How to Level Vocals Perfectly WITHOUT Compression

Learn how to get vocals sitting in the mix in 3 clicks, without the squeeze and pumping of compression - using this old-school engineering technique. Learn more: link.waves.com/o4m
0:00 Introduction
0:08 What is fader riding and why do pro engineers rave about it?
0:45 What is Waves Vocal Rider?
1:44 Control walkthrough - using Vocal Rider to automatically level the dynamics of lead vocal tracks
2:51 Vocal Rider examples
3:42 Using Vocal Rider to level vocals with music
4:35 Vocal Rider example
5:01 Question - Do you fader ride your tracks? If so, how? Let us know in the comments below
Discover more Vocal plugins from Waves Audio: link.waves.com/9xd
Discover Waves Bass Rider, the perfect leveling tool for any style of bass track: link.waves.com/06e
Compression is the best tool for the job for placing lead vocal tracks in a mix, right?
Not always! While compression is widely considered an excellent tool for controlling dynamics, it can color and squeeze too much, stripping away the natural feel and vibe from vocal performances. A tried and tested alternative to compression came from the analog days and is known as fader riding. This technique is all about choosing how to rein in or reinforce dynamics and is done with constant level adjustments at the fader. BUT you’ve got to put the work in to get this fader riding sounding clean and natural, or do you?
Not so with Waves Vocal Rider, an elegant, real-time, automatic approach to riding the fader in a plugin that delivers controlled and leveled vocal sounds, so you don’t ever need to rely on heavy‑handed or overly aggressive compression again. If you struggle to produce consistent sounding vocal dynamics, or feel compression colors your tracks too much, stop the squeeze! Try Vocal Rider today: link.waves.com/o4m
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[@palebluedotstudios]

I've always seem Vocal Rider as a pre-compressor optimizer, but I've struggled with some of the parameters. Thanks for the explanation! By far the best I've seen. Cheers!

[@Anthony-kp7sf]

it is literally like 3 knobs and a slider lol. the amount of hate this plug-in got initially is completely hilarious to me. this plug-in is absolutely amazing. if you are generally decent with your ears you will realize the value of this plug-in

[@lisapatterson1175]

omg if only I could get back all the hours spent drawing automation ... Lol i learned how to ride faders on a Neve console so loving this plugin - thank u!

[@correametal]

I love Vocal Rider and I use it in all my mixes. It is such a life and time saver! Thank you Waves for such an amazing plugin!!!

[@cloverbeats]

I really love how you tell the order to insert the plugin!

[@maxmapsgiovara8427]

Thank You! I Use Vocal Rider and this tutorial was very useful. I appreciate in particular your relaxing way of explaining it. Best.

[@NaweedQadirdotcom]

I have been using Vocal Rider for some time now and I consider it as one of my critical must-have plugins. But I did not know it's all these capabilities before! Thanks for such a great video on it.

[@MojosArmy]

I use Vocal Rider in every mix. Nice to have a refresher on the parameters. I do draw in automation on instrument buses, and I've taken to the habit of doing region gain on particularly hot or quiet bits in a vocal to level it out more so Vocal Rider sounds smoother. Thanks for this tutorial!

[@Rolanoid]

Very helpful thanks. This is one of my Waves desert island plugins and I wish this video had been around for all the years I've been using it.

[@DoitYHWH]

Thank you Dan! Clear, concise and to the point!

[@AlexeySolovievMusic]

Love Vocal Rider a lot! Great video Dan! Thank you so much!

[@dfrasu]

I have this plug in. It is just fabulous. So easy and it sounds really good. Thanks for the tips!

[@sunumaudio]

Just picked up this today, very well made video! Also, its great you guys make updated videos (This plugin was released years ago, but this tutorial is relatively new) thats always a plus.

[@GregoryStephenSchumacher]

After watching this video I'm going to bring Vocal Rider back into my chain. I've been doing vocal riding by writing it in on the wave, pre-compressor, but there are always sections where it gets buried and you keep having to tweak and tweak. But this way the vocal sounds much more natural to me because you end up needing less compression. I like the side chain thing in relation to the music that you explained here, which I didn't get before.

[@MorisoniProductions]

Really appreciated, this super-clear video. Thank you.

[@precisionsoundworksstudio]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Great demo, Dan!

[@AVENUENIGHTS]

Just the video I needed, thank you! And thank you for such an amazing plugin. 👏

[@stupendousmusic4190]

I've been using the Vocal Rider since its release, and have always found it to be very helpful.

[@markmalone4897]

This is a super helpful tutorial!! Thank you so much!!

[@honkytonk2010]

Awesome!! Video thank you for explaining it so clearly 👌👍👏🤘

[@omarbonifacino2230]

Congratulations. Excellent work and video for compression which is really useful

[@andremusic9924]

Vocal Rider is a must have in any vocal channel rack for me, its the truth

[@doctordrothelevenproductio8956]

Great explanation! Thanks

[@johnlance3860]

On challenging vocals I apply Vocal Rider using it's feature to Write automation to the track. It's fantastic and typically does a better job than I would using my control surface faders.

[@Cmax15]

Used vocal rider on all my projects. Works like magic

[@DadRockAndGuitars]

I use Vocal Rider and Bass Rider a lot. I like the results of following it with a compressor better than using two or three compressors in series.

[@Dylanklinemusic]

Great video! Thanks!

[@edgaba]

Greta video I”ve always wanted to figure out how to set it and I couldn’t find a video that explained it as clear as you did. Thanks. I’ve used vocal rider usually for audiobooks always in default mode and sometimes I had to do some automation with the volume cause I didn’t know how to set it correctly. When It come to singing usually I automate the lead vocals which can be time consuming. I will definitely use vocal rider on lead vocals now that I know what is what haha. Thank for the video.

[@mixedbymuchewicz]

I personally treat my vocals with 2 compressors. First is set with a really low threshold with a pretty fast attack BUT very gentle RATIO (2:1 MAX) and release to taste. The 2nd one is something like LA-2A or some FAIRCHILD like compressor that gives some character over controlling dynamic peaks. But I found that the meter never moves more than 6db reduction. And after that, I write fader automation to do what those compressors didn't manage to do. And that technique for me sounds really natural. Not overcompressed but controlled. Vocals breaths with the music and that's what I like. I have to try this thing with vocal rider sidechain capabilities. That sounds like a smart move.

[@boobo3763]

This is the exact method that I lean towards. I don't have any faders and, honestly, I don't know that I would use them if I did. It's so easy to get 90% there with just a simple compressor... That being said Vocals is pretty much the only thing I use compression on -That and bass D.I. I never record bass from an amp, but if I did I suspect that I wouldn't use any compression on it... All examples of this vocal rider plugin that I've heard have sounded strange, including this one... don't see myself splurging on this plugin anytime soon...

[@flaviozarza1735]

Vocal Rider is very useful to process vocal. I really recommend it!

[@RawGreenTheAnimator]

I've been doing fading manually with automation clips. After watching this I think I could gently side-chain a vocal against itself and get a (not perfect) similar result. But also this plugin looks super easy to use with consistently better results.

[@mattj2692]

wow tech can now do what I've been doing for over twenty years! AMAZING!

[@boneburied]

Good stuff. Going to give it a go !!

[@loudtim265]

That is impressive. I’m a big fan of fader riding & this thing appears to be better at it than I am. I use a control surface with motorized faders and use automation to keep the best take.

[@fabianperez9937]

which control surface you use?

[@loudtim265]

@@fabianperez9937 just the single fader Presonus Faderport. I love it tho.

[@LS-ud7do]

@@loudtim265 I'm not rally a fan of controllers but that looks like exactly what I need, a way to make micro-adjustments without having to type numbers in. Cheers for the heads up.

[@justinmarkhurst8311]

love your Informative Time..

[@jimmylennon3088]

thank.you.so.mutch.you.make.everything.so.clear..love.your.videos

[@StanleyPat1968]

thank you so much! very helpful

[@Latiniron]

Thank u.. and thank u waves🦊

[@brianolesen8717]

HI, Thanks for this great demo! I'm blind, so would be really really happy, if you could please speak out the values you set for the sliders and such. It would be awesome if future videos also will contain this info as I didn't have the option to try out your tips as I couldn't figure out what values you've chosen. :-) Thanks in advance.

[@jonathonjaskew3662]

Great Video!

[@BillGraper]

I use a subtle compression. I like 3:1 or 4:1, and keep the wet somewhere in the middle. This plugin is pretty neat though. I might want to try it. It's not expensive at all!

[@EddieSlowhands]

Hi there Dan. Eddie here in the U K. Thanks for your really helpful video which has helped me to better understand the Vocal Rider ! I've been manually riding the faders until now ! Hopefully NEVER AGAIN Dan ! Lol ! 😊

[@duminduchathuranga4158]

Very useful.. thank you..

[@letronestudioromiskiiprod518]

Thanks a lot i think this will help me

[@groundzerorocks]

Excellent Video Dan Cooper. thanks for taking the time to make this. thoroughly informative and easy to follow

[@thaexception3406]

Good overview. I use Melodyne 5 too - essential volume leveling and easier for per word leveling

[@slbeats_PG]

Thanks man.❤️‍🔥❤️❤️‍🔥

[@MCAlvesPortugal]

great plug in

[@ByDefied]

Used to use mouse input for automation. Now its Vocal Rider from here on out! :)

[@andym7333]

love this guy

[@MAIDELLA]

easily in my top 3 plugins... never do a session without Vocal Rider!

[@CRASS2047]

I use vocal rider. Love it

[@rawgers_9520]

NEED MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS

[@dancooperwaves3685]

Subscribe and hit that notification bell. We’ve got weekly content coming at you

[@heis_afinnju9256]

Thanks 👍 for this ur fans from naija

[@triprasa7]

Yes I have been using vocal rider

[@Mutt83GC]

Learning how to use Vocal Rider at the moment.

[@PatrickObiang]

Bravo 💯💯💯

[@PeaterPual]

GOAT Plugin! 🐐❤️‍🔥

[@trashdoktor]

Yup, both of them are.

[@PeaterPual]

@@trashdoktor ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@kenselcer]

I don't have vocal rider. It seems good. I learned, years ago, to ride faders. Since I no longer have faders, i have been using automation, and sometimes drawing, to "ride" my vocals. Then using soft comprssion to continue the process. Then I use an MV2 to finish it off. I like the results. Maybe i will consider a vocal rider!

[@thegeenius]

i'm old school came up on SSL's and hands on faders- so i kind of always thought of vocal rider as a must have,, -

[@CHUCKMORRISIII]

Sweetness 👑

[@user-oq4vt4xi4d]

Thanks

[@0oTHEJACKo0]

A lookahead function would be really nice, since often times the waves riders catch the initial transients too slowly :/

[@stephenpertesis7710]

absolutely agree. In fact, it's slow enough for me to have regretted the purchase within about 5-10 minutes of use. You'll get much better results by doing hand-writing automation.

[@SnowAngelfish]

Seems to catch transients well for me. Make sure you are using the fast setting and setting the sensitivity right.

[@hlqa7938]

Interesting! Please can u explain 2 us why would we need a compressor after using da vocal rider?

[@jredbigmouf]

I’ve seen it done ! It’s very hard !

[@guitaroman94]

im ridig everything by drawing the volume automation. i think i should get this plugin

[@tootory9506]

L2 Every Track to the max🤘🏽

[@mikeharwoodmusic]

Interesting method, I would achieve the same effect by channel automation.

[@TallSomeone]

Use it on my sax and it’s wonderful. I use Bass Rider on my bass, too. Much more alive than compression, and when fed in certain sidechain applications it gets even more versatile.

[@StratsRUs]

Great video.Would you use a compressor after it since it feeds the right levels in ?Thanks !

[@SnowAngelfish]

Some are saying it doesnt catch the fast transients,, if everything is set right and you are still having trouble here's what you can try,, set a compressor BEFORE the vocal rider that will catch the fast transients but release very fast. Attack should 0.01ms and release 0.20ms. Set the threshold to where you want the peaks brought down to. Set a high ratio. This way the transient up to 0.20ms gets squashed and the body is left alone to be handled by the vocal rider. If you have waves Trans X that can do the same thing easily.

[@TheIgnoramus]

i use it all the time, but usually I usually barely end up using it by the end of the mix. really easy to over-do it

[@dancooperwaves3685]

That can be said about any plugin!

[@tkelong3569]

I’ve done ‘manual compression’ on every song for the last 5 years. No compressor can replace this approach. Thanks for the video.

[@madmuso5]

Thats because a lot of people think that fader level automation is the same thing as compression. It isnt, a compressor affects the envelope as well as the level of the signal it sees. Fader automation doesnt change the envelope. Its why fader automation sounds more natural. Its tedious but worth doing.

[@SatguruPreet]

@@madmuso5 right

[@iainmcguire7190]

@@madmuso5 I don't understand why you say fader automation doesn't change the envelope. If you have a long sustained note, that gradually fades away over time, and you bring the volume up during the fade with fader automation, then the sustain and release levels of that note change. The envelope has changed. You can even visually see it, if you bounce the audio to another track

[@madmuso5]

@@iainmcguire7190 lets take the example of a kick drum. Most of its energy is in the low end, so looking at the kick in a spectrum analyser youll see a large mountain type peak in the bass region (thats where most of the kicks energy resides) and throughout the rest of the spectrum the mids and highs are lower in level compared to the low end and more consist. Now imagine your hand pushing down on that mountain peak. In order for your hand to push down the mids and highs in needs to first squash that bass peak down to the same level and onwards. (Cant do that with fader automation) With the right threshold and attack/release settings on a compressor or limitet you can either gently tap the low end or squash the entire kick. This is why its possible to alter a kick drums attack or sustain. With a fast attack and release it makes the kick less pointy sounding and more sustained sounding. With a slower attack time you can make a soft kick sound like it has more "point". You're changing the sounds envelope to achieve this.

[@violamoonshape4428]

What do I use? Mostly RX Leveler or double compression. But this one's cool as well.

[@ivoliYT]

This looks like a good plugin for Podcast voice recording.

[@user-oc7dr9sq3d]

Absolutely one of the best tutorials ever.👌👌👌💙💙💙

[@jinzo9887]

more more more pleeeeease

[@tkelong3569]

Vocal Rider is working hard though. Respect.

[@MrUnderdawg777]

Can this work for beats too ? Great video thanks

[@mobthegamer5391]

I use Vocal Rider if needed but I mostly use manual automation.

[@Leezy.]

Is there any better plugin to control your levels automatically ?

[@OwenAdamsMusic]

If I'm doing live sound, I'm always riding faders - sometimes 3 or more at a time! In a DAW, fader automation is definitely the best way to control your mix balance. Sometimes I'll even automate channels' input gain, compressor input/output gain, and even the compression ratio to add extra dynamic range or "squash" if needed.

[@palovibes]

you automate the ratio? Dam dude! you going above and beyond or OCD?

[@OwenAdamsMusic]

​@@palovibes Sure, for example on a live recorded guitar track the guitarist might play rhythm on one part of the song, then do a solo, then go back to playing rhythm on the same track: You'd probably want *more dynamics* for the rhythm section, but more squash during the solo. But the ratio setting is either way high or almost 1:1, nothing too obsessive lol.

[@palovibes]

@@OwenAdamsMusic wish everyone paid this much attention to detail...

[@mrscakehead]

I do a lot of live gig multitrack mixes. I ride the automation a lot as it’s young inexperienced bands , this would help a lot , can it cope with lots of spill tho ?!

[@madsanta7938]

Vocal rider rocks

[@anthonypicone3463]

I have it but for some reason it never works as good as manually automating the track. I've tried every setting possible. Used it on 2 albums and I always resorted to manually automating the gain.

[@ikechicoreralation]

🔥🔥

[@HarryLoveTV]

I've been trying to work out how to get the key input showing / working in Ableton, that box seems to be missing or maybe I'm missing something

[@ndalorecords]

i use vocal rider and its the best plugin

[@DFJ-qq3uf]

Thnx for the tip! So we put the vocal rider on the the two track as a send. And side lcahin the vocals or does it go on a bus for the vocals and side chain the instrumental?

[@Frankyap111]

This will certainly save heaps of time on my part. it is the minute details fo adjustments by the VR that counts for me. It is virtually tedious to manually do all that stuff. AI rules.

[@antcall6779]

A must have! One of the best plugins (&mv2🤘😁) I use it on ever mix along with automation. Warren huart showed a trick using vocal rider before compression and after! It's a great trick and cuts automation and compression in half if not more. Think of it as a compressor and not ai automation. Hope this helps 🤘

[@MATTETRUEFACT]

Whats the difference using it before and after?

[@antcall6779]

@@MATTETRUEFACT it levels the audio out more so there's less peaks. Kinda like using a super fast compressor (1176) to catch peaks into a slower one (la2a) for leveling. Makes the compressor work not as hard. After the compressor it's a "flatter" signal so the vocal rider can be smoother. Hope this helps 🤘

[@MATTETRUEFACT]

@@antcall6779 Thanks i will try it out

[@pianostuff191]

How do you use vocal rider in combination with MV2? Or is it either one or the other?

[@antcall6779]

@@pianostuff191 i was saying mv2 is one of waves best plugins but I use it after my first vocal rider ( fast mode) use mv2 with a little Downward compression mostly upward compression, then EQ, rvox, and any other vocal chain, vocal rider on slow. Then automation I use the rider like serial compression more than for automation. Makes everything not work as hard. Hope it helps 🤘

[@christophersletto2333]

Is there a right or wrong answer to using this pre or post compressor? I could see using it before to baby the compressor a bit but... riding the fader and writing this automation comes after all effects, so I guess I'm confused where this plugin falls in signal flow of the channel it's inserted into?

[@dailybufferpodcast-thefina2333]

Would that be any good for live recording (streaming) ... for example in OBS?

[@RonnieWesthead]

Good stuff and I'm gonna get it right now. The only thing I think I'm gonna have a problem with is translating the setup to my own daw? Ya see I use Mixcraft 10 Pro Studio.. I've been with them for years and like it a lot but maybe it's me, I cannot correlate between what you do in your daw to mine. I've looked at other channels and it's always the same: Protools, Logic etc. I just wish someone would make a tutorial specifically for Mixcraft users. Great work!

[@waves]

Hi there, please note that we do not support Mixcraft 10 Pro Studio. That does not mean it won't work - Just that we do not test nor qualify our software for this DAW. In case that technical issues occur, we won't be able to provide technical support for this DAW. Please see our system requirements and supported hosts here: www.waves.com/support/tech-specs/supported-hosts www.waves.com/support/tech-specs/system-requirements

[@abrigo2372]

nice

[@DavidMilesMusic]

How is the vocal rider different to a compressor? It applies gain reduction....with a attack time....a release time....

[@rkader6828]

If it’s not too much trouble can you explain how to do this in FL Studio?

[@DavidKfilmmaker]

Difference between mv2 and vocal rider? I do films/dialogue. I know what each is but I’m curious when you would use which.

[@jonathonjaskew3662]

I believe I would Like to use Vocal Rider

[@cmccormick1996]

Are you showing two different methods here? One being where you use vocal rider to control the level of a vocal and another where you are changing the level of a vocal in relation to the rest of the song? Would you recommend using both tactics? Or stick with one?

[@retrowaweru2180]

Спасибо из Сибири!!!!