harmony’s

[@dluckjc11]

Thank you!

[@jonathanbyrdmusic]

Bad ass.

[@bradbillups6782]

i wish you solo’d the other harmonies so we coulda heard it 😔

[@kijjambumarkisaac5681]

What is the title of the song pliz

[@mikeb1824]

What’s the name of the song tho

[@NeedCoffeeBeats]

Great content