Mixing Vocals To Sound Upfront - TheRecordingRevolution.com

[@recordingrevolution]

Learn the SMART way to start your mix:www.recordingrevolution.com/smart-start/

[@toucanecho]

My favourite technique for vocals came from Andrew Scheps: copy the original vocal track twice (or send to two busses), pan each one slightly off centre left and right, squash them w compressor and send them to short delay or plate reverb. Fattens up lead vocal while keeping dynamics whilst adding space

[@j2dae2doublef]

Link?

[@dudleydooright]

@Justin McDowell Do it like the pros.. sing the actual part several times. Don't duplicate vocal tracks. You'll lose as much as you gain by duplicating all those frequencies exactly. His suggestion is not a great one. Scheps loved to mix several takes of the same vocal. He never duplicated them or recommended doing that. The Beatles always stacked multiple takes as well.

[@adelcamac8681]

Whaooo!

[@tedb1015]

@Justin McDowell Me too...I was going crazy before I read this.

[@tedb1015]

@@dudleydooright Actually Lennon hated singing his part twice so the studio invented a technique where they duplicated the vocal and combined it with the original. It was always a bit off which made it sound like he sang it twice. Today we simply slide the copy over about 60 ticks.

[@Rakoah]

One of the things I love most about your videos is that they're short and to the point.

[@jimmahbee]

I have literally tried for decades to get my vocals to sit right in the mix and sound great and within 5 minutes using your technique they sounded incredible...i thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@divarsefid]

I consider myself a self-thought beginner hobbyist in this field. I know how the compression works, and know it brings vocals upfront, but I should say I had never encountered somebody so clearly explain why! Thank you.

[@JohnQueTV]

Where can I get that song and who sings it?

[@bulagazibaggy1511]

Got to say out of all the tutorial videos I have watched, you are a person who really gives a person who's even one like me who has been at it for almost 8 years to really understand why one uses a certain plug-in what so ever. Thanks keep this up. You are a great help to us home studio guys

[@im215exempt]

I love this technique. SSL though a pair of 76's, to Wells' VoiceCentric is magic every time. Thank you Graham.

[@LaszloHarsanyi_SoundTube]

I've always had the hardest time with vocals both as far as recording and mixing go. Most of the time I was far from the result I expected. This is a really useful video, multiple compression is really helpful, indeed! Sometimes it's hard to hear the difference between the "with" or "without" examples, but in this case it's huge! Nice work!

[@chantrywest4757]

Chantry West from Grand Junction Colorado. Dude you saved my life. My music has never sounded better. Sucks that I didn't learn this earlier. You're the master thank you so much now my career can finally take off

[@nancyburridge]

I was using one compression and tried this technique. Yes, I like this! Thank you! I am on your list. Glad I joined. That is how I came to hear this one. Thank you.

[@marcomusictv3854]

is not quite easy to find women engineers! so nice you´re here!

[@panchobones7994]

Nancy Burridge

[@panchobones7994]

Nancy Burridge do you engineer? Contact me [e-mail]

[@nickeyhavana4131]

Awesome! I love how stacking the compressors really brought out the subtleties of the chorus. I'm definitely gonna try stacking this week! Thanks!

[@dopebeatsdetroitproducer4634]

Hey Graham, Rio here I just wanted to thank you for your videos.

[@DDCCOOKZ]

Hello, I'm a graduate from Full Sail University and I'm currently on my journey as a freelance artist and producer. This video was a great refresher on some of the techniques I had from class and I wanted to share gradated for you and this page. I use this page as a reference for proper rein-enforcement of great studio habits I just wanted to thank you again for this. Best Wishes, ~DeAndre' Davis ~DocDaChef ~All Elite Entertainment LLC.

[@michaellarsen180]

CLA-76 into CLA-2A is my favorites for vocals, i sometimes use the VComp instead of the CLA-76, depends on the track! Great video Graham. You have yourself a fantastic week too, see you in the next one!

[@claytonmurrayguitar]

And it doesn’t sound squashed, fantastic. Glad I saw this video! I would just use one compressor and use RVox to bring it up but it still didn’t really level everything out. So I’ll definitely try this. Thanks!

[@gordontubbs]

For rock vocals... a smidge of distortion/fuzz can really help out too!

[@ZakiWasik]

Effectively does the same as compression by clipping the peaks and allowing you more gain. But I agree, subtle distortion can do great things :)

[@gordontubbs]

It's the poor man's way to simulate low-gain drive you get from outboard preamps!

[@ConstantinosMouzourakis]

yes indeed... I add three back layers...Dirty/octave drop/ and a whisper track THICK !

[@brandimakesmusic]

Gordon Tubbs Hey Gordon, I was wondering, since you know about mixing rock vocals better than I do, I was wondering if you could check out some of my mixes and possibly give me tips

[@Thedogofdoom1997]

Yeah put that or a harsh distressor on your doubles and they'll make your lead sound like it's tearing through the speaker cone. Pure awesome

[@sarahtonin4649]

I've been experimenting using a similar approach, also using the Waves CLA-2A, but the "compression" preceding it is actually the Waves Vocal Rider. I use the "write" function, to write volume automation on the vocal tracks, then polish them off with the CLA-2A. I liked the result so much, I went back and remixed all the "finished" mixes in my current album project. (They're never really finished, are they?) Thank you Graham. You're awesome. :-)

[@dariomargeli]

Hi, thanks for the video. But the most important part is when you are talking about how to compress. Can you show how to compress on the EQ that comes with Pro Tools? And then can you say more exactly what knobs must be turned and how much (from the original reset values). At 4:49 what is the pugins name? "Chanel Strip" ??? SSL? Is it free?

[@guyincascade]

dariomargeli SSL 4000 is the Original Hardware. I use the British Channel by IK Multimedia. Dig around in this channel, he has some videos explaining in more detail how it works. Once you learn it you will love it.

[@alisavocalist]

Signing up for the SMART way to start your mix. Full time job really holding me back. I'll spend every available moment I have on this!

[@jult2309]

I tried this today after getting irritated with a mix and it was the quickest fix. Thanks for the videos!

[@BrandonBurch]

Thank you for this! I will need this in my band production.

[@TheOnlyJayDev]

How can I get a good mix for rap vocal? I’m having a hard time getting a good mix/master done! I’m using Ableton live and waves plugin.

[@VincentRicciardi]

I never thought this technique would work for the operatic music I record, but I had an engineer who made me sound amazing and he showed me this technique.

[@gpinvisibleman]

Graham, I just want you to know how cool you are. I have learned so much since I started following your advice. Less is definitely more. Thanks so much for sharing the things you have learned with us. Gary

[@Anvyy]

The singer's voice is really nice! Thanks for the tips, Graham, you're the best!

[@tiredofwhinersdc6883]

Hey Graham, I'm so glad you posted this, what I'm doing lately is quite similar and that means I must be on the right track in this crazy venture of learning to mix, lol.We have a female singer in our church that bursts out volume every now and then, so here's what I figured out just LAST NIGHT after she sang a special. Don't have the SSL series, but here's what I have to work with:-Waves V-EQ4, High pass at 100hz, slight drop at 250hz and even slighter at 500hz (maybe 1db max), shelf boost at about 8Khz, around 2-3db-Renaissance Vox next, pushing it just a bit so the vocal gets richer (but not too much). Pretty much using the Dave Pensado "Good Vocal" preset.-Waves MV2, pushing up the low slider to -3db, makes the presence of the vox come alive (learned that from a JJP vid)-CLA-2A, 4-6db reduction (just recently got the CLA series, WHOA, can't dupe that with stock plugins, lol)-Waves DeEsser, took -30db to soften her sizzle-For that particular song, the H-Delay provided a much needed ¼ note delayLittle more extensive than that spiffy SSL channel, but I'm happy so far. If you omit the Ren Vox and just add a -3db pull-down on the Waves MV2, that works also (or use the RenComp). You don't get the secret sauce exciter in RenVox, but other than the CLA-2A, the Waves Gold bundle which is often on sale, provides ALL of the plugins I mentioned. And you get Vitamin in the Gold which I do use when needed. No, I don't work for Waves, lol.Last, mixbuss: simple, the API 2500 comp with the Lavyne Mastering Glue preset (I increase the Threshold just a little because we have only vocals and grand piano, so it needs a little more glue), followed by L3 Ultramax, and capped off with S1 Stereo imager. S1 and the L1 limiter are also in Gold, to me that package the best bang for the buck when it's on sale. The L3 is not part of it but L1 is sufficient, at least for our simpler arrangements.

[@brucehathcockmusic]

Great demonstration.

[@rebbesoul]

I sometimes stack compressors like this but of course, it depends on the singer and the performance. Your explanations are excellent and now, when working on processing a vocal, find I am more directed and focused thanks to you laying out the steps very clearly.

[@Pearlpassionstudio]

I just saw this for the first time and the explanation was perfect. Thanks Thanks Graham

[@Synsere_Lyfe]

Thank you bro this was the icing on the cake for my daily studys.

[@kernelxsanders]

Nice to see more people who use this technique. I tend to run the SSL into Stillwell's Rocket compressor. I also do that with snare drums and sometimes room mics.

[@CreativEGenrE123]

Hlo RR. Should we layer our lead vocal for depth ?

[@allstonian13]

Ha! This is great. After I picked up the CLA-2A, we started running the BF-76 first into the CLA-2A...amazing. Gentle EQ if needed!

[@vividrecordingstudio]

This is the way I mix vocals too, same plugins as well. Nice job.

[@maroangel8525]

I'm also using the cla2a for leveling. I use compressor for peak limiting, leveling, setting distance(using attack time), saturation(dynamite or fairchild), groove(using release time)

[@DJarvisOfficial]

CLA Vocals Plugin - Wall + CLA-2A right after... amazing duo!

[@omarquezadard]

definitely the CLA-2A is one of my tools. I always use the "Start me up" setup and work from there to get what I want...

[@kame5271]

You should try the Summit Audio TLA 100A, it has a slightly different sound you might like on certain songs.

[@omarquezadard]

I will try it!!! Thank you!!

[@AndreyRossimusic]

Damn, there are only two knobs on La2A. Why do You even need presets for them? Holy crap.

[@omarquezadard]

I take it to a volume that I like first, it is faster. ;)

[@bigstevedzn2353]

Kame that’s what I was thinking the whole time because that plugin is amazing

[@psank11]

Great tip Graham! I'm going to try using this on some vocal tracks I'll be working on today! 👍

[@hawkeshiphop]

Very insightful! Also noticed you have a vocal air send that was on? Curious what plugin you were using & how? Thanks

[@jamesrossmusic6013]

Excellent... Thank you sir!!!

[@MAXXENRIQUE10]

Love it!!!!!!!!!! Literally learn so much from all these videos!!! Thank you Graham!!!!

[@alexvild669]

Thanks Graham- recently finally started to get compression after watching a lot of your videos, and my mixes thank you.

[@daduragbandit8023]

this video was extremely helpful... i was mixing a song tonight i recorded (again using a tip I've seen in one of your tutorials) and was messing around with the eq trying to clean it up a bit with a little compression to bring a little more fullness but it didn't come out how i would like it to... but after seeing this video i see i had the right ideas but just the wrong adjustments so this definitely helped and i greatly appreciate it

[@theistews]

I use fabfilter-c this means I need to have the attack fast?

[@relicreapers571]

Man you really helped me explaining compression. I've used it before but did such a hard compression that it totally levelled out all the dynamics but I now realize I can bring up the quieter parts and keep it dynamic still. Thanks big time.

[@sunyoga8008]

this is exactly what i needed 1000% thank you .. finishing an ep up and i just need to bump !!! Thank You again

[@LucasLeCompteMusic]

JST gain Reduction is an awesome compressor that I use. Its basically easy mode for vocals.

[@100chuckjones]

this is a great trick and use this same method occasionally with a puigtech and a CLA-2A. however, now the vocals now seem to take over the mix in general loudness. I think you would fair better by hand limiting (Automationg) the gain so it doesn't slam the compressor as much, giving the second compressor a less taxing signal to process. I find hand limiting gain / using automation works better in these situations, also by changing a little 7-10K you can bring out a little more in the vocal vs compressing it more. a lot of people believe compressing is the tool to grab for when ever there is a jumping/low level. its not. too much compression is unnatural and sounds over processed. and is considered by some EVIL ! well maybe im going a bit overboard :-)

[@savethefails]

Thanks so much for this explanation/demonstration. I'm really new to mixing and the more of these videos that I watch the more I'm starting to hear the differences. This will help my simple mixes a ton.

[@MediaManProductions]

i tend to do the same ratio in my first compression but then use automation to give the extra bit of lift to those bits that need the support. another thing i tend to do is bus my vocals to a second compressor (post fade) instead of having it on the channel strip and then ver compress them with a high shelf 3db boost on a single band EQ and De-esser... then i blend that Aux track in to the mix. i use the first method for when i want more tone in the vocal track so it sounds clear and clean sounding, whereas i use the second to add a little bit of grit to my vocal track without using a distortion plug in.

[@stephenfell4338]

Thank you love the way you teach as well as your vast knowledge, as only being 6 months in my productions are getting better, with the waves CLA compressors I have been cheating using the pre sets, but now I am understand more to start manually adjusting the compression.

[@bcbproductions]

be sure to set the analog setting on the compressor to off. some of you may know that already, but you will get a lot of noise/hissing during mastering if it is on.

[@chitownboxoffice9660]

BCB PRODUCTIONS good advice

[@srwaite7]

This is pretty much what I do, Graham. You can also do multi-band compression and finesse a little more. :)

[@henryraymond8676]

Very good. Yes, it does sound more musical to me. Two compressors back to back each with lower compression settings. I like it.

[@TajhmahalTheArtist]

Im an amateur and i have been having trouble putting my vocals properly into the mix. I think this will help. Thank you

[@larsmclachlan239]

Thanks for introducing me to Andy Kong! Fantastic!

[@alelopes___]

I noticed that you made an expressive volume automation, you could show this in another video. The way you use to make it and what tools you use. Thanks for sharing, hugs from Brazil.

[@TheKnightimeProject]

Great video - thanks for sharing! I've just downloaded your app and am looking forward to joining the community. Keep up the great work!

[@huberttorzewski]

I like the effect of using volume automation for compression without destroying the sound (very natural sound) + just one compressor (max 4-5dB reduction) for giving it a little different sound color and making it even more 'in your face'. The problem with that is that you need a lot of time and patience to do that properly :)

[@jerrelwilson236]

Waves Vocal Rider is perfect for this

[@RealHomeRecording]

Gain Rider 2 from TBProAudio is another good plugin that automates this process.

[@youaintasbadasyouthink]

I use waves vocal rider to go over it once, then again at a different threshold. Then finally I go back and automate the volume manually to boost the really quiet sections. Then add a compressor on it for that nice colour

[@AGENTARMES]

Thanks for posting Graham! I copied your settings and will try this out. I also dig the standard CLA-Vocals plug in it does a lot of heavy lifting for me as well.

[@rykerblade_snb]

This plus some fader riding style volume automation really helps with keeping vocals upfront and exciting

[@dinomedanhodzic]

Good video! I use a similar technique. Aggressive settings on CLA-76 to catch the peaks and then the CLA-2A to smooth the whole thing out. But before all that I do some gain-automation on the vocal tracks so that the compressors get even less load. Smooth results. Try it out!

[@veronicadavanzo2064]

This is a great tip. Aggressive compression just doesn't cut it for a super dynamic vocal.

[@mcsweet1966]

I use a little compression in with The Avalon then the VST UAD LA-2A also some EQ Waves API , Deeser and juste a smudge of distorsion .

[@ryanreach3710]

Thanks a lot for the vid. In one my recent songs, the vocals are upfront in heavy instrumentation. But when there's a dropout at the beginning, with the upfront compression, they sound way too loud. How should I fix that? Automate the volume fader on the vocal track?

[@VintiqueSound]

I tend to stack LA-76 or an SSL comp with an LA-2A for pop/rock lead vocal that needs a little somethin somethin, or lead instruments that really need to be pushed quite hard. This specific example is a very good case of when and why you would use two compressors. Use the first one to take the really loud sections down to about the level of the quieter sections, and add a second one to really get those last nook and crannies that need to be dealt with. One large picture dynamics balancing, and one detailed yet subtle. Nice vid!

[@BasilSimon]

Thanks for this. My vocal is extremely dynamic and this approach makes a lot of sense to me!

[@aotahibeach5719]

best vocal mixing tutorial I've seen

[@nickathos7428]

id like to thank you for the great tutorials you keep posting they have helped me a lot like you wouldn't believe but this one made everything come together due to your tips on compression. keep up the great work

[@anthonywalker3565]

Good work Graham...I'll give it a try!!!

[@PeanskeanENT]

My Question is Gram, Is there a reason that you have the D Esser last in the plug in chain?

[@teilom.lwandeaj1947]

i like it; its an eye opener plus where can i get the song! it sounds motivational and inspiring

[@rhythm449]

FANTASTIC JOB..WORKS PERFECT

[@UltraLowMuzik]

I personally use Vocal Rider by Waves which sorts out these issues perfectly while keeping a good dynamic range

[@AlexSaheli]

Y I do this, but second one is OTT so basically a chain + soothe

[@happyhomelesshomesteaders158]

That is awesome , the difference is truly notable , what type setting on the second compressor, I finally got the first compressor dialed in but two would make a difference just as you showed here,

[@pbenson56fran]

Thank you Graham for the advice on upfront vocals.

[@chozomonkey]

I've done something like this in the past. I'l lEQ, compress, then instead of a second compressor, there's a plugin I have used in the past that's a compressor/saturation in one plug in. Did something similar.

[@elacarteqa]

It looks like the overall peak level is higher. One thing that should have been done was level matching (ie: db out pre compression should be db out post compression). This will show you what is really going on under the hood as unfortunately, if you are taking up headroom, unless you have that blessing to begin with, we are not always given that option. Good overall view of a way to compress vocals. I typically do the following: Hi pass filter at 120 Hz. followed by high shelf at 4-8Khz followed by a desser, followed by a compression/eq of this sort followed by .5 to 1.5 db of high shelf of air The high pass and desser make the compression work less harder and you can get an even cleaner vocal by doing this. Also, less is always more. :)

[@j2dae2doublef]

Lesson learned DeEsser was on the whole time.

[@RobinYerah]

Great tip! Needed this. :D

[@knightmarebeats853]

Just starting to get into mixing thanks your a great instructor

[@BradRange]

I'm trying to solve this issue for a live mix. Unfortunately, I only have one compressor I can use. So I guess I'll try using a little heavier compression. Thanks for the video

[@clbjohny1804]

I like how you zoom in to show your work some videos I watch I can barely see what they're doing great video.

[@TheSniperMAJOR]

I have more of a problem with keeping the vocals in the back. Everyone who listens to my mixes always told me, the vocals are much to present. But I took your tips and reversed some of them, so hopefully I won't have the same problem anymore.

[@seguemaserati4178]

I use a bit of compression and a bit of limiting with a EQ

[@dreeze49]

I'd like the training you mentioned. I just subscribed. Great tutorial and song. Thanks.

[@nataliez3431]

Beauty. Thanks for sharing. I just purchased Fabfilters Pro-C although I’ve heard amazing things about the LA-2A. I’m going to try what you’ve suggested here to see if it brings my vox a little closer. I think that the important thing to remember is that you (not you personally of course) can really drown out a vocal sound if you’re not careful with your reverb, which would negate the beautiful technique that you’ve shown us here. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Nat Z

[@dudleydooright]

I use all the FabFilter stuff and I have to say.. just went back and pulled out my waves plugins and tried this and was blown away. I was getting good compression with the Pro C2 but couldn't get quite the intimate sound I wanted and this did it! Very excited. I'll have to experiment replacing with teh C2 this week and see what I come up with. Make sure you're using a send for the reverb. Huge difference. Nothing comes close to the Pro-R for me, when sending a vocal to it. Beautiful and never in the way.

[@Ali_ReBORN]

Hey G, thanks for all these brother! I subscribed to you when u had like 27K subscribers and now you've got like 270K subscribers :D Keep it up!

[@calimusic2007]

great tutorial Graham but you should have also included the fact that you are also doing automation on the vocals. As a matter of fact, did you do your automation before you applied compression?

[@mikesparks3398]

do you have any videos on your vocal chain? delays reverbs comp? you always have good sounding vocals

[@andrewrichardsuk]

also... sidechain the the middle of the backing guitar with a mid/side comp a couple of db with a feed taken from the vocal track, even better to use a midside dyn eq with sc feature so you can carve out a smaller range of frequencies for the vocal to sit in!

[@stormshadow2k]

This would require a multiband compressor, would it not? If I understand you correctly? Could you recommend a video of the trick you are describing? Sounds very interesting!

[@Wikkeh]

No, no multiband is required, but you could use it. With mid he means the mid component of M/S instead of L/R. Either compress the mid component or use a dynamic EQ (which is kinda a multiband but not entirely), and sidechain it to the vocal so it affects the guitar (which sits in the spectrum of the vocal) according to what the vocal does.

[@stormshadow2k]

Yeah... I am very eager to learn that trick, but only understand 60 % of what you mean there.

[@Wikkeh]

Then I'd say you're not ready to learn this yet. Look up Mid-Side processing, sidechaning, what a dynamic EQ does, what a multiband does, etc. THEN go look at tricks like these. They won't help you if you don't know what you're doing ;) and in learing the principles you might think of tricks like these yourself, to fit the song you are mixing. Because it might work in his case but could have no fuction in yours.

[@andrewrichardsuk]

stormshadow2k In the Mix Stage, if your DAW has a stock M/S eq great, if not you will need an M/S eq and a regular stock compressor with sc function. >>> here's one way how to do it>>> Duplicate the guitar track and add M/S eq and a sc compressor to the 2nd track, on the first guitar track turn down all the mid frequencies, on the second turn down all the side frequencies, so now you're left with 1 full spectrum guitar between both tracks, with a comp on the 2nd track. Now set compressors sc feature to receive a sc signal from the main vocal track (Dry). Now set the threshold and ratio all the way up so when the vocal line plays the mid of the guitar completely disappears, now slowly bring back the threshold and ratio until the guitars mid is dipping but not noticeably, around 2 to 3db should be good. you could spectrum analyse your vocal first and use this info to adjust the eqs mid/side setup for a perfect fit. finally, listen on monitors and headphones to check the sc is the right level, your mix will sound cleaner with less clutter and could achieve a little more level output in mastering.

[@HPoppington]

You're so great at explaining this stuff. Thanks for the work.

[@jc_compo]

Wonderful tutorial! Great presentation. Thank you!

[@danielkisel5661]

Right, when I see there is a new video on recordingrevolution, I know I want to see that, because it's really valuabe... Thanks Graham !

[@meomarte]

I like to record with a bit of compression on the way in, then track specific, vocal group, mixbus, and possible mastering compressor. Stacking is the way to go.

[@cashmir8495]

I always used a fast compressor and the la2a to smooth it out after. Btw. i feel like you could've mentioned that volume automation is part of getting vocals upfront, since i can see your track's volume moving. I'm pretty sure you mentioned that in a previous video, but i felt like you're explaining half the magic to all these ppl in need of help :P

[@ConstantinosMouzourakis]

Found this by way of...OOps ... Accident. Yes... have not stopped using it in all my Vox Bus Chain ! Subscribed also, and Thank You for your Video's ... Good Information here !

[@theJaronamo]

Hey Graham, thanks for the video! I've done this before, I think, after watching one of your videos. This was a good reminder, though. I'm working on a song right now where I'm having a bit of trouble with the lead vocal, so I think I'll try this technique again.