Should I RECORD my VOCALS with COMPRESSION? mixdown.online

Should I RECORD my VOCALS with COMPRESSION?
#recording #compression #mixdownonline
Do you record your vocals with EQ/COMPRESSION?, Let me know in the comment section down below!
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[@AndyKingCo]

When I compress a bit on the way in I feel that the vocals sit on top of the mix better.

[@musicinsession]

I've always been tracking without compression, but I noticed the last producer I worked with using a distressor while tracking vocals! Yeah, thanks for doing this Chris!!! Super helpful!!

[@jonmatthews4254]

Great advice on recording a clean track too, best way to learn the most effective method.

[@LloydMajor]

Thank you for the class!

[@jeremythornton433]

The answer is simple. Yes and no! I love it! Always the truth from Chris! I usually record my vocals through my Warm Audio WA47jr mic wiht just a little bit of Cubase's tube compressor. Not too much so I can always compress a bit more later if I have to.

[@lozicrazy]

Thankful for all the mixing experts on here. I do not know anything yet!📝

[@jerrymckenzie6205]

If you are just starting out, I would say to save the compression for later so you can experiment and learn what works. If you are experienced, and you know what settings work because you have done this many times before, by all means yes.

[@Ndostudio]

I ordered XLR SPLITTER Immediately after i seen this video. 💯 thanks for the knowledge bro. About to save me countless hours

[@lildread3903]

Fr me too 😂😂

[@coldspring-uu8lv]

I like to compress going into the DAW very conservatively 1.6 to 1.7 to 1. Adjust attack and release according to the way the performer sings. Gives that extra margin of error from clipping. Undetectable, and still leaves enough dynamics to work with if you need to smack down some peaks later.

[@blackhorizonnl]

Thank you! Will try some of this.

[@mixdownonline]

Enjoy!

[@mybiasedface3670]

thank you! I'll try this now!

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome

[@Julio3dc]

Yeah Chris and a channel strip too. Is very wise to use EQ to high pass before the A/D converter. But as you said, you have to know what you are doing.

[@brianquinlan2489]

Good tips thanks!

[@minorchordstudio]

Always track vocals through my LA-610, adjust the gain reduction in context of the song while doing a couple rough takes. Works great every time! Nice channel, by the way!

[@mixdownonline]

Thanks!

[@jean-francoisleger]

Hey Chris ! Thanks for the tip. It's not much about compression but for limiter, it sure can be handy. As I record voice over and actors playing caracters, sometimes the dynamics can be way over the top and because of the clipping, we have to do another take. So next time, I'll the a liiiitle bit of limiting, just in case.

[@Wangavision]

I always record via a pre amp and a touch of compression. Way more natural sounding that trying to tame the vocals in cubase during the mix, which I find means the software compressors are working harder and it's more finicky trying to control siblance and transients. . I guess we all have different methods. Case in point, I received some stems of a vocalist last week that were recorded dry and it took me ages to get them to sit in the mix - I was unhappy with everything I did to treat the vocals. I considered running them out via a channel into my compressor and back in again... but instead loaded them into Adobe Audition and ran the hard limiter over the track... then loaded back into cubase. Boom! Sounded great... so there's a tip for you! BTW, I run a Rode NTK (with a Mullard tube) straight into a Golden Age Pre 73, then into a Golden Age Comp 54 at 4:1... then via my interface (XR18 with Midas pres) into cubase... This is how I record my own vocal and it works nicely. Once I'm in cubase mixing, I use the Waves vintage compressor and the native compressor if needed over that, followed by the VEQ4 EQ, a little bit of native reverb, a touch of the native doubler (better than the native chorus) and Cubase's own native stereo delay - which for me, is the best delay ever created for a DAW - I love it.... use it on guitar solos too... just beautiful.

[@EvansAudio]

Thank You So Much Sir

[@tonyhudspeth3861]

love this ...thanks..can i add something ? IMHO i think pre production is very important if you are going to track with plugins i mean if you know the arrangement and the nitty gritty of the song the chances are you will make better decisions as far as att+rel times ,eq and even some time based fx.. this is the one advantage of recording+ mixing your own stuff has that can not be rivaled.. you have the time .. what i did a little while ago , i used the pre production audio track to set up the main vocal input bus by looking at what worked in a rough mix then using some or all of those settings in the input buss... boom that track is then as good as done and saved cpu power for other stuff... Thanks chris ..great stuff here . T

[@TheHirade]

As natural as possible, ALWAYS

[@CharlesK441]

This is great. I recorded a vocalist with compression on the insert for the first time a few weeks ago. Being careful with the settings was beneficial for me. Thanks for this video.... ;-)

[@MusicPatrolGermany]

That's why I just send the signal w/ all my inserts on the channel to the monitormix... The recording-god gave us awesome computers and monitoring for this . So I got the clean, uncompressed signal and still hear what I want it to be at the end of the day. In my opinion this is the easiest way to preserve any tracks for later changes. Got to be careful with your CPU-usage though. So, little management is always good :-D And don't forget about freezing stuff.

[@jahsonnowa2514]

Yeah it's true Chris...theres no rules when recording vocals it's up to you as a producer as long as u come up with better result thats what matters most.

[@alexeyolshevsky7032]

Thank you that's really helpful

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@steveokane9478]

Hi. VERY amateur newbie here, VERY grateful for this video. I'd never even heard of an "XLR splitter", which sounds like a great option for me as I learn! I can compare the raw track with the identical (apart from it being compressed) track as a great way to HEAR the difference. SO many experts baffle with science, or use terms that are Greek to me. This does seem a genuine signpost through the jungle journey I am starting off on. Especially with your included suggestions of "2 to 1, release times, attack times". I'd have done 50 to 1 and no doubt wondered what was wrong! The house near me is up for sale by the way..........:) When I get a platinum disc I'll remember to invite you. Cheers!

[@ThiqRiq]

XLR SPLITTER!!! why the f*ck did I not think of that?! lol thank you brother!

[@jsmacks11]

I used to always record with compression, as DAW compressors back in the day didn't seem to work well and to keep from having to individually compress each vocal track in the mix. but record dry now. That said I would never overcompress just minimal compression on like a subtle leveler setting with a little gain reduction.

[@jordanshreds747]

I enjoyed the video a lot. I really like seeing good advice from another Cubase user. Quick question, does using a splitter on an XLR cause signal degradation? Also, I really enjoy recording with compression on the way in. I'll use a super fast compressor taking 1 -2 DB off, and then serial that with a slow compressor to smooth it out for another 1 - 2 DB. Plus, color! Great videos as always!

[@mixdownonline]

To answer your question, I don't get any sound degradation using a xlr spliter.

[@jaybefaulky4902]

just subscribed .. your information is good

[@mixdownonline]

Awesome, thanks!

[@SoundFriendly]

I use a different approach. I record the clean signal. Then route that signal out to another output instrad of the main stereo. Since I have a Behringer X32 I have 4 stereo outs set up. One pair goes into a compressor and fed back into an input channel, stereo or mono doesn’t matter. Vocals would be mono unless you want to widen them as an effect. You can then add EQ on the input channel after the compression.. can be also used for summing tracks etc.

[@MuzeInspiration]

Please can you give me a tutorial on this, my vocals are very dynamic

[@Yannickl96]

When using a splitter cable as mentioned at aroun 5:50, how would I go with phantom power there? Can there be any problems? My approach would be to use the DSP compressor of my Steinberg interface on one channel and leave the signal bland on the other channel.

[@xavierbeats7988]

Interesting this

[@VoyageOne1]

I like to compress vocals to get a more "even" sound on the way into the DAW

[@onzkicg]

Newbie here learning to mix. I tested recording myself singing, post processing, I added compression, fx reverb etc and voice sounded good 😂 I felt like I cheated on something

[@MushroomVortex]

@@onzkicg I felt the same way when I first heard myself recorded 😂

[@onzkicg]

@@MushroomVortex 😂 I can’t wait what happens if I get my hands on auto tune plugins

[@ThongdeeTHOR]

I think cannot record with compressor itself with cubase plugin with insert or that tube compressor can print the effect before record.

[@VasilisKoskinas]

How do you go when there's dynamic difference between different parts of a song?Let's say the verse is really quiet and the chorus hits hard, would you adjust the input on the compressor,in order to get the 2-3db of compression you want for example?That's if you did get the levels on the loud part of the song...

[@isaacmakkonen2383]

Thanks Sir, Selim. i need to learn how i can make voice chords like Alan Walker - Live Fast, If you could say something, i would appreciated that.

[@mixdownonline]

Ok cool, I'll have a look. Thanks for the suggestion

[@gdanila]

It’s not about compression per say, it’s more about the sound that you’re getting going in and the singer confidence boost. And what you hear on charting songs these days is not even low amounts of compression, but more like high ratio/fast attack/fast release into a slower compressor for tonal compression. So it gets well into the double digits gain reduction. So let me be clear, this means 1176 @ 12:1/20:1 fast attack/fast release, or a distressor @ 20:1 fast attack / fast release doing anywhere from 0db to 12-15dbs of gain reduction into an LA-2A/dbx160/manley varimu/sta level doing more like 3-5 db of gain reduction. But you should focus on the sound not on the meters. Cheers!

[@MuzeInspiration]

Can you show us how to do it in cubase? With plugins. This doesn't show that

[@rbeatstv2415]

hi sir i know this video is a year ago but i'm having issue with recording vocal with compression whenever im doing this the vocal or instrument feel so upfront i dont know what is the exact setting for recording with compression

[@xavierbeats7988]

I only add auto tune when I’m recording but I compress after and do all the editing cause I feel every track ain’t the same vibe

[@icedbones2348]

When you add autotune then compress you can sing higher with autotune cuz those highs are under compressioj

[@kevinisaacs6930]

❤

[@miguelowls]

Sorry if this is a dumb question.so your saying if I put a compressor plug in on the channel strip and press record it’s going to print the compression on that recording take?? :o

[@mixdownonline]

It would need to be on the INPUT BUS Channel, not your the channel you record on

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Why can't we just monitor the plugin effect?

[@boristubeti6776]

When I’m tracking vocals with JST GainReduction, I’m getting some hiss with no gain on my audio interface. But when I track with a healthy gain on an interface bit with no compression, I’m getting hiss after compressing the raw signal anyway…any advice for cleaner resulting vocal recordings? Thank you very much 🙏🏻

[@JustMamba]

Compressors will even out the sound. It will bring the noise floor(hiss) up as well as leveling the vocal. Could be a cheap pre amp or interface, or broke one. Could also be a dynamic mic and you need lots of gain but that also gives you noise. Lot of factors and reasons this could be. You would have to give more information.

[@Drgmusic_]

At 4:50 are you inserting compressor in the Stereo In ?

[@mixdownonline]

No, that is a mono Input :-)

[@Drgmusic_]

But I guess if we insert the compressor on the stereo in even then it will record the compressed vocals.

[@noahsimmonsofficial]

Compress hard going in, automate dynamics later.

[@elharrop]

Thank you, does recording with compression reduce sibilance?

[@mixdownonline]

Not it doesn't, when recording, mic position and mic selection will help. For position, try to have the mic positioned just a bit offaxis or a bit higher aiming lower or the other way aroung, things like that might help.

[@elharrop]

@@mixdownonline Thank you that sounds like a simple enough fix until i get a ShureSM7B :)

[@davebelhumeur899]

Are you french? Or from quebec?

[@mistermind7946]

Can and will work when the vocalist is not able to provide consistent, naturally balanced volume on the way in. Those who say that the recording should be as natural as possible need to remember that the vocalist is actually supposed to stay on a nice level by talent and when they can't, the compressor is only doing what the singer is supposed to do in the first place, getting that 'naturalism' in the recording. If you have a dynamically all-over-the-place vocal track, it will sound more unnatural when you compress it harshly. To avoid that, you will have to edit that track bit by bit. Talk about natural, huh. It's only good practice, I'd say, taming the vocal on the way in, if the producer sees fit.

[@chrisrobson2203]

This question is slightly off topic (Compression during mixdown). How do i add compression with external analogue (like a WA2A or 1176) devices during mixdown in Cubase?? I'm confused with how I'm supposed to play a clean track in Cubase, run it through external analogue devices and record the new sound?? I may have found the answer in another one of your videos.. is this correct?? >> kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHTHgKNqf9WMZ5o

[@mixdownonline]

Yes Chris, that video will tell everything you need to know about using external gear in Cubase :-) Note that when exporting your mix, Cubase will export in Real Time since an external gear is at play.

[@chrisrobson2203]

@@mixdownonline I'll follow your video and try it. Thanks Chris!

[@latexhague8267]

Do all the pros record vocals with compressors?

[@mixdownonline]

No, but a lot do

[@Iamgavrilo]

no compression when recording anything. If someone needs compressor it means bad player or singer. and it never sounds quite right. anyway good video

[@mixdownonline]

Not necessary, a lot of master engineers and producers will record with compression and EQ to get the tone right at the recording stage. They usually work with very good musicians. I don't advice to record with compression if someone doesn't a minimum of experience with this.

[@davebelhumeur899]

Are you french? Or from quebec?

[@mixdownonline]

I'm a French Canadian, originally from Quebec, but in Alberta now :-)

[@davebelhumeur899]

@@mixdownonline couldnt fool me i always hear the quebec accent in a specific word xD im from rouyn in quebec

[@mixdownonline]

@@davebelhumeur899 LOL For sure!