Pro VS Amateur Vocal Chain! ($7500 VS $1200)

Hear the difference between a cheap vocal chain VS an expensive vocal chain.
Then I will show you how to make the cheap vocal chain sound EXPENSIVE! Lets go!
(00:00) Cheap Vs Expensive
(04:19) Before & After
(07:16) Mixing the Cheap Vocal Chain
(15:44) Mixing the Expensive Vocal Chain
(20:46) Gear Vs The Ear
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[@spinlightstudios]

Hope you found this helpful! definitely worth sharing with your bedroom producer friends tracking with an SM7b!

[@bradferguson9840]

My current vocal chain consists of a child’s toy megaphone gaffed to a chain of dunny roll tubes aimed at a vertically-suspended bbq plate (far superior to a conventional reverb plate). This all feeds into my dad’s 70’s AWA cassette deck. So clearly in my case, it’s the gear, not the ears that gives me the magic. P.S. great vid Rhys 😊

[@spinlightstudios]

Haha sounds like quite the vocal chain! I need to hear this 😂

[@henryhuynh2099]

lol

[@GeorgeAmodei21]

Always nice to see these comparisons.

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks George!

[@josephdaniel7777]

Well-done.. I love this video...

[@tommorton7211]

Great video. For so long, I was afraid to make the bigger eq moves like you did on the sm7B mic because most of what you see in tutorials are the smaller moves as shown on the Lauten mic. While, I eventually got there, this removes some nagging doubts and I wish I had seen this earlier.

[@willtremain]

Mate, this is a really great video. Super well done. Loved every second of it. Excellent singers too! Made it all the more enjoyable to listen to some great singing throughout 🔥

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks Will!

[@SoundAloneband]

I use a akg 214 through a Midas preamp into a presonus interface. And use eq and compression of all sorts etc. it's mostly ears and technique. Good gear makes it easier. But now a days I can mix in the box with cheaper gear all day long. I record all my stuff in a bedroom. Drums guitar bass and keys all in a tiny bedroom with maybe $2,000 of gear. Takes a while. Great videos here. Dude knows his stuff

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks mate! Yes with some patience and practice you can usually unlock the puzzle of turning a cheap in the box sound into something solid!

[@WaBoo78]

perfect!!!!! you really know your tools!!!!!!

[@spinlightstudios]

Cheers legend!

[@doubleaceprod]

Really good and informative video. Even though I don't consider the SM7b a cheap mic, I still think there is value to be gained.

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks! I suppose compared to what’s available - it is relatively cheap! I actually think it’s a pretty overpriced mic!

[@kyrongray5965]

Fantastic as always mate. Thanks!

[@spinlightstudios]

Cheers Kyron!

[@AdamReidWilson]

This video is awesome! I appreciate you breaking it down so well!

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks Adam!

[@SoundAloneband]

Also for vocal air I just discovered the maag eq with air band. That air band absolutely kills on vocals to pop in the airy high end. It's maagic. 😂

[@spinlightstudios]

It’s dangerously good! Once you think it sounds good, dial it back a little 🤣

[@alanb.8973]

Loved this video man, singers are great too!

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks man! Yeah they are great!

[@thataliennayr6149]

Just what I needed dude

[@spinlightstudios]

Happy to help!

[@gabet3754]

Wow. Excellent demonstration

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks mate!

[@mvnoxl]

Bro!! Great Video

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks legend!

[@Durkhead]

If you still wanted the fullness you can boost a wide q at 3k and a smaller q at 10k instead of cutting out all the other low end

[@spinlightstudios]

Sure, EQ’ing different ways will give different results

[@henryhuynh2099]

I have both mics. I learned how to make the sm7b sound good first. I use the Atlantis because it is very polished. I agree w everything you said. I would say def learn how to mix a vocal from a dynamic mic/ribbon mic, it’ll be easier to mix when it’s a condenser or tube. Well done Wish i understood this sooner for sure.

[@spinlightstudios]

Totally, it's good to be able to work with all types of mics and learn how to mix them!

[@dylanhughes4548]

Great video, I’m just about to shell out on a nice condenser and maybe a Shelford channel for vox for this exact reason - so I don’t have to work as hard in post! Really great comparison and impressed you got it so close to the nice chain. Also if it helps you can put plugins anywhere in Logic, even if you already have something in slot 1 you can still stick something in above it.

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks Dylan. That shelford channel 😮‍💨

[@marioaguilera9463]

Definitely I will save to buy the Eden haha, but I will buy the Lauten Audio LS-208 in the meantime because my room isn't threated, but a condenser mic definitely makes a difference.... awesome video as always!

[@spinlightstudios]

Oo the Eden would be a dream 🙌🏻

[@broonzy2006]

I thought this was just me 😂😂😂 this is great thanks. My recent eq move looked similar I was concerned. Always wondered what part of the chain would have the most impact as $7500 not always achievable for most! I wonder what would happen if you used your mic with a focusrite? Awesome stuff Rhys, love your content. Hello from the UK.

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks mate! I don’t really ever use my focusrite preamps, probably sound a bit less colorful! Microphones easily make the biggest difference in the chain. Mic > preamp > compressor > converter. That’s my opinion anyway!

[@paydirt_music]

Thanks Rhys. I must admit, I like the CLA plugins as well... maybe a little too much 😂 I'm slowly learning it is better to use a little from several plugins on a vocal chain than a lot from one or two plugins. The Slate VMR seems to be one of your go to tools along with the Pro-Q 3, I'm looking forward to trialling them out in the next few weeks when I start mixing my album

[@spinlightstudios]

Haha yeah the CLA FX is another I pull up often! Just quick and easy. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it 😂 Yeah I’ve been using Slate plugins basically since they started. I’m kinda stuck with them now as they are all through my projects haha and now they included the ssl bundle so I’m double stuck as I’ve been using those heaps too haha ProQ3 is just one of those plugins that has become like an “industry standard” kind of EQ. It’s good, but if you’re not accessing mid/side and using the dynamic EQ - it’s not really anything different than the stock logic EQ imo.

[@paydirt_music]

@@spinlightstudios cheers Rhys, appreciate your take on those plugins. I figured I might as well try a few before I buy as I'm also cautious of falling into the trap of getting any plugin that I think will give me the best mix possible. I need to build up the skill first. It's a bit silly purchasing a Ferrari and not knowing how to drive it! Thanks again for providing great content!

[@jacksp8de]

It might be both the geeeeaa and the eaaaaaa 😂jk great video man. The Atlantis is hard to use in apt. It picks up everything! I have to use CVox to clean up my vocal but it sounds amazing.

[@spinlightstudios]

Haha don’t knock the Aussie accent! 😝 yeah I can imagine an apartment would be challenging! Thanks mate!

[@jacksp8de]

@@spinlightstudios 🤣 it’s all good man, I dig ya mixing skills. I do similar moves but I only boost with eq that mimics hardware like the pultec

[@ronallen2458]

It’s Ok that you use the CLA plugin. Don’t feel bad. I mean I would never use it, but don’t feel bad. LOL. This was a fantastic walk through. I record at home and that SM-7B vocal sounds all too familiar.

[@spinlightstudios]

Hahaha now I feel worse 😅 it’s such a guilty plugin for me

[@chrissiemilnarskii]

As a gal with an SM7B, I’ve been wondering if it’s time pull the trigger on a nice condenser (after improving room treatment, of course). Also coincidentally been looking at the Lauten Audio line (Atlantis/Eden) so this video is kind of perfect thank u so much! Enjoyed watching your workflow with vocal chains/performers like these. 🙌

[@spinlightstudios]

Hey Chrissie! Thanks for watching. The Lauten pairs so well with female voices - I love it on the “F” mode - really nice modern/forward sound. If you buy one through sweetwater make sure you use my link 😜 but seriously I love this mic on vocals 🙌🏻

[@Durkhead]

Did they use the air functon on the focusrite?

[@spinlightstudios]

No, not a big fan of it tbh

[@clintyoung9902]

Good vid brother. You track/mix those drums too? Sounds FAT! Give us a vid on that too.

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks Clint! I sure did! was a fun song to jam, they let me cut loose on it a bit too haha

[@stevenbanquer8552]

Would the sm7 benefit more from a more high quality mic pre/interface?

[@spinlightstudios]

It would improve it, and different voice respond better to different mics voicings etc