Getting a Clear, Upfront Vocal Sound

[@Wdevries]

That SSL E-channel and CLA-76. Just magic.

[@Paul_Todkill]

They're all on sale right now for like $30 just sayin!

[@VaizardDaishi]

@@ExhaustedPenguin Back in the day lol

[@chrise229]

For anyone asking, the song is called Failsafes by Play Oliver

[@JirehAsis]

Thanks!!!

[@filmdad24]

Hey can I ask you? Is been 2 years, have you removed the resonances yet? Usually that’s the first thing after gain Do you still have the raw vocal track with no effects?

[@bemorouge]

You take the CLA approach! WHICH is also my approach! LOVE IT

[@TheSteveKlattProject]

Thanks.. this is a very helpful video... mixing my vocals is always a challenge... especially when adding in layers of harmonies

[@kyleborch]

Great video as usual. I would love to see more videos geared toward pop-rock/pop punk. I'm about halfway through the The Full Stack Producer course and it's translating very well into those genres for me.

[@Zxios]

This is exactly what I'm looking for right now. Thanks Jordan!

[@marcelbr815]

It's great how you're not afraid to use a ton of compression and still sound better.

[@JoeAtClaricast]

Love this vocal chain.

[@NikolasQuemtri]

Great vocal processing, thanks Jordan! I've noticed, that these silky vocal highs make tuning artifacts more obvious (cause it touches formants mostly).

[@PaulRamos-Entrepreneur]

My MIxes started getting so much better after I stopped watching Graphs and started using my EARs - started back in the day when all there was, was a board and speakers then went in the box and lost the magic - spent years fing with plugins and technology trying to find what I thought was that lost analogue sound - then HRC set me straight - that one lesson was worth the price of admission IMHO. EARS first!

[@Dylanklinemusic]

Agreed!

[@markconner5341]

Started using the ssl eq a couple days ago….it looks intimating. But Jordan’s right…it forces you to use your ears and it’s real easy to hear massive shifts

[@carlospacini1744]

Awesome ! gretings from Argentina !

[@thehangingmansmiles3026]

This song is amazing!

[@liucrxsmadeit]

GENIUS

[@exhaust4246]

Thanks bro! I Needed to hear that about boosting highs 🔥

[@emaGamepc]

Tell me the perfect way to thank you. ❤

[@jiznak2000]

I'd love more Rock style mixing instructional videos!

[@1987Devo100]

Great video! Love what you’re doing to this. Night and day difference.

[@nawsh2252]

Thanks for your encouragement to crank the EQ harder. Also, I never really use a limiter on my vocal group. I think instead I count on automation too much. I should do that. Thanks! 🙌💜

[@EemeliSiekkinen]

True my man. I was just recording my band at an analog studio. Producer and mixer said that trust your ear, not your eyes. So simple thing but blew my mind and this sealed the deal. Never will I ever again think that something looks crazy if it sounds good. 🤘

[@kevwritemeasong]

The song is Failsafes by Play Oliver

[@theblackstoneconspiracy4745]

Thank You Jordan :)

[@Marco-HidalgoMusicRecords]

Great video dude!!!! It´s a pretty good song too!! Where can I listen to it?? Thanks for sharing!!! Blessings from Uruguay

[@rome8180]

This was super helpful. However, for pop vocals I still thought these were a couple db too quiet.

[@hung3r758]

Thx for all your tutorials !

[@harmonygaleria6311]

Exactly what I needed! Thank you!

[@halidharis]

Just found a new channel to subscribe...well done sir

[@malefactor3334]

Hey there, just watched two of your videos. Good job! Do you do the Equalizer before or after the compressor? What I meant to have heard is that you do it before the compressor? I listened several times but I couldn't just make it out of your comments. And i am not using the DAW you are using so it's hard for me to track in which order the effects are placed.... For the general audience, maybe it is better to just to present the effects in exactly that order that you put them in - even if it doesn't make sense from a mixing perspective. 🙃

[@swankiw_]

Hi Jordan. Great video! Can you give a tips on how to find the "perfect" vocal volume balance in a mix? I always end up balancing the vocal either too loud or too quiet in my mixes. It's so hard to find the right balance

[@SkateTobby]

Joe gilders tips on this is a great one. When you are gonna balance out the vocal u should turn town the total volume on your headphones. And on a low volume set the levels. For some reason it's easier to get the levels right doing this^^ hope it helps u out

[@rome8180]

I actually thought the vocal in this video was too quiet for a pop mix.

[@Echo-nn8dt]

@@SkateTobby I think because it’s easier to tell when something stands out too much at lower levels since it’ll sound significantly louder vs trying to mix with everything being loud so it’s harder to tell what is too loud

[@SkateTobby]

@@Echo-nn8dt yeah that makes sense^^ plus you don't get fatique as fast if you listen to lower volumes^^ and also important to remember we presive louder as "better" even tho its not always the case

[@miltonex]

Awesome!!! Thank you!!

[@joaopunk1289]

Amazing!

[@eccentricworx]

Interesting. I do basically the same, except using a LA2A before the 1176, both in mixed mode and add tape sim as a limiter...

[@ImRichardShepherd]

Sounds great, man! The room tone is actually kinda fucking cool! Hahahahah!

[@rmv2333]

It's quite interesting that I learnt to mix my vocals on my own a few months ago (I'm really confident with them now to be honest). Now, I've watched this JV video to check if there was something I could improve and I see that me and Jordan are doing pretty much the same! Nice video anyway, Jordan! ;)

[@SooLeqitx3]

subscribed

[@voiddreams3143]

Great Video! Thanks! Also, pretty catchy song there! :)

[@swa2zcorp]

Jordan, I have some questions about outboard gear. Obviously the plugins sound great. But I have some gear I'm curious how you'd use it in a vocal chain. Neve portico ii master buss compressor, API 550B EQ, aphex limiter. Neve tape saturator. I have the same plug ins you've demonstrated as well. Thanks for your great work.

[@livinndyn]

Awesome tricks, Thanks.

[@rmv2333]

Hi Jordan, where can we listen to this song? I really dig it!

[@sethmonroe9603]

Would LOVE to see you take this approach on a soft piano ballad or something a little more intimate with less instrumentation

[@lydfar2392]

I usually put the 1176 first and then feed into the SSL channel EQ and then round it of with the SSL compressor, but with the "CH OUT" engaged, so I EQ into the compressor. Almost same settings as you did and I go for the same expression. But I find that I can get more control over the character of the 1176, if I'm putting it first in the chain. I actually insert the deesser as the very first, again I feel I have more control that way... People should try it as an alternative approach. The difference is not that big, I guess. But always interesting to see how others do almost the same thing with very simple tools... Thanks man. ☺️

[@alessandrosummer]

I also put the 1176 first, it gives me an immediate pro vocal sound and makes the eq much better! But I put the de-esser after the 1176 and the SSL Channel since I noticed that I have much more control on the sibilant control. Last one the limiter (the stock Ableton limiter is just fine). This chain works for me, if your chain works for you that's great 🙃

[@giabgr]

Confusingly phrased. When you say you put the compressor on first, it implies that it is first in the processing chain. Had me scratching my head until I realised your meant 'Set the compressor first and then eq into that'.

[@BrianDielemanOfficial]

What band is this? I like it

[@akeyzstudio6620]

Hello can you do a tutorial on how you mix the drums on this track pls

[@rmv2333]

Name of the song? I really like it man!

[@Fexiheit]

Failsafes by Play Oliver

[@Fexiheit]

@@TheTeuz87 Totally agree... sometimes mastering is killing the mix :(

[@rmv2333]

@@Fexiheit thanks a lot man!

[@danny_HP]

​@@TheTeuz87 Kinda cool how much his skills have leveled up

[@mrbouncelol]

@@TheTeuz87 Also the mono-ness is doing my head in, like the vocals and snare are having a fist fight. Sounds like there's a wider soundspace here

[@govindsainimusic]

Nice, keep it up

[@arthur.monticelli]

Great video, as always!! I have a question: did you automate the volume of those vocals prior to EQing and compressing (and was it a pre-fx automation or post-fx)? Thank you for always putting out high quality content!

[@xero5101]

Do you know what mic was used on these vocals? Would really like to know.

[@skincrawler22]

What's the title of the song?

[@BobCorey]

But it wasn't the same move, SSL was on bell, the Req on resonance shelf...

[@groovehousestudio1653]

You are the best mannnn

[@josherrrrrrrrrrrr]

Love the videos! Is this where the lead vocal would sit level wise? I’m always paranoid about making the vocal too loud.

[@BrewReview]

Generally, you would probably want to target the snare and put it just over the level of the snare, give or take preference. Apply eq and compression to vox/snare to taste. Just depends how hot you want your vocal to push.

[@rakatai.i.i8739]

Funny, when I was just looking for a video such as this on your channel yesterday and then this popped up on my feed! Perfect timing haha. I do have a question though, with your SM7, do you just run it straight into your interface (or compressor) or do you use one of those Cloud-Lifter/gain boosters? I'm looking into buying one (essentially for every reason I"ve seen you mention in all your videos) and just can't decide.

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Lots of people recommend the cloud lifter, but I’ve never tried one. It’s always been fine for me into a good quality preamp.

[@rakatai.i.i8739]

​@@hardcoremusicstudio Sweet! Sounds good to me! I trust your experience more than most with these sort of things given you've quite literally "been there, done that" with more real world recording/studio experiences. I personally didn't think it'd be too big of a deal but I just don't want to be dropping so much extra funds on something that might be sitting around. Rather get the mic and then the extra boost if even needed. I do appreciate your channel like mad though man, and especially your response. I await more videos!

[@x3BobO]

Was that compressor constant on -20db?

[@alessandrosummer]

Almost all the way through, don't look at the meter: listen instead - the 1176 sound better when you compress hard

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

I noticed you often have the 60hz hum option engaged on the CLA76. Is there a reason?

[@konamipls]

Probably forgot to take it off because he loaded up the preset

[@thomaskuhn2549]

Who's the Singer on this? He has a quite similar tone to Spencer from Periphery

[@BukanIbuMu]

He has the same tenor vocal range

[@vloggingpractice8077]

Fantastic video! Ps. If I understood correctly in this case, first you compress the vocal with 1176 and then the vocal feeds into SSL channel?

[@austinhein239]

Other way around! 1176 first for leveling and character. Then he loaded the SSL in before the 76 in the chain, so that the SSL feeds into the 76

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

That’s right, I got the compressor going first but then I put the eq before it in the chain!

[@MrGuitarDemo]

Wait when you say its dry no plugins theres still plenty of reverb why? Were there other effects recorded onto the signal? And when you crank the highs it just sounds better for you, even in the graphical one. when I crank the highs on basically anything not just vocals, it gets noisy and piercing. But take it away and it gets muffled...Also how hard was the singer singing in real life? I have one example of my vocals on my channel (thriller, recorded on sm7b) but I did a terrible mix and I couldn't tell it was bad at the time, I used way too much reverb for one. I'm trying to figure out when you actually have to be belting vs speech-level with plugins etc. I thought on this song he was belting in the chorus but when you soloed it at the end it was more clear he was being easy and the compressor was making it up, I have to figure out how to manage that

[@johnnyceravolo]

Where is the part about actually recording the vocal?

[@JirehAsis]

So awesome tip!! God bless you more! & more power! watching from the Philippines here! =D

[@ManuMusic1]

Why did you use the Limiter? What's your intention behind it? :-)

[@HellenCheller]

To catch the highest peaks and limit them to a specific threshold. AKA... make it so the vocal never goes over a certain level. Like a brick wall compressor.

[@aascyth]

This is my favorite video ever

[@markporo]

Hey Jordan can you explain why you put a limiter at the end of this vocal chain? Is that something you typically always do? Thanks so much.

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Yes! The 1176 working this hard sometimes creates big transient spikes (like T’s, C’s, etc). The L1 levels those off... but I also like how it just pins the vocal down. I don’t get too crazy with it, just a little finishing touch.

[@markporo]

@@hardcoremusicstudio Thanks Jordan...I really appreciate your tutorials!

[@ptakleo]

The take it's great anyways lol .Good job

[@thecaprakid]

Glad I found this channel. Great Vid!

[@zub635]

Awesome Lessons

[@carlospacini1744]

Linkvideo stereo vocal delay pls !

[@kageto0852]

great video dude, so informative.

[@ADrummersDelight]

Is there any way to get my hands on this song?

[@ADrummersDelight]

HA, found it! Play Oliver - Failsafes

[@MortenAndersen-hjemmesider]

A lot of compression on that vocal .... but it sound good :-)

[@Yanthungbemo]

When putting a compressor or a limiter on the MASTER BUS, I set the threshold using the loudest parts as reference. However with this approach, I don't get as much compression as I'd like to have (or sometimes even none at all) on the quieter parts. Is automating the threshold the only way or is there a simpler method that I'm unaware of? Also, is it actually necessary to have the same amount of compression, say 2dB gain reduction, across the song on all quiet & loud parts of a song?

[@jonathandesjardins9886]

Awesome, as usual! Thx Jordan Question: how do you link the plugins for both vocal tracks? One tweak knob affect both tracks Newbie with Pro Tools hehe ;)

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Group the tracks, then go into the group settings for that group. Hit the checkboxes to link insert controls

[@loganbuck17]

turn it till it sounds good

[@lightvtproductions]

god I loved this song, what's the name of it?

[@MichaelHaze]

But why are we talking about the importance of mixing the mid range 😅

[@damnoverzy1194]

wow that's simple no need plugin in masterbus

[@PabloLaFrossia]

Group the tracks (CMD + G on MAC), then take out the global setting and select inserts (checkmarks) for inserts A-E and F-J. Hope this helps!

[@BukanIbuMu]

The limiter just kills the upfrontness of the vocals

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Interesting, I think it cements it!

[@rhapsodyinbluez]

Is that a woman or man

[@BukanIbuMu]

Man

[@djfull4442]

omg don't explain stuff in the same moment when the music is playing

[@Silithungames]

whats the name of the song ?