How to Fix Harsh Vocals: The Right and the Wrong Way

When you're mixing vocals that are powerful, belted, or projected you'll probably hear the emergence of harsh frequencies...especially when you add your main vocal compression.
Dynamic EQ is the best harsh vocal fix, since the trick is more about taming harsh vocals than eliminating those harsh frequencies entirely. A properly utilized deesser will also work in a pinch.
It doesn't matter if you recorded in a professional studio or are recording at home, this occurrence is NORMAL. In this harsh vocals tutorial I'll show you how to handle this advanced form of vocal eq, though stock plugins may not cut it.
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[@LukrativeTheMan]

in my 15 years of experience, on top of my recording arts degree, I have never heard someone break down what you explained between 0:00 and 1:33 with such clarity and in a way it would be understood by someone completely ignorant of the subject, I'm about to dive into every video you have! you earned my sub!!! great video! I'll also be sharing your videos with my music peers

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

I adore this comment. I was encouraged by many to make videos for these reasons and it's great to receive that encouragement from subscribers

[@WassupFred]

Man this was a great video .. u explained it properly, the whys and why nots .. salute

[@jessielaplascaosorno4044]

With your videos my learning curve will shrink drastically. Thank you.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Excellent. That's the goal!

[@trinityrising1877]

Hearing the context and strait up science of these methods creates understanding on why we need to mix/balance frequencies at all, and thus makes it so much easier to apply proper corrections. Dude, your my number one mix Guru now. Even that bit about the multiband not being necessary, I never would have considered that. 5 stars Mate!

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

The love is mutual man. If I could summarize my mission statement into a comment I couldn't have worded it better. This is the foundation on which I try and construct these videos.

[@bossmanmusic1600]

You're a genius! love the way you explain everything.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Wow, thank you! I have great respect for the great teachers I've had and try to help people in the way they helped me.

[@robertwhite9378]

Have owned a studio for just over 18 years. I learned audio engineering in the studio over 45 years ago, but, you're presentation is so clear and concise that I actually have learned something valuable in each of your videos. Keep up the great work....

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Wow, thanks! Credit goes to the fantastic teachers and mentors I've had over the years.

[@glowmanny]

Great video! This will really resonate with me, especially the “thinking for yourself”!

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

As my guitar teacher used to tell me: if you spend all your time trying to sound like Hendrix you might end up missing out on sounding like you...and sounding like you could be the next Hendrix.

[@svntos1]

you're such a genius man, thanks for your work

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

GENIUS! Wow, I humbly accept your praise!

[@LilWishful]

can't wait to try this bro thank you 💯🔥

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Let me know how it goes and if you have any questions once you try for yourself. I'm always here for our subscribers :)

[@subliminal4338]

Really nice, did not know how to use the dyn eq, it appears to work very well !

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Glad I could help, it's definitely a hugely useful tool for your tooklit

[@2083thc]

good video, already knew everything but the way u explained it very unique and refreshing!

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Glad to hear that!

[@hipethenomad]

Thank you! I'll be watching your videos, I like your mixes

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Ayyyy thank you! If you search an artist named Chloe Kay she's been releasing her album song by song on streaming services. I recorded, produced, mixed & mastered the whole beast. Love how it came out.

[@pawangurjar2586]

Valueable 💯

[@angelodatruth]

Bro you explained this perfectly, got ur self a sub. Keep going 🔥🔥

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Appreciate it!

[@adriano.7431]

do more of this!! this is amazing

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Anything in particular you'd like to learn next?

[@angurishudesu]

@@MoonlitMusicGroup Maybe mic positioning/mic technique for home studio recordings?

[@andrewrodriguez1467]

Holy shit bro. Amazing

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Cheers man thank you!

[@LouisSerieusement]

you deserve so much more subscribers. Thank you so much for sharing

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

I appreciate that. I really need to get back to making videos it's just a lot of work. I need to hire a video editor

[@LouisSerieusement]

@@MoonlitMusicGroupyou're welcome. Also it's worth noting that I teach music (guitar, improvisation and synthesizers, since 2014 at least) and I'm used to learn and to watch tutorials. That being said, the way you explain and teach is really efficient and enjoyable ! Encore Merci :D

[@erictorres5935]

Great video . Just subbed . Looking forward to your content

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Awesome, thank you! Working on another video as we speak...type...whatever it's break time.

[@piotrkanarek]

Thank you.

[@TheTinkirWorkshop]

Absolutely loving to hear this fresh and cohesive perspective on all things sound. I’m here for all of the content! Also, how do you like the Raven?

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Brilliant, thank you! I think the Raven is nice when it works but I miss the tactility of real faders; there's something inhuman feeling about the touch screen concept. Control surface technology I think is where the industry is most lacking; it's either WAY too many fucking menus/modifiers to keep track of or a significant investment. I'm going to transition into the surface softube makes into next year I think.

[@prblm1784]

Great at explaining that's how ik your a master at your craft, keep it up.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

I appreciate that, the highest compliment there is.

[@prblm1784]

@@MoonlitMusicGroup you mind doing a UAD & Analog Vocal chain setup to tracking Vocals and how you setup protools session and UAD for recordingn

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

I am someone who typically records vocals pretty dry, but I could definitely do this. I'll write it in my "video production queue" close to the top :)

[@llywelyngruffydd8474]

You should do more of these nuts and bolts mixing videos. This was good.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

More to come! I'm working on a series that mixes a rock song from start to finish going into detail with the different elements. It was going to be one video but I think it'll be better and more digestible in installments.

[@mozebeatz]

i joined your channel today, great teacher

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Welcome and thank you! If there's anything you're interested or struggling with feel free to drop me a line and I'll add it to my list of video ideas.

[@annieacul5475]

banger video

[@youssoubarro1671]

Really Good Vidéo, thank you 😇

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Glad you liked it! You're very welcome.

[@obsessedwithstarrla]

Perfect Str8 to the point video Id love to work with you !

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Glad to hear it, I worry that I blab too much so this is helpful feedback.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

P.S. If you want to work with me I am for-hire :)

[@MohammedIrfan-eq2ix]

It's been a wild ride.

[@EdwinDekker71]

Good video. May I suggest Toneboosters EQ4 and TDR Nova (there is also a free version of Nova). Both do an awesome job at dynamic eq.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Thanks for sharing! I love my bd_dynEQ V2 but it's not free so I'm sure this will help many.

[@facundocastro9487]

TNice tutorials is going in my helpful tutorials playlist.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Glad you think so. There are a few more on my channel and many more on the way. Stay tuned ;)

[@johnmoney910]

Bro u just answered all of my questions man. This is a great video! Im at 9:55 rn so im not sure if u answered this question that i am about to ask. My question is, once i do this, will it cut through the mix properly now? Obvs every song is different ik but for the most part…? I have mixed around a thousand songs and this is the point i am at because the vocals dont sit exactly how i want them to in 2 track mixes. Ik this is one of the main culprits. Also is this appropriate for mastering as well?

[@playgames-ln6oo]

Super teacher

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Thank you! 😃 I really appreciate that. Some things are easier to understand than explain and I put a lot of thought in how to communicate them in a way that's easy to internalize.

[@EstudioMidimusica]

Hi, very well explained, what about Soothe 2 and similars? Thanks.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Thanks! Soothe 2 is loved by many, but I personally haven't used it. I think I am too much of a boomer set in my ways to go that route--things being too pretty can be a downside.

[@flamersss]

great video, so i have a question. When you are starting your chain for the first EQ, after DeEsser, are you searching & cutting the vocal’s bad frequencies off rip or are you doing the multiband compression first ? or do you do the Multiband after You’ve DeEssed, Eq’d & compressed first ? and when you do the multiband, should you search for the bad frequencies again that the compressor might have brought up ?

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

I am not very fond of the whole "cut the frequencies you don't like->compress-> additive EQ" procedure. I know there are engineers that constantly parade the idea that EQ should almost always be subtractive yada yada but I see it like your girl looking through your phone to see if you're cheating. She'll find the evidence whether it's actually there or not; same thing applies to the concept of sweeping EQ looking for "bad" frequencies...many frequencies will sound bad in isolation that aren't problematic. I only subtractively EQ when I hear something that's problematic without having to look for it, though it can take time for the ability to listen that critically to develop. I have a video on vocal chains and how to develop them that goes into my process more deeply, but I learned from working with CLA that it's easy to get carried away treating mixing like a corrective process, when really it's a framing or performance art. I much prefer using mainly additive EQ to highlight what makes a vocal (or anything) shine and accentuate that and compress it based on that balance. It's a positive reenforcement mentality. So to answer your question more directly, typically I will de-ess and "de-harsh" before my compression because I want to shape the sound based on what's great about it rather than influence the compressor with material that I may end up taming or removing anyway. EQ gives you a degree of control over the compressors response. As you've pointed out the compression can neutralize some of the dynamic EQ, and if that happens it's easy to make the dynamic EQ more effective or just add a touch more after the compressor. It's an either-or situation when it comes to the harshness techniques, but I almost never have more than one EQ on anything and it's always before the compressor. It's extremely easy to over mix things, so a lot of this comes from a philosophy of riding heavily on instinct rather than constantly finding opportunities to question the presence or lack thereof of frequencies that probably won't influence the big picture at all. Long asf winded answer, but that's my thoughts in a very large nutshell :)

[@Rooflessmula]

u gotta learn how to think for urself if u wanna be a great engineer. wise words

[@unknownsinger2723]

Stay safe everyone

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Safe from harsh vocals yes

[@mrpapu6979]

WatcNice tutorialng tNice tutorials video is literally my 1st step to my 22 goal.

[@prblm1784]

can we get a go to vocal tracking chain brother (UAD and analog)

[@doknox]

Vocal tracking chains depend on the room and the vocalist. My chain is preamp, eq, compressor, de-esser but the settings are always different depending on the voice. Also everyone has their preferences. Just find what works for you.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

This can be a preference thing, but if you're referencing using Apollo/UADs zero latency tracking deal I could definitely make that happen.

[@prblm1784]

@@MoonlitMusicGroup yes please

[@florianosimango8098]

To download soft soft is the download free or do u have to pay for it?

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

The plug-ins I used here are not free, but the dynamic EQ is $100 or less if I remember correctly.

[@conrow1157]

Any reason why you don’t use pro Q etc?

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

I just never got into the fabfilter ecosystem but I've seen them used in other videos and I'm fairly certain ProQ has a dynamic EQ feature. That would absolutely work as a substitute for the dynEQ I used in this vid

[@RobRuffMusic]

Waves c9 dynamic EQ adds zero latency and zero processing. Id look into it.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

I will never buy waves plugins for the rest of my life, but helpful information for some!

[@rivlv29]

when i insert it?

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

I prefer before the compressor, after works too

[@jonasthielsen7903]

Everyone, it's been a year since I ca to tNice tutorials video, and my progress is amazing.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

I'll take that as a compliment!

[@RRR-vj1sy]

No one is talking about the Harshness that all over the vocal

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

Someone follows my tiktok lmao

[@RobRuffMusic]

You forgot to mention that it could be your mic.... For example the AT 2020 is harsh at 8-900 and 11-12.4k and theres NOTHING you can do do fix it... You can cut all you want but it takes too much out if the rest of the vocal.

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

A "good" mic for singers is really just a mic with a response curve that favors their particular vocal resonances. A mic won't create the inherent harshness of a vocalist, but it can make those specific frequencies louder or softer relative to the other audible frequencies.

[@yasirpk9885]

You should be my maths teacher

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

I'll take that as a compliment :D

[@raamaa0297]

I watched tNice tutorials baked af it actually helps if you get into it

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

LOL I can relate

[@yamanduvs]

Yeah tNice tutorials is super complicated ​

[@chitrajayaraman9699]

.

[@iancuaresma]

Lol

[@noaimelhar3839]

on instagram

[@MoonlitMusicGroup]

what about it?