How to Mix Vocals Like a Pro

Vocal mixing tutorial 101 - An easy way to mix vocals for all genres using just the stock plugins in your DAW. ►► Download my essential mixing guide for free here: bit.ly/3d3NtJ7
These vocal mixing techniques work in ANY DAW - Ableton Live, Logic, FL Studio. etc.
Mixing vocals is one of the most important skills in music production - as the vocals can make or break a track - so in this vocal mixing tutorial I'm going to show you how to mix vocals like a pro.
00:00 Mixing Vocals
00:46 Comping
01:59 Noise Gate
02:32 Tuning
04:50 Timing
05:35 Volume
07:14 Creating Your Own Harmonies
09:58 Saturation
10:55 Reductive EQ
11:31 Compression
12:32 Group Processing
13:40 Stereo Field
14:55 Reverb & Delay
►► CLICK HERE to share this on Twitter: ctt.ac/zxI6R
You can listen to the finished track here: open.spotify.com/track/5XvGF4...
…And here’s the blog version of this video: ???
Here's the gear I used to make this video:
🔈 My Audio Gear:
Monitors: bit.ly/AdamTV8
Headphones: bit.ly/MyHeadphones650
Audio Interface (Focusrite): bit.ly/FocusRite2i2
Audio Interface (Apollo): bit.ly/ApolloInterface
MIDI Keyboard (Arturia): bit.ly/ArturiaKeyLab61
MIDI Keyboard (AKAI): bit.ly/AKAILPK25
Microphone (Rode): bit.ly/RodeUSB
Microphone (Shure): bit.ly/ShureSM7
Computer: amzn.to/3uYU28J
📹 My Video Gear:
Webcam: amzn.to/3BGiHAb
Light Stands: amzn.to/3H8bfiz
🎛 My Plugins:
bit.ly/2K4eFHZ
Join the EDM Tips community of music producers here: / edmtipsofficial
….AND SAY HI ON THE SOCIALS, BRAH:
Twitter: / edmtipsofficial
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Web: www.edmtips.com
Cheers, and happy producing!
Will
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#ableton #abletonlive #musicproduction

[@EDMTips]

Don't forget to "like" and subscribe for tutorials iike this every week! Thanks for the support 🙂

[@davidnealon7928]

Great Work again Will, going to remember that tip of using a compressor on the reverb to duck it while the lead is singing 😉👍

[@EDMTips]

You bet! It's a killer tip :)

[@Stacity]

Will you are a darling thank you so much. Best tutorial iv seen on vocals. I was unfortunate not to have done your course but if people ask me I always send them to you.

[@EDMTips]

You are so welcome, and thanks for telling people about EDM Tips!

[@ortallevitan4586]

that compressor trick! Thank you! so helpful

[@EDMTips]

Glad it was helpful!

[@raneezrafeek6508]

That's one heck of harmony..❤️

[@EDMTips]

She's a heck of a singer!

[@MisterSir7]

Great video! Clear and precise step-by-step; and big ups for chaptering. Would love to see that "vocal take" tutorial!

[@daneric2838]

Loving the new setup Will❤️👍

[@EDMTips]

Thanks!

[@kellyscollon2729]

As always, awesome video! Appreciate all the videos, tips and all your hard work Will!

[@EDMTips]

My pleasure!

[@svefngenglar1]

Super video here Will. Your structure and voice over is spot on. You keep momentum but equally don't go too fast where we need to keep rewinding. Very helpful you mentioned which third party plugins you could use, but you do everything with stock. This is the best video I've seen on vocal mixing... Looking forward to more videos from you as Ableton 11 gets it's final release!

[@EDMTips]

Much appreciated....thank you for the kind words, feedback and support!! :)

[@deardivino9017]

oh ! this is exactly what i was looking for ! thank you

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome!

[@tracktaylor2783]

Great stuff man!

[@BrieKirbyson]

This is such an interesting process, excited to learn more!

[@EDMTips]

More to come!

[@harvestplugins9982]

great job showing a birds eye view of the whole process! This really shows the value of certain plugins as well.

[@EDMTips]

Glad you liked it!

[@peterbmusic]

Thanks Will, smashing as usual!

[@EDMTips]

Thanks again!

[@Lazy_Aviator]

This is exactly what I needed and I would love to see more on recording clean vocals, this channel explains it best

[@EDMTips]

Awesome, thank you!

[@Bronwyn031]

The Realest Puppet in the Game has some awesome videos on mixing vocals over on his channel too. 😊

[@MichelleRoots]

Wow this is so cool!! You make it look so easy! Thanks for the tips!

[@EDMTips]

You are so welcome!

[@marcovincelli3873]

Really great tutorial. Thanks

[@EDMTips]

You're very welcome!

[@avoig72]

Great Vid, Will!

[@mass-1128]

Love your work mate. Thank you for sharing some valuable insight 👌😊

[@EDMTips]

My pleasure!

[@jaylive99]

Thank you so much!! really helpful video :D

[@VALLENTMUSIC]

Very nice tips. ;) I am also sharing with my students. Thanks!

[@EDMTips]

Glad you like them!

[@Househeadz]

Awesome Will - thanks for doing this one

[@EDMTips]

No problem 👍

[@giacm3211]

Loved this one! Thank u

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome! 🙂

[@DJJOHNNIEJOHNSON]

This is great, thanks!

[@WhimsicalFamilyLife]

Your kill in knowledge is amazing! Thanks for showing us how to mix vocals!

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome! 🙂 Thanks for watching

[@StrongMindedCoaching]

wow! this was so complex, great eye opener into how to edit audio!

[@EDMTips]

Glad it was helpful!

[@zyberbob]

Nice on mate.. Like these kind of videos.

[@EDMTips]

More to come!

[@Breingan1]

Really good video, learned a lot from it! Would be keen to hear the finished track on this one!

[@EDMTips]

Thanks! The link to the finished track is in the description :) open.spotify.com/track/5XvGF4Nr1gSAeKPY7FBNEA?si=T1djqCCxSYGJEzENDsYTBw

[@PeachesChrenko]

Thank you for demystifying and breaking down this process for us! Great video

[@AnxiousCowboy]

both of my parents struck me for fun when i was young

[@djrandalldean]

YES please do a vocal recording lesson if you haven't already.

[@kfirdan-ari5655]

brilliant video, thank you will! I'm planning to use these technics on my string instruments which act as vocals. thanks!

[@EDMTips]

Glad it helped!

[@TheInvisible_Explorer]

Your video is straight to the point which I love. very less youtuber is follow this.

[@tmkolb]

This video is simply perfect! Thank you! And Will, are you willing to do a video on How to make a beat like Bob Moses? It would be awesomeeee

[@EDMTips]

Thanks! It depends on how many people vote for it!

[@cacohza]

That would be great to see, it’s a very different style

[@cacohza]

+1 :)

[@deardivino9017]

yes please a tuto "how to record a perfect vocal take " :))))

[@EDMTips]

Noted!

[@xillan520]

Would like to know the correct volume at which the vocals needs to ve recorded at in relation to the instrumental especially if the instrumental is lowered to - 6db to leave room for the vocals to be recorded at. Can the recorded vocals be recorded at a peak of - 6db or does it need to be lower?

[@tingtinggao1413]

+1 please!

[@gregknight1696]

Thanks for video!

[@izba5747]

Thanks so much for this treasure of knowledge! Definitely talking notes here.

[@EDMTips]

Great stuff, glad it was helpful! 🙌🏻

[@aagora]

Thank you. Very useful!

[@ClectaSkiMusic]

Really good stuff man thanks

[@EDMTips]

No problem!

[@suvinmusic]

Thank you. It was very helpful.

[@EDMTips]

Glad to hear that!

[@sskmusicofficial]

Pretty helpful thanks man🙏🏻♥️

[@EDMTips]

No problem 👍

[@shannonsmith4447]

Thanks Will!

[@EDMTips]

No worries!

[@iixmusic]

Woah 😳 thanks bro! Really useful video buddy!

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome! 🙂

[@klub1037]

Super video,easy to follow and understand with lots of great info..Thanks Will:)

[@EDMTips]

Glad it was helpful!

[@klub1037]

@@EDMTips All your videos are..You make it all look super easy.

[@L8TOPIC]

really nice tips

[@ShannonDooleyMusic]

Super super helpful! ❤️🙏❤️

[@EDMTips]

Very much appreciated! :)

[@cameronmcmullan5403]

can you do a tutorial on how to do songs like Paul Woodford please?

[@EDMTips]

Potentially! It depends on how many people vote for it!

[@Swiftopher755]

@@EDMTips i vote for it! 😁

[@jophilofficial]

You have my vote

[@Dmitrii_Malinovskii]

Thank you!

[@EDMTips]

You bet! Thanks for watching and supporting the channel 🙌🏻

[@adambartier6143]

Big Willy is here :) Nice work man . Thank You

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome...Thanks as always for watching and supporting!

[@9WorldsMusic]

I'm actually mixing my vocals right now too bad the vocalist mixed and compressed everything already as there is some amazing stuff in here! that reverb sidechain trick is amazing though! Great tutorial Will! :)

[@EDMTips]

Cheers Jesse!

[@tokadiambo8301]

you the best bro thx

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome!

[@freewill9325]

Hey brother this video was very helpful

[@EDMTips]

Glad it helped!

[@infinid19]

Would definitely love to see a video on how to record great vocal takes. Especially how you wire it all so that you and the singer can both monitor.

[@EDMTips]

Thanks Frank!

[@dkdkdnffjxjdj6019]

THANK YOU

[@EDMTips]

You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed :)

[@SebastianChill]

This is perfecttttttttttttttttttt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rubenrojano2837]

Awesome

[@abrahamclark767]

Get it!

[@EDMTips]

😎

[@etienneekron98]

Very usefull

[@EDMTips]

Thanks for watching!

[@joebates4160]

i love that big willy poster on the fireplace

[@EDMTips]

😎

[@youngthugg4535]

Much love this man no how to mix like crazy tight thanks a lot ..ytyoungthugg Bay Area

[@EDMTips]

You're welcome! 🙂

[@joachimmorrens1179]

HI WIll! THis is great, as always! - I honestly think you could probably devote an entire course only on vocal processing & vocal mixing :-)

[@EDMTips]

Thanks! At the moment we focus on it in the Masterclass, but I agree - it could be a n in-depth standalone course as not everyone works with vocals.

[@FranckBossi]

Yes please let us know how to record the perfect vocal

[@emme3061]

great video Will. Would love more on recording vocal stuff as well. It's something i'm dying to get into. I do have one question, when writing a track with a singer, how would one go about that, write the track first and get the singer to write the words for the track or the other way around?

[@EDMTips]

Thanks! Ok...I'll look into doing one on recording, too :) In answer to your question: I've worked both ways! I prefer to get the vocals first, usually, as it's easier to start with something.

[@emme3061]

@@EDMTips Thanks for the reply Will. Looks forward to the recording one:)

[@bfjones81]

Hey Will awesome video and tips as usual mate! I know this is off topic, but what type of chair and headphones are you using and would you recommend?

[@EDMTips]

Thanks! My chair is made by "Enjoy" (it's great), and my headphones are Sennheiser 650s!

[@bikeninja956]

really helpful thank you.... obviously professional quality vocals from a talented singer is the way to go to get the vocals in the first place, but I'm wondering if there are any product/equipment recs to help the average person make better vocals. I'd like to be able to record "descent" quality vocals just as temporary placeholders for projects. I'm currently just using a gaming mic and it sounds terrible, like bad karaoke and ruins the whole vibe of the track. I'm not a singer by any means and I don't expect to do my own vocals but there has to be a way to get better sounding DIY vocals...

[@zarkopejkovski6847]

Amen darling ;) Very clean and simple explanation. Btw, is that Live 11 that you're using?

[@EDMTips]

Yes, it is!

[@fa0179]

heck yeah

[@EDMTips]

BOOM! 🙌🙌

[@fa0179]

@@EDMTips Daft Punk tribute where you silently make a track in the style of Daft Punk while wearing a robot suit incoming?

[@Daiuja]

Hi!! thank you very much for this tutorial! Is the first time I notice that you put in the third place an EQ ...Ive always worked first Eq...and the the rest of plugins.. Is there a reason for this?

[@faizalazp]

you can actually use "insert take lane" instead than insert new audio track when you record vocal for comping

[@TranceHeed]

should the compressor not be pre-fx if it's using the dry lead as trigger?

[@Muckellein]

I read somewhere that the vocals should always be in mono, so does it make sense to put an utility plugin on the vocals and set it to mono?

[@kanedNunable]

thanks again. (amen break brother). why does saturation always sound robotic on this vocal im working on? haha.

[@manifesteverythingyoudesir5783]

❤

[@svefngenglar1]

Can I ask why you used first compressor in RMS mode if you are trying to tame the peaks? Thanks

[@EDMTips]

In a word, sloppiness!

[@djp1234]

What exactly are you supposed to do with the harmony part? How many semitones are you supposed to transpose it? Is it supposed to match the melody of the track?

[@EDMTips]

You can work out chords before-hand in the piano roll editor with an instrument, and use that as a template for the vocals.

[@benjikrongold6112]

I'm trying to have a crack at harmonising but my audio warp/complex pro tab is set to a "Gain" and "Pitch" setup instead of a "Transpose (octave)" and "Gain" setup like yours, how do I change it? Thanks!

[@michaela2776]

Does it sound like that throughout the song or just the chorus. It sounds to huge for the verse.

[@dmia123]

FIYA

[@Proofofart]

What was the auto tune plugin u used melodine?

[@rahulvishwamusic]

But you have to eq the vocals first before adding any compressor or saturator right?

[@EDMTips]

Well, if needs be. Definitely before the compressor.

[@Not_unknown4935]

Are you using some sort of beta from live 11?

[@EDMTips]

I am indeed!

[@Not_unknown4935]

@@EDMTips Nice way to show off comping then!

[@TheEnemyDD2]

Great video. New sub incoming!

[@Bronwyn031]

Oh Will, it's me again. Do you not Gain Stage at all? 🤨

[@EDMTips]

Yeah...all the time!

[@AlanCrehan]

I really enjoyed videos on how to make the last thing he knows you haven't made 1 why not??

[@EDMTips]

Eh? I don't understand the question

[@TonyOldskool]

Hi Will, you got an email address i can get you on?

[@davidfo4610]

Daft Punk just split... a tutorial to sound like them as a tribute?

[@EDMTips]

Nice idea!

[@irinayugen]

My goodness... And here I am, thinking knowing how to sing is enough 🙄

[@EDMTips]

Knowing how ti sing is really important too! I will cover this in my future video next month :)

[@billys5365]

I think this would be a really helpful tutorial if we could see what you’re clicking on.. or if you would at least tell us. I had to stop watching after 4 minutes because it’s impossible to follow what you’re doing.

[@EDMTips]

Thanks for the feedback, Billy, really appreciate it! I've incorporated this in my newer videos :)