How to MIX POP VOCALS like a PRO | Mixing for Producers

The vocal is the centerpiece of your track, and when you mix vocals there are a few techniques you can use to take a dry lead and make it pop. From compression, to saturation, to adding effects-mixing and mastering engineer Mario Borgotta takes you through it all in this vocal mixing tutorial using the track "OVER IT!" by koby ft. Axel Mansoor. For Output plugin fans, watch how he uses Thermal to add some bite, and Portal to add interest to the reverb tail. These techniques will work within any DAW and similar plugins you like to use.
00:00 Intro
00:19 Basic EQ (Pro-Q 3 by ‪@fabfilter‬)
01:45 De-Esser (Pro-DS by ‪@fabfilter‬)
02:02 Additional EQ (soothe by ‪@oeksound‬)
02:45 Multiband Compression 1 (C6 Multiband Compressor by ‪@waves‬)
04:05 Compression (SSL 4000 E by ‪@UniversalAudio‬)
05:48 Multiband Compression 2 (C6 Multiband Compressor by ‪@waves‬)
07:59 Adding Attitude (Thermal by ‪@Outputsounds‬)
10:05 Saturation (Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder by ‪@UniversalAudio‬)
11:24 Compressing for Saturation (Fairchild 670 Compressor by ‪@UniversalAudio‬)
12:25 Reverb & Effects (Valhalla Vintage Verb + Portal by ‪@Outputsounds‬)
14:34 Final EQ (Pro-Q 3 by ‪@fabfilter‬)
16:27 Final Thoughts
Check out Mario Borgotta's Mix Bus tutorial video here: • How the MIX BUS delive...
Check out Output's selection of FX plugins: go.output.com/41UeioX
More about Mario Borgatta: www.marioborgatta.com/
Follow him on IG: / mario_borgatta
Listen to the finished track "OVER IT!" by koby ft. Axel Mansoor: open.spotify.com/album/1K2IM9...
Keep up with koby: / kobyberman
#mixingvocals #musicproduction #mixing

[@hoggboyy]

Why do these mix videos always start with a half-way mixed vocal? Can we get something with a seriously raw vocal track, not something already autotuned, eq'd, and compressed?

[@erictorres5935]

Because good recording is captured with eq and compression. A lot of the times tuning is already baked in because that’s what the artist is looking for.

[@lo-dose]

Nobody ever tells you but EQ while tracking is rare, compression while tracking is only typically 2-3db, pretty transparent... The REAL reason the recordings sound so good is the Preamp. Preamp makes a massive difference in the tone and quality of a recorded vocal.

[@neweratraxx2768]

@@lo-dose almost every major artist/ studio recording is tracked with eq & compression, those preamp's your talking about almost always have eq knobs on them such as the neve 1073, a quality mic + compressor & preamp is what leads to a more finished sounding recording

[@BukanIbuMu]

Expensive mic already sounds glossy

[@DbiPro]

Because hardly anyone records without doing something at the recording stage. They usually already have a chain in place to record and send to another engineer because everyone wants to send the best possible track you can

[@user-bo8ex4ji7n]

wow perhaps the best vocal mixing tutorial I have seen on YT. Everyone seems to ignore the saturation of a vocal that makes pop vocals what they are. Thermal is awesome for this.

[@envybl3ssings]

first time listening to an engineer explaining so clear

[@user-ys4tb3fb8x]

This was a through breakdown! We need more of these with other genres 🙏🏾

[@EsquireMusic111]

Portal is definitely amazing to use on vocals! Great video!

[@rosegoldenbeats7960]

amazing master clas

[@leoverao8694]

Mario is a goat! Great video

[@thevaultrecordingstudio]

loved this one, but holy compression on the vocal!!

[@DbiPro]

I liked the sweetener preset before the modern bite one

[@erictorres5935]

Great video , my question is I noticed the Lead vocals was printed to a stereo track . Would you happen to know what exactly was added to the printed vocal for it to be a stereo file ? Thanks ahead of time .

[@beatsbymaxxie]

Isnt this 200 attenuation with the multiband comp the same thing a dynamic eq can do on those frequencies??

[@mthl7712]

🔥🔥🔥🔥👍

[@IndyVisuals]

Good Stuff. You can probably get close to this sound with less plug ins but good to experiment

[@88keyz]

👍🏾

[@nikoglennmusic]

are those the Abacus Mira 14 ?

[@sgfdancecompany]

Is over process for my ears and too sibilance after so many stages of compressor

[@dinisfreire6835]

ngl dont love how those sibilant words pop out of the vocal, but insteresting still

[@ZilaMike]

Multiband compression ruins vocals, that ssl comp is not ideal , overall it sounds like it was recorded on at2020 , and it`s probably not.

[@fmajor_music]

What are you saying, really? Then you are using them wrong. Multiband comp is one of the best tools for vocals.

[@ZilaMike]

@@fmajor_music Yeah, that`s why we use the la 2-a and 1176 compressors . Outboard gear has not yet been surpassed . Stop telling people they are doing things wrong when you are using a waves multiband comp :)))))) . Overall, amateur engineers make vocals sound cheap , thin and over processed .

[@fmajor_music]

@@ZilaMike Sorry to say but it looks like you are not from this age, bro every top vocal of this era is heavily processed, that's why they are so clean and in your face. go listen to them.

[@alessandrotorres3537]

Both of you have valid points. Personally I like very compressed vocals. Ian Kirkpatrick for example uses a bit of ott in his vocals. But I agree that smooth compressors work best with vocals

[@ZilaMike]

@@fmajor_music And every fool like you will try to copy that and end up sounding like crap. Get back to me when you understand it.