Mixing Vocals-Cakewalk by BandLab Tutorial

In this video I explore a few ways to get a vocal to cut through a mix and set on top better. Though there are many ways to do it, here is one of my methods. If you're wondering, "How do professionals mix their vocals, how loud should vocals be in a mix, or how do you mix vocals from scratch?" I have an in depth Mixing Tutorial here: • Mixing A Song From Sta...
For the impatient, the sound examples begin here: 8:58
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#cakewalk #mixing #vocals

[@tedb1015]

between you and the Band lab tutorials I found so many things I didn't know that I'm suspending recording and concentrating on absorbing. I just found the VX 64 under "excluded plug ins" and I enabled it. Thank you.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Ted B awesome man! However, don’t stop recording just learn as you go. That way you’re not getting rusty or overemphasizing the technical aspect. Just a friendly prod to keep on churning out music.

[@joeysanchez5926]

Where is that? Excluded plug ins

[@joeysanchez5926]

Found it.

[@Flaviannn]

@@joeysanchez5926 hey man, where did you find excludeed plug ins, cant find itt

[@joeysanchez5926]

@@Flaviannn I think it was edit preferences. Or was definitely on the menu bar. I'll double check later.

[@tyn1321]

This guy is a true help! The video literally taught me about everything I needed to know then some on vocals I haven’t been able to figure out at all. My quality sounds amazing now. Thank you for this great tutorial

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

+Ty N awesomeness thanks for your kindness

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

+Ty N wow! I’m glad I could help man!

[@AboutLeon]

My vocals still got a ways to go to sounding how I want them, but this tutorial got me going in the right direction. Thanks!

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Awesomeness!

[@mark_greer]

Great video for us trying to understand how to utilize plug-ins so that they actually work!

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Mark Greer thanks man!

[@tanmaydeshpande7129]

Your voice is soooo calm. It can make me sleep in couple of minutes :D anyway, awesome video. Thanks a lot

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Haha haha good!

[@tanmaydeshpande7129]

@@Homestudiosimplifed Bro is there a way to find the tempo of a track? I usually record my voice with a karaoke track. I am trying to start with Cakewalk. I just need to make all my vocal tracks sound really good by editing small bits and finally mix all together to a good mp3 file. Do you have any suggestions for me.?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Tanmay Deshpande Hold Ctrl and click and drag the track up to the very top of the ruler in the track pane. Cakewalk will map out the BPM and tell you in the Control Bar up top. (That’s probably the easiest way.

[@314bluepandastl9]

I sholl just woke up

[@evillano]

This is a great video, but if you want to get more views you should consider a title like "Mixing Tip: How To Make Your Vocals Pop In Your Mix | Cakewalk by Bandlab" or something like that.The "Cakewalk by Bandlab" bit could be omitted from the title and included in the description. If you did it this way, the KZbin algorythm would know who to recommend your videos to, based on your keywords. Keep up the good work!

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Duly noted and well advised. Thank you sir!

[@davidpatrouilleau6769]

Great Mix and great song!!thank you for those great tips!

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

No problem! Stay tuned for more!

[@coreykretsinger]

Thanks for making this video, Robert. It was very helpful.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

+Corey Kretsinger you’re very welcome!

[@dylanv3618]

finally a helpful video that makes sense, thank u for your time !

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

dylan v you’re very welcome! Thank you for the kind words! Be sure to share this with others and hey.... why not become a subscriber?!

[@soureel]

Being new to Cakewalk (by Bandlab) I didn't realize until I googled them that most of the effects plugin used here are not available in the CBB version.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Unfortunately this is true... I have been in touch with the “powers that be” trying to resolve this for my audience. I’d love for these plugins to at least be “buyable” However, I’m going to make another video soon using only the plugins Cakewalk by BandLab comes with!

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

This may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/horMZKOapJWbf8k

[@JoshuaAmoah]

Just wanna say thank you so much for your content. A big big big big thank you.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

You’re very welcome my friend!

[@RecordingStudio9]

Great video and instructions.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Thanks man!

[@ryansingleton2286]

You have a lot of plugins I don't see on mine

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Make sure you select install add-ons in the BandLab Assistant. Also, in the plug-in menu preferences menu make sure that you have the “show excluded” option ticked

[@utsavkumarsongs]

Hmm I found ur channel so helpful for me..so keep on moving...

[@NbkGlocky]

I'm your thousandth sub.. Hopefully you are shooting for monetization.. Found this video very helpful.. Thanks bud

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

FilmAddict Vision thank you Very much!

[@NbkGlocky]

@@Homestudiosimplifed how did u get So ducking good.. U should start an online coarse

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

FilmAddict Vision humbled but honestly there are so many that are far better. You're very kind.

[@kcht2966]

want I was trying to do is to overlay my voice on to the music track. I figured it out though. Thanks for your help.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Great news!

[@tedb1015]

Call me old fashioned but to thicken a vocal I either sing it again or duplicate the track and slide the dupe over about 60 to 80 ticks. Then I automate it on and off as needed as well as pan them. Doublers seem to add unwanted high frequencies. I am surprised that you put all the effects directly on the track instead of an aux but overall this video is helpful so I watched it several times.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Yes sir, sounds like some solid advice there. Though there are many ways to “skin a cat” as long as the cat gets skinned... that’s a morbid saying come to think of it.

[@tedb1015]

@@Homestudiosimplifed I actually misspoke. I meant "doubling"..not thickening.

[@kevinacres1699]

@@tedb1015 I agree with Robert there are many ways to get this done and have varying results. I have tried both and each has its own merit

[@carsoncurry8069]

Thank you for this video, my voice sounds like a chipmunk when I turn on the echo, I am confused lol, i even double checked my input.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Sounds like a sample rate issue. You might check and see if your interface and your DAW are on the same page.

[@happyhomelesshomesteaders158]

Pure love casteth out all fear Thanks brother , I am pressed to learn this stuff, for the LORD gave me an album, of beautiful songs to get out there, not for to gain money but souls :-} and studio time to costly for me . You teach it pretty good, I too teach many things, righteousness the main focus. FATHER would give me a new song every year on my birthday the whole compositions, I couldn`t wait to get home and pick up guitar to hear them in the ear

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Truly He is good to His children!

[@happyhomelesshomesteaders158]

@@Homestudiosimplifed Amen

[@kendomixes]

You didn't really detail how you did the Reverbs... are each of those sent to separate Aux Buses, and you applied 4 different reverbs on top of one another? (I'm also a CBL user)

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

I cover that topic in depth in my Live Mixing Tutorial. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6CVnqiMgN6SgaM In essence, I am using sends to 3 separate Bus channels. Then blending to taste.

[@TraeFittz]

Thank You 🙏🏽

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Trae Fittz you’re very welcome!

[@charlesdavidthomson9706]

please make a basic vid for beginners who want to record a cover over a karake track using cakewalk in the steps that c would give a good output

[@Faisal-wb1nu]

When you do a video like this next time, plz show the difference by playing the song before and after mixing.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Will do!

[@cool2no]

Trying to add efx to a specific point in a vocal track can’t quite get it yet. Read about clips but can’t get that to work either. Just a simple delay on one word of a chorus is what I’m trying to do.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

cool2no insert the delay and get it sounding like you want. Then use automation to enable/disable it! BAMM!

[@cool2no]

Robert McClellan thanks for the tip. So I set an automation lane up and control from there? I also see info on creating clips and creating regions ... thanks again

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

cool2no This May help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2mnd4SwpdmYnqc

[@cool2no]

Found this also kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6nEaqSBg8edmMk

[@Brandeto]

Should have done a before and after

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Brandeto thanks

[@PRITIKUMARI-xz6my]

In this video I want to know that for mixing the vocals u have used only cakewalk plugins or any other branded plugins...

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Almost all of them are stock plugins that came with Sonar Platinum before it became free. However, the principles can be applied to any vocal with any plugins.

[@beatweezl]

Those are not 5ths. Those are 5 semitones above the root note which is actually a perfect 4th. A 5th would be 7 semitones. I've added that harmony in for effect on my vocal chain and it does add a cool growl to the vocal but you'd have to make it really super low in the mix to not hear that it's a harmony. I can't really hear it at all in your mix.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

RoSo thank you for the clarification! I do have it set in very subtle.

[@Curious658]

Hlw brother I use the free version of Cakewalk. Can you please suggest me the free alternatives of those plugins?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

George go to www.homestudiosimplified.com/ On the right hand side there is a set of web resources that should be helpful

[@keithlane4705]

I think if you played the vocal clean, and turned on the effects one at a time as you talk us through them, it would be easier to understand. A lot of these settings will be nonsense to other vocal takes.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Keith Lane along those same thoughts, there are a hundred ways to achieve the end result. Therefore, I tried to just show some generalities and not anything to definitive. Hope that makes sense...

[@keithlane4705]

I can follow it very well, but I remember a few years ago being completely misled by videos like this. Please bear in mind you've also talked for 9 minutes ? before you play anything, my attention span is pretty good. but I have no clue as to why you need saturation twice. I'm not saying it's wrong, just without the clean examples you lose valuable meaning. If you have the time, please re edit this one, I think you are doing yourself a disservice. This is full of wonderful information, very well presented, but the context is missing.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

@@keithlane4705 understandable. This is why I don't give specifics a lot of times. I don't want individuals to think there are any hard and fast rules to mixing. There are great guidelines to follow and the rest is purely subjective.

[@keithlane4705]

BTW, is this your singing voice ? If it is, I'm jelly ;) I struggle to hold a note still :D

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

@@keithlane4705 now, now, don't be jelly. I appreciate the compliment however, I am no Jonathan Thulin or Clay Crosse. LOL

[@utsavkumarsongs]

As I'm an Indian so I want a tutorial for mixing light vocals with natural and crispy sound as just like an Indian variant...🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Vocals are requested quite a bit. I am working on that!

[@utsavkumarsongs]

@@Homestudiosimplifed Nice work if it's done then inform me by sending the link of that video or there's no need to worry because I subscribed to ur channel so I will get the notification...🤩🤩🤩😎

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

I cover some of this in my live mixing sessions. However, I will be releasing a video soon about mixing vocals exclusively

[@beatweezl]

Is a patch point a CbB thing? What is the difference between that and a bus? I like the concept but it seems just like a bus to me. Or is it like a reverse bus where rather than having one effect routed to multiple tracks, it's one track routed to multiple effects tracks?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

RoSo it is essentially a bus. However, it resides on the track pane instead of the Console view, and you route multiple things to it and mix them to taste in the one track.

[@thegamingzone5963]

Is this free bandlab platinum better than the old sonar 8 and 8.5?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

THE GAMING ZONE it’s basically Sonar Platinum minus a few 3rd party plugins.

[@thegamingzone5963]

@@Homestudiosimplifed wat does that mean

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

THE GAMING ZONE check this out and it’ll explain a lot more. docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AwrivrPMMqFyAnbRfV03U2ki00VwOJNHeFXolbyyzKA/htmlview

[@WelcomeToHorrorville]

Does your course show us how to mix vocals ? Step by step ?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Of course!

[@WelcomeToHorrorville]

@@Homestudiosimplifed thank you so much

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

If you plan on purchasing let me know and I can get you a discount!

[@zrap5862]

How can I ad a Beat to a Vocal please Help me

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

ММZ Rap you’ll need to import the beat into a second track.

[@zrap5862]

@@Homestudiosimplifed yes but how can I do this please Help me

[@hgsbrodi]

Is LP EQ Plug-in available in cakewalk?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Unfortunately, I think this is one of the several plugins that didn’t migrate over after BandLab bought the company. Sorry. I will do more research and see if I can help! Sub and hit the bell so if I release a vid on it, you’ll find out!

[@hgsbrodi]

@@Homestudiosimplifed thanks man

[@PrincieSanchez]

Can you make a short video how to make vocal thickening in the daw, because in this video its already there...thanks

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Princie Sanchez I did something here a while back: Vocal Grit Trick kzbin.info/www/bejne/labcioSCerh2ptE

[@kevinacres1699]

unfortunately the CA 2A is not available for purchase. I have the demo but cannot purchase it.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Kevin Acres there are alternatives that are free!

[@dodovegaspiesnenazelanie9838]

Hi, how can i get cakewalk ca-2a please

[@sayantadas585]

Video on vocal rider and other Waves plugins..

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Sayanta Das sorry man, I don’t own vocal rider & as of now I’m not a big fan of WAVES.

[@sayantadas585]

@@Homestudiosimplifed No problem.. But can we expect videos on how to make vocal crisp & reverb process on vocals & also some mix & mastering techniques..??

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Sayanta Das I cover some of these things in my 5S vids. kzbin.info/aero/PLwqZ0GPSfFgZYYE7VRAnsFIcGfBXEJ3p_

[@sayantadas585]

@@Homestudiosimplifed Thank You..

[@oscyboy4695]

dude you're a g

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

ODIN I’m assuming that means good guy

[@oscyboy4695]

Home Studio Simplified yeah bro 100%

[@patrickmcclellan8726]

Hello and thanks for a great video. I am using Cakewalk by BandLab and I don't see the CA-2A limiter plug in or the LP EQ plug in. I'm a novice to vocal recording and wanted to see if you know of other options for subtractive EQ and limiting that would be in the BandLab version of Cakewalk. Thanks so much for your time.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

First off! I love the last name! My name is Robert McClellan! Secondly, there are some good options. The Sonitus EQ and the Sonitus Compressor can both do similar things.

[@patrickmcclellan8726]

@@Homestudiosimplifed Thanks Cousin!!:-)

[@gunjankalita50]

Amazing tutorial. The CA-2A doesn't come bundled anymore and it's not even for sale anywhere! :( Also, could you guide in enabling the 'Reverb Short Room', 'Reverb Medium Plate' etc? How do you enable that?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

I know... it’s very unfortunate to, because it’s an awesome little plugin!

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

To enable the Reverb’s you just have to create a Bus that these effects can set on and and then Send your tracks to them.

[@gunjankalita50]

That helps in heaps. Thank you

[@rickyg9682]

Does this DAW have autotune?:/

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

It should come with a Lite version of Melodyne, which in my opinion is better than Autotune

[@rickyg9682]

@@Homestudiosimplifed :0 damn thank bro 😎

[@Nusleo]

Home Studio Simplified where can I find the melodyne in the plugins?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

It should be under Celemony

[@Nusleo]

Home Studio Simplified is there a alternative if I can’t find it ? Thanks for the fast response

[@jeevansmith]

Where I can find vx-64 I didn't find it in cakewalk

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Check the “excluded plugins” box in the plugin manager.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2Xddn-eodWHY7M Bottom left hand side of the menu shown here

[@4chan522]

Can i make hyperpop or glitch core on cake walk?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

The sky is the limit

[@4chan522]

@@Homestudiosimplifed thankkk youu:)

[@snorluna]

How do you get an distortion affect on your vocals

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

There are several ways you could do it. But perhaps the best would be to create a Bus with a distortion plugin on it. Then create a send from your vocal track to the Bus and blend to taste.

[@DarthMalice50]

Hey Robert! I have an issue I hope you can help me with. I've got a track set up to do a vocal, but when I arm the track, no sound in the headphones. I've gone through every possible solution that I can think of ( except the right one, obviously!!) Help!!!!

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Corey Riggs In order to hear your headphones while you’re tracking you’ll have to use some sort of audio interface with a headphone output

[@DarthMalice50]

@@Homestudiosimplifed Yes sir! I'm using aFocusrite Scarlett 2i2

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Corey Riggs okay. You need to ensure that the output of the Focusrite is allowing for headphone out from the DAW. Open the Scarlett Mix Control and go through the presets for the output section. There should be one that says Zero Latency Tracking or something similar. Try each of those until you get what you need.

[@baltaza]

where i found the CA-2A?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

It used to be part of the Sonar Platinum Version. I was informed recently that Cakewalk by Bandlab is not the "full version" of Sonar Platinum but does have most of the goodies. There is a really great free one here: www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=Barricade_Pro&id=2061

[@mnpbdawg6591]

How do you pan the reverb

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Send that bad boy to a stereo bus and either pan the bus... or create two sends and pan them both left and right.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

This will help! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHPUd2uvlr9lors

[@mnpbdawg6591]

@@Homestudiosimplifed also one more question how do I get my vocals to pop I still Kant get them to I’m only using stock plugins

[@kcht2966]

I am trying to find out how to and my talk to my music. Can anyone tell me?

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

kcht I’m sorry I’m not sure I understand. You want to talk to do spoken word or dialogue?

[@kcht2966]

@@Homestudiosimplifed I am doing a radio show. I have 6 tracks . I have and intro so I have to have the music playing and talk over the music. I also have to bounce 6 track in to 2.

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

kcht are you doing this Live?

[@kcht2966]

@@Homestudiosimplifed no , I am putting it on a CD for the show

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

kcht Just import it into your DAW Place your music on one track and your dialogue on a separate track

[@jayharp8080]

I barely understood it at all

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Is there something I can clarify

[@aifreamjustinesabanal9009]

you sound like chocotaco

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

...thanks.?.?.?.

[@ignatiusmashita6492]

You waste too much time explaining . Sound first and talk later

[@Homestudiosimplifed]

Ignatius Mashita thanks for your subjective opinion. Do you have some more concise videos on this topic that I could direct the experienced multitudes to?

[@kevinacres1699]

That was not a helpful comment in the least. The explanation is needed before the audio demonstration. If audio is all you want, go listen to music on your fav music platform. This is a technical subject needing explanation.

[@RecordingStudio9]

@ignatius Mashita, are you here to learn or just listen? Robert is teaching you "how to fish and not just hand you a fish to eat". I guess you like that cooked too?

[@coreykretsinger]

Since you obviously think yourself an expert video maker, how about you show us all how it's done, Ignatius?