My Favorite Vocal Chain: Detailed Step-by-Step

[@Gunpowdermuzik]

You are probably the best tutor I've heard

[@nateknowles4]

i started watching your videos a little over a year ago and i’m a million times better now because of it. you explain complex mixing topics so well. i still take away a lot from watching these - so thank you man!

[@sageaudio]

Really appreciate this, thank you so much for watching :)

[@TokyoSpeirs]

I love how it’s 90% Fabfilter. Props to the GOAT

[@ILOVEDRAGO]

3:57 tried this 1st harmonic tube saturation today on a clients mix - it works very well. I tried switching off Saturn and adding the Ozone Exciter instead with tube saturation on 1st harmonic - sounds kinda "fuller", i kept the Exciter on the bus. Thanks for cool technique! 🤜🤛

[@sageaudio]

You're very welcome!

[@nateknowles4]

that oxford limiter trick was gold! am most definitely going to try that

[@sageaudio]

Let us know what you think when you do!

[@philgray2sd]

Can you use a MV2 if you dont have the oxford limiter?

[@nateknowles4]

@ I think its the same principle but different processors. Oxford limiter is a wave shaper whereas mv2 does upward compression.

[@reisaki18]

If you pay attention to the recorded vocals (waveform). It is already looking and sounding good without the processing, because of the excellent recording quality and equipment imo (e.g. controlled environment, good quality mic etc). For bedroom producers, you have to add more vocal processing to achieve this.

[@sageaudio]

This is true, also critical to this is the artists' performance and mic placement+acoustic treatment in the room!

[@ceciliamackie]

Hello! Your creativity is truly remarkable!

[@mauricehoss4402]

Great video as always!! You’ve helped me a lot to archive a very solid and not too over processed vocal chain. I’ll try this new method next time I’ll mix a new song, thanks!! 😎

[@neuroxik]

6:38 confession: my mixes look like that. I even bought a cup to a friend who also mixes which says "final mix" followed by various iterations (too bad we can't upload pics here) I definitely have to try that Oxford plugin. It's been a while I was not "needing" a "here's another plugin that will make bla bla bla", I have too many, but the difference is so beautiful.

[@BodyOfPlayMusic]

All my processing is generally the same. Aside from brickwall eq primarily and multiband sidechain (to main bass) secondary. Will be different frequency ranges based on instruments and context.

[@highjumpgd5457]

Incredible tutorial, saving this for many mixes later

[@mohammadmoezi3813]

Hi sage audio...Woww you are so perfect..and you could teach very nice and very good..and i am thankyou for make this video

[@michaelobrist4716]

that was actually really helpful! almost no compression though? I'd appreciate it if you made videos like this for different main instruments such as kick, snare, guitar an bass. thanks man, cheers!

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching! At 4:56 we explain that between the saturation and maximization plugins used, there's actually enough compression happening to not need any additional plugins for dynamic control! We will definitely consider exploring making different instrument videos using this format, thanks for the suggestion!

[@danielleepperson3772]

Do you recommend singing/recording into your vocal chain or recording first and then dragging it into your vocal chain?

[@Kay_Lekakapa]

Informative video as always. I would like to kindly ask if you could have a tutorial where you mix a hip hop vocal with the new Toneboosters V4 plugins. That would be awesome thank you in advance

[@boristubeti6776]

Any alternative to that Enhance feature of the Oxford Limiter? Thanks I have a Slate subscription BTW if there’s any suitable one by them.

[@johndoe-cb5ck]

Oh man i wished you did this with analog looking plugins i don't understand these graph looking plugins...but it sounds great!

[@robshrock-shirakbari1862]

Split-band de-essing is what leads to lisping. Generally, wideband gets in and out more transparently, just acting as a dynamic and very quick volume fader. If you still have "hot spots" just on certain words or syllables, they are likely inconsistent and no automatic processor is going to catch them all. Better to jump over to RX and do some spectral editing.

[@khyNasty1]

Does the Oxford inflator work similar to the enhance feature in Oxford limiter?

[@magmasa7499]

alternative to Oxford limiter?

[@khut9403]

I'm using the oxford inflator "effect" fader but i assume it's the same effect as you use in the limiter am i right?

[@LJ-ie8wj]

Thats sound's insane. Could you drop your vocal preset, please? To help other artists out like me.

[@doumsingeson4577]

Thank you very much ❤

[@Lilslugx]

Hey Guys! What’s an alternative to oxford limiter / Inflator?

[@Headrum]

im rocking with bro

[@babitamaurya4638]

what is an alternative for oxford limiter

[@SSSRT1]

Mv2 by waves i guess

[@We_Run_Up_Hills]

Oxford limiter onsale rn!!

[@babitamaurya4638]

I guess i should've mentioned it but some alternatives that are free (im broke asl)

[@STyonk]

JS Inflator or MWaveshaper

[@STyonk]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5XHZZylgdF2mNEm44s

[@BlackFrostt]

Great explanation. Small doubt, does saturating the lower band in Saturn add harmonics to the other band? because to me it feels like it makes the fundamental louder, and didn't add brightness to the vocal. I might be wrong, but I always thought saturation in Saturn is restricted to the band, and which is why it sounds so clean. For eg, if I only saturate the snare in a drum bus, that band wouldn't add overtones to rest of the elements.

[@sageaudio]

That's correct! Saturating the lower band in Saturn primarily enhances the fundamental's loudness without directly brightening the vocals. While the harmonics created in the lower band generally stay contained, they can still enrich the overall mix, giving it a fuller sound.

[@ILOVEDRAGO]

I just wondering about no compression on the lead vocals. Maybe it`s because those are rock vocals, but most advisers on the internet tell you to put even TWO compressors on the lead vocal, but, again those are rap vocals. Mind blowing. But i doubt it will work.

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for pointing this out, if you also watch at 4:56 we also explain that between the saturation and maximization plugins used, there's actually enough compression happening to not need any additional plugins for dynamic control! There may have also been some serial compression happening during the vocal recording as well.

[@phukanjintuofficial]

Very helpful....thanq so much

[@YuriiRay]

Vocal rider (Waves) -> Autotune (Melodyne) -> Massive Passive (AA Magenta 5) -> 1176 (AA Nickel) -> La2a (AA El-rey) -> Deeser (Waves) -> SSL-G (Waves) // Sends - Dimension D (Arturia) with Pro Q3 and Deess, Valhalla delay/Comeback kid Baby Audio, Short Reverb (Slate VerbSuite), Long Reverb (Valhalla VintageVerb)

[@sageaudio]

Cool chain! Thanks for watching!

[@chi5439]

Hey bro I’ve been working on my vocal chain for years for current new musics rnb/trap vocals and it VERRY similarly matches yours; just the position and I usually do saturate my reverb

[@chi5439]

Lonely thing I haven’t heard about and don’t have in mine is dimensions D

[@CelDaMenace]

@@chi5439you gotta template I can get ?

[@emilemerten6535]

Do you also master orchestral music?

[@sageaudio]

We do! Learn more here: www.sageaudio.com/online-mastering-services

[@spencersolberg]

The harmony seems really low in the mix to my ears. I don't think I'd notice it if I didn't know that it was there. Is that just a creative choice?

[@jamalcole1985]

Damn, just bypassed your comment like a plugin.. 🥶

[@SergioFrias]

very subtle but usefull

[@sageaudio]

Appreciate your comment!

[@tonyfrances9116]

Hello, Professor. I am a subscriber with you, but I have a problem with the language and it is difficult for me to translate. I want to cancel the subscription, but I do not know how, and I cannot write in the forum.

[@sageaudio]

Hey Tony, any chance your username is Tony Somo in the website community? If so, I got your message and we have resolved that issue already.

[@sanyetartar8704]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Squirrel-i6u]

Why would you want to reduce the nasley tones? I like that nasley sound, but please don't laugh at me because I really have no clue what I'm doing. But I really want to learn.

[@jmttc2489]

Find the nasal frequencies using EQ and reduce them

[@sageaudio]

Great question! For the example provided we thought it was a tone we wanted to stray away from, but that's not always the case. For example, lots of punk/emo/rock music can benefit from that type of sound. You just have to follow your ears to discern what's the most beneficial choice for the mix/song!

[@Squirrel-i6u]

@@sageaudio Oh I see! A lot of it is what works best for the song? But when you say nasley, what I think of is, for example, the singer for the rock band tesla, Jeff kieth, or Rod Stewart. Is that what you're referring to as nasley? I'm not really a fan of punk, and definitely not emo, so I haven't really, and I mean really! Sat down and listened to either of those types of styles. For me, there's a fine line between listening and really listening. But there are certain songs that I will listen to with a fine tooth comb so to speak. Thank you!

[@sageaudio]

You're very welcome! Yes it often lies within the individual timbre of a singer's voice. Typically in the midrange somewhere between 800hz-2khz.

[@NickLAnderson]

🙏🏼

[@sageaudio]

Thanks for watching!

[@xaevyxae9624]

why are vocals on a stereo track?

[@StanleyKubick1]

Deessing is compression

[@sageaudio]

That's true! However compression isn't necessarily always de-essing. De-essing and compression both control dynamics, but de-essing specifically targets sibilance in vocals, while compression works on a broader range of dynamics. Each has its own role in achieving a polished mix!

[@lozicrazy]

🔥🫵

[@murraywebster1228]

Werbung für fab Filter heute….

[@mbayasi]

you can manipulate all stock plugins to achieve the same effects without any fabfilter plugins, it is not his duty to do the deggin bru

[@ILOVEDRAGO]

No need to advertise for FabFilter, everybody knows they`re great for long time already.

[@sageaudio]

No advertisement for fab filter here! We certainly do like their plugins a lot, but they're also great for videos because of the visual metering options/spectrograms they have.

[@monkmusic5994]

So it is a Fabfilter promo clip. Ok.

[@sageaudio]

Not at all. You could achieve all of these effects with default plugins. We like to use Fabfilter plugins in videos not only because of their quality, but because of their great visual layout/metering. This helps further demonstrate the processes occurring throughout the video aside from the audible differences.

[@monkmusic5994]

@@sageaudio ok, that makes sense. I like your channel.