Recording Rap Vocals: Understanding Stacks

[@queenlateefahscelebrityspi5334]

Who would dislike his teachings, oh I know hating people miserable in life haha! Cause this man is very humble and really wanna help rappers do well in the progress of of their career. Best channel thus far. I study people and this guy is the truth it's done from the heart, like what more can you ask for. He very underrated

[@polliwobble]

your lyrics are dope man. world needs more conscious hip hop. 🙏

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Thanks Polliwobble! I really do appreciate it! Much respect! ✌😎

[@neem2048]

if anyone needs a reference, go and listen to an eminem chorus from a recent year ('stepdad' and in 'too deep' off 'music to be murdered by' show this perfectly). He combines a stack with one voice of high and one of low to give a really interesting sound

[@asaholvid5293]

You are a fantastic teacher!! Im 53 female doctor from Sweden and i have decided i will learn to rap and your help is awsome⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@ColeMizeStudios]

That's awesome Asa! Thanks so much for your kind words and I'm glad you're finding my videos to be helpful as you embark on your musical journey. Have fun! ✌😎 - Cole Mize

[@AHSHEEVED]

So iv made 2 songs. For information iv been listening to rap my whole life but never tried rapping really( untill I recently bench watched your videos) I feel you helped a lot in starting out and even gave me confidence to think I might be able to do it myselfe. I thought I wanted to give you a cool idea for your channel. That is to listen and give advices to others raps, and of course you can use my song for the first video.. I’d love to hear what’s good, bad and/ or what I could do differently. And to be honest, I think a lot of people would appreciate that help, aswell as others hearing it to implement on their own ones. Keep it up and give us great content and help my man.

[@tenaciouspoetry]

thanks for the lessons. I stumbled to your other one regarding song structure. I just been stuck working on a chorus, which is why I watched that lesson. it was very helpful to the point that I can see you being a professor or running your own school, no lie. I really appreciate how you break down the lessons so it can be engaging and easy to follow. alright let me stop kissing ass. great work, look forward to your other videos and articles. peace.

[@ColeMizeStudios]

+Tony Pantoja lol it's all good bro. I'm glad you stumbled upon my content and having been finding them helpful that's what it's all about! My vision is to be a world class resource for rappers to perfect their craft and grow their tribe. I have a lot of work to get there but I put 100% into everything that I do so thanks so much for taking notice and shooting some positive feedback this way! Thanks for the support and I'm looking forward to sharing much more with you in the future! Take care! - Cole Mize

[@JPapiz]

Fire bars in this video my G

[@MBK501]

This tutorial is very good. i always struggeld with stacks/Dubs. but now i have more ideas to use my voice on the stack-track and making my lead vocal more powerfull. thank you.

[@ColeMizeStudios]

+MBK501 Thanks! I'm glad that you found this video to be helpful! That's what it's all about! I hope you have fun playing around with what you learned about stacks. Keep up the hard work! :) -Cole Mize

[@djkingpersia]

big up colemizestudios from norfolk va!! your advise and wisdom regarding hip hop and music is superb, much respect to your passion which helped me or is helping me in a major way! thanks again and keep it up

[@Iam_RissaRissa]

This was great !! Not only did you explain it perfectly, your denomination was awesome. Now I understand what ‘stacks’ are ... Thank you !

[@daggerpayne539]

I needed the advice this video is the gas 💯

[@crippledcub7398]

Yooo this changes songs a lot! I never knew. Thanks man for giving us elements like this

[@FlowUrbanFlow]

Those bars remind me of Royce with the mad poetic style and big words

[@DeeLo256]

Yo that flow was 🔥

[@mystikal-leeproductions7710]

That was sooo awesome! Watching again, cuz this was really needed. That verse bro! I need to look for your rap music. I have to get you in my transformation playlists on my Spotify...

[@corycrush]

Super helpful. Bout to record my first rap on my own. Wish me luck 😎🤙

[@ColeMizeStudios]

That's awesome Cory! have fun! ✌😎 - Cole Mize

[@CuriousPerson2206]

Great video you demonstrated it perfectly

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Thanks LuJae! I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Much respect! ✌😎 - Cole Mize

[@MCRocknDaNight]

Yo where can i hear the complete version of that track sounds sick.

[@ColeMizeStudios]

MC RocknDaNight Thanks bro I appreciate it! I was actually just spitting a verse of mine over a beat from my beat store colemizestudios.com/hip-hop-instrumentals if you would like to check out some of my songs you can visit my artist page at colemizestudios.com/cole-mize thanks for watching and commenting! I appreciate it! - Cole Mize

[@eliaslift6953]

You're the best Cole

[@grind23at]

what should I do different when compressing and equalizing the stack vocal?

[@jmoreno6516]

For up beat rap music that needs a strong vocal presence, are you panning the 2 static vocals up the middle and then the different toned vocals panned 1 fully left and the other fully right? Or are you just leaving them up the middle at different volumes to blend them together?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

I usually do either or. It depends on the arrangement of the music sometimes. Like if there's lots of stuff in the instrumental stereo, I may keep the vocals more focused in the center. Also sometimes I like to stack the vocals I pan hard left and right as well so there's 1 lead vocal center, 1 stack center, 2 stacks left and 2 stacks right. Just experiment and do what you sounds best. I hope this was helpful. ✌😎 - Cole Mize

[@jmoreno6516]

@@ColeMizeStudios you earned your sub. Thank you!

[@ColeMizeStudios]

My pleasure, thanks for the support! ✌😎 - Cole Mize

[@martinjameskeys]

I experimented with dubs biggest mistake is don’t dub the entire song just on parts you wanna emphasize in the hook & verse. Overdo it and it sounds muddy, underdo it and it sounds thin. It’s all about balance.

[@rileyj3588]

Duuuuuude that was sick! I love the way those diverse stacks add a totally new spin and quality to your intonation. I will definitely be using the advice from this video and the Spot Stacks video in future raps. Unrelated question: What speakers are those, and are the diamond shaped things behind them part of the speakers or is that like acoustic foam that you added yourself?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

+Riley Hersey I'm glad you found this video helpful Riley! That's what it's all about! My speakers are KRK Rokit Powered 8's and yes that's acoustic foam I've added to my wall. You can check out the Speakers at amzn.to/1YGJpi0 and the acoustic foam at amzn.to/1jxRvcY Keep up the hard work! and thanks for watching and commenting! :) - Cole Mize

[@vektacular]

Loved it my bro!!

[@shadyxv.universe]

Can you do a video on making bears on fl studio mobile

[@ColeMizeStudios]

thanks for the suggestion Shady, unfortunately the only DAW that I use is Bandlab which is really dope! I did a video on structuring bars with it recently kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmWuhZmcbcqcja8 I hope this helps! 😎✌ - Cole Mize

[@prodbya3781]

Thanks dude I learnt something from you. You just earned a new subscriber :-)

[@charliecharlztv5214]

Do you still spot stack if you stack layer the verse

[@AnDrOiiD619]

Is it better to stack rather than to just copy and paste the verse in pro tools to make it sound fuller? Because lately that's what I've been doing and it sounds louder. I'll gladly take your advice if I'm doing it wrong.

[@ColeMizeStudios]

AnDrOiiD619 It's really a matter of preference. If you can do a stack go for it! but if not and you just copy and paste it then add some different processing to the copy to give it a little more separation such as eq and compression etc..

[@class-d-felony5730]

Do u have a Album out u r Cold at it 🔥💯

[@TrancosoDavi]

Tks a lot

[@ColeMizeStudios]

My pleasure! Thank you as well! ✌️😎- Cole Mize

[@JLyte86Reppin116]

I'm just wondering, since I'm just starting out as an artist, what website can I get my album cover promoted at and what website can I get copies of my album covers at?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

JLyte86Reppin116 That's a good question. It depends on your marketing strategy. Are you budgeting money for paid promotion or are you trying to get exposure for free? And the next question would be who is your target audience that you are trying to reach with your music? Let me know and I can better give you advice from there.

[@sharveshpremkumar5370]

Vocal doubler can do the same thing, right? I mean the static stack

[@jordyvanlinden8284]

I Always got a problem that the stack sounds to late, i hate it cuss then it sound like a delayed it.

[@solitvry103]

Okay so about the other re recorded stacks, what DB would you recommend and Pan to space then out??

[@OFFTHETRACKRECORDS]

big video learnt a-lot from this thanks man!

[@ChainsTheChef888]

Thank you

[@monekayakamswild4195]

Do follow a rhyme scheme when you write or do you write from the cadence you create? If so, do you record the cadence and then write?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Latasha Dennis Good question Latasha. They way I most often work is I come up with my cadences first. If I feel like I may forget them I will record it on my phone or whatever is handy. When I start writing I will typically write to the cadences and come up with different rhyme schemes that I feel like fit each cadence. So my cadence and rhyme schemes typically switch together and I like to switch them up every 4 to 8 bars to keep things interesting. Does this make sense? Let me know if this was helpful. Thanks for watching and commenting! :)

[@monekayakamswild4195]

Perfect sense! You just don't know how much I appreciate your video's. I learned a lot and I can see the difference in my flow at first my flow was a but boring because I would just spit what I wrote and being a singer first, I wanted to infuse tight rhymes which wasn't happening for me. Because of you my creativity has expanded. I will use this technique to the fullest! Once I get a few songs done I will forward them. I know a lot of big time people in the industry. I believe if I can master the rhyming with the singing I can win. Thx again....I'm watching everything you post!

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Latasha Dennis WOW! Thank you so so very much for your awesome feedback!! As a teacher nothing brings me greater joy than to hear you guys are benefiting in your craft from my lessons :) Thanks so much for sharing your success with me! Your feedback as very encouraging and I look forward to sharing much more with you in the future. Yes feel free to forward me some of your tracks and if you would like to have any of your music reviewed feel free to visit me at colemizestudios.com/music-reviews/ I'm routing for you sis! Keep up the great work and thanks again for all the love and support! Until next time, take care and stay awesome!!

[@yankeey1715]

but nowdays we have plugins i mean these plugins are one of is them is harmony fx but is it good to use these plugins or there is any quality difference what do u think ??

[@ColeMizeStudios]

+yankee ee Sure you can go that route and manipulate the duplicate with pitch, The benefit of doing a stack is no two recordings will sound exactly the same plus you can add extra emotion and play around with your vocal tone. There's no rules only techniques so do whatever you feel is best for the track. Hope this helps :) - Cole Mize

[@jeromecurtis5672]

When you do stack how many stacks do you need or is it like. Main track next Static next diverse etc?

[@jeromecurtis5672]

Or is it just main then Static dubs ??

[@ColeMizeStudios]

There's really no set way you have to do it. For example one thing I've been playing around with recently is doing 4 stacks for a hook. 2 of those being static and the other 2 being diverse. Then I will pan one static and diverse 50% to the left and do the same for the right and tuck them behind the main vocal to create this nice spread for the hook to make it sound bigger than the verse. Just experiment and have fun! Thanks for watching! :) - Cole Mize

[@mouniradio]

ColeMizeStudios bro about the stacks i recorded 3 main vocals i kept one with a normal volume and the other 2 i reduced there volume about 50% is it correct or would be better if i lower the volume of all of them ??!

[@mystikal-leeproductions7710]

Looked you up on Spotify. You comin with anymore releases? Or is there more music of yours elsewhere?

[@KeepUpTheHope]

bruh, love ur videos. u finally made me start rapping. teached me the things i could not find. but do you put a ''stack'' trhrougout the whole song? or just a certain part like verse or hook only?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Thanks for the positive feedback! I'm really glad you're finding value in my videos! A stack isn't always needed but if you feel like your vocals need an extra layer feel free to do a stack for it. This could mean verses and hooks. I tend to mainly do stacks for hooks since my vocals typically compete with more instruments during a hook and will typically do spot stacks and adlibs if needed on the verses. I hope this helps :) - Cole Mize

[@KeepUpTheHope]

helps out a Lot! much love from holland, will keep watching ur videos. u seem like a great dude ;)

[@ColeMizeStudios]

I'm glad to hear! Much love to Holland from The States and thanks for your positive words! Much love and respect! :) - Cole Mize

[@MCWheelz]

when you do stacks do you change volume level?

[@SamSam-nq7do]

+ColeMizeStudios hi Cole, I don't usually record any stacks because I record at my house not in a studio, and when I try to stack, it picks up more of the background noise than myself, is they're anyway round this?, thx

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Yes, record closer to mic, and try to record in the center of your room as far away from all walls as possible. Also "if using a condenser mic" your mic should be facing the opposite direction of anything creating noise such as computer fans etc.. And don't record super loud, try to peak between -30db to -20 db. I hope this helps :) - Cole Mize

[@drebruhamlincoln7086]

I appreciate you so much

[@killinsoftly756]

Thank you this helped a lot

[@illatek]

wicked !

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Thanks bro! :) - Cole Mize

[@CAPGMUSIC]

what do you use to record

[@ColeMizeStudios]

+CAPITAL G check out this article I wrote on an affordable breakdown of getting your first studio setup colemizestudios.com/home-studio-setup-for-under-300/ If you have any questions let me know :) - Cole Mize

[@ayanaali546]

I wish you would have played them back

[@SaintSolitaire]

Where did this pseudonym "stack" come from? Just curious. Ya know, why not just call it a double?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

+Saint Solitaire in music there's lots of terms that mean the same thing as another such as bar and measure and stack and double. Which ever you prefer to use is fine, I typically refer to both in my efforts to not confuse anyone. Thanks for watching and commenting! :) -Cole Mize

[@SaintSolitaire]

+ColeMizeStudios in hindsight my comment seems kinda rude. My bad. I was sincerely wondering where you got the word from

[@ColeMizeStudios]

+Saint Solitaire lol it's all good I didn't take offense to it. I appreciate the consideration tho :) It's just slang that many people use to refer to a double.

[@GARRYESHEPARDJrCtpsalmist]

Hey I have a ? Did you do one for adlipping yet if I'm saying it right?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Yesuh I sho did. Here is the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHapco2weLekjZI

[@MrSaltypig]

when u do these stacks, do u do only one main track too, or one on L and one on R?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

MrSaltypig Good question! It depends on what kind of sound you're going for. I usually don't do one for the Left and Right unless it's for the hook. If I use a stack for a verse I usually keep it in the center. You can either record two stacks if you want it in the Left and right speaker or the mixing engineer can create what's called an "instant double" where they copy your stack or main vocal and then pan one hard left and then nudge the second one slightly out of time creating "the haas effect" and pan it hard right. I hope that is helpful :)

[@MrSaltypig]

ColeMizeStudios thanx homie

[@ColeMizeStudios]

MrSaltypig my pleasure bro! Anytime! Glad to help :)

[@szymonbauza6866]

Droppin' science!

[@RedemptiveIRage]

What I've been doing with static stacks is simply duplicating the original track, that way they are identical but still add the body. I'm curious, what is the advantage of re-recording if the aim is to get as close to the original as possible? I can definitely see the benefit of a diverse stack though, awesome tip!

[@krjeff]

Duplicating the original isn't actually adding body, it's just making it twice as loud. Doubling is supposed to be as close to the original as possible because straying too far from the original can be distracting (assuming the original is perfectly on beat/pitch the further you get from that take the more offbeat/off pitch you are). Additionally, even if the original isn't perfectly in time or on pitch you can end up with dissonance if the pitch is too far off the original or an off-beat delay effect if the timing is too far off the orignal. Doubling relies on there being minor discrepancies between the double and the original which results in a thickening and richening of the original sound when mixed well.

[@smalls5607]

To be honest i do not like stacks in my tracks..Is that okay to have no stacks in your songs?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with having no stacks in your song. Just do whatever you feel sounds best :) - Cole Mize

[@asimradford6868]

Should stacks be used on the entire verse or on a word here an there

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Asim Radford There is no definitive answer because the track will determine if you need them on the whole verse or not. Usually they come in handy on tracks that have high energy and you need just a little more energy in your vocals. Or on hooks because hooks are typically the highest energy part of the song. Make sure you watch my video on adlibs kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHapco2weLekjZI and spot stacks as well kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpnSooGXpJ2psJo after watching these two videos you should have a better understanding of what I'm talking about. Let me know if this helped you out :)

[@class-d-felony5730]

You are good bro why your Album called

[@reecemoss5164]

Hi, thanks for the videos. Quick question: Why can't I record once and then copy and paste the main vocals as a stack?

[@krjeff]

Because if you take two identical waveforms and play them at the same time, they'll just be the same waveform but twice as loud

[@GARRYESHEPARDJrCtpsalmist]

Brother another good video

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Thanks so much! I greatly appreciate it!

[@31spacemankays75]

Thanks my nigga !! do more on patterns please !! BLESSED MBRO

[@ColeMizeStudios]

My pleasure bro! I'll make sure I do that. Much respect! :) - Cole Mize

[@MTD280]

yo what pop filter do you use

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Mamady Diallo I use two pop filters, one is the pop filter that came with my Shure KSM27 Condenser Mic and I also use the pop filter that came with my Kaotica Eyeball

[@domi_gomi]

What do you call every different stack? • • •

[@Pinsl33p3]

nice one thx

[@Pinsl33p3]

2018 represent cool kids always arrive late

[@ColeMizeStudios]

*FREE* video tutorial on how rappers can record stacks in the studio. buff.ly/1KI5okg #howtorap

[@nsaneways37]

Nice good info bro

[@ColeMizeStudios]

nsaneways Thanks bro I sincerely appreciate the feedback. I've glad that you found this video helpful :)

[@dontsaymynameunlessyouknow8775]

Why does it sound alien like, robot like unlike eminem on the way i am has alot of vocals but it sounds natural and human like voice

[@grantrmoore]

Is it necessary to do this when the engineer can just add echo?

[@krjeff]

echo isn't gonna get you a properly doubled sound. Even if you set the delay time extremely short, the best you're going to get is exactly the same waveform delayed by a few miliseconds, which will result in phase issues because of waveform cancellation, and remove frequencies from the main vocal

[@mattaverdick]

Hey bro this shit is sick!!!! Thanks man!!!

[@yiqwaba3833]

I like what you said about God , you know seek him and not to listen to what people speak against what he told us.

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Thanks Valentina! I'm glad you enjoyed my video and thanks for commenting :) - Cole Mize

[@edwardbrown5957]

too dope

[@feelit1357]

I don't understand.. That sounds similar though !! Plz reply.

[@JLyte86Reppin116]

Dude, how can I get my free copy of your book?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

JLyte86Reppin116 Hey J there is a link at the top of this videos description. Let me know if you have any problems getting it.

[@JLyte86Reppin116]

ColeMizeStudios Lol... Yea, I've found it.

[@ColeMizeStudios]

JLyte86Reppin116 awesome enjoy! :)

[@ColeMizeStudios]

How rappers can record stacks in the studio by understanding their purpose. buff.ly/1DIzOvc #howtorap

[@jackdavis8701]

ColeMizeStudios hi are the stacks supposed to be the same sound level as the main vocal or lower?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

jack davis Hey Jack, typically stacks are lower in volume.

[@hugoescalona26]

+ColeMizeStudios in stacking can you just make a copyof the vocal and move it a little bit on the side ?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Nolove26 absolutely. If you want to get a really cool stereo effect, copy it twice and nudge the copies slightly out of time and turn one left and one right. Works like a charm :)

[@Seeenotes]

great video new subscriber

[@numerologistical3978]

Bro ur shit went hard

[@mystikal-leeproductions7710]

Wait- was that your music? That the type of raps you do?

[@ItsVipBaby87]

👌👍

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Thanks for the like!

[@SheffPurp]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@class-d-felony5730]

Class-D-Felon aka D-Felony

[@primouomo8451]

Damnnn? You ain't say "Let's Get It"! Right...It usually sounds way better. Other wise Great Video.

[@reesevisa4103]

Could you rap to one of my beats

[@fmafan123456789]

why not just copy and duplicate the stacked track from it?

[@ColeMizeStudios]

Then it's just going to sound louder since it's an exact copy. If you do copy it I would probably adjust the pitch by a few cents so they sound a little different from each other or you can nudge it slightly out of time etc.. - Cole Mize

[@kotktorychodzipogowieadama2645]

Ooo

[@jaybrew-lifewithandwithout8398]

God damn dude that was phuckin boss! I have songs flying out of me right now. Check my page please. I need to do stacking! I've barely done any on my track's!

[@grind23at]

what should I do different when compressing and equalizing the stack vocal?