The Secret to Mixing PRO VOCALS is Not What You Think

Find out what is THE key to getting crisp, up-front, pro-level vocals, EVERY time.
☛ Learn the go-to starting points for EQ and compression in heavy mixes with my FREE Mixing Cheatsheet: mixcheatsheet.com
Music by Jevani Sanders - open.spotify.com/artist/5o8eN...
Watch This Next: How to Understand and Use Compression - In Depth Tutorial • How to understand and ...
Music I’ve Worked On: open.spotify.com/playlist/6I7...
Website: hardcoremusicstudio.com
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MY FAVORITE GEAR:
Computer / Interface:
Mac M1 Studio Max sweetwater.sjv.io/anOMOo
Avid Carbon sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQ6M6g
Apogee Duet 3 sweetwater.sjv.io/y2qXqb
Monitors / Headphones:
Avantone CLA-10a sweetwater.sjv.io/WqyMyZ
Audio Technica ATH-M50 sweetwater.sjv.io/PyOMON
Microphones:
Shure SM57 sweetwater.sjv.io/daOMy7
AKG D112 sweetwater.sjv.io/Kj0MBy
Sennheiser e604 sweetwater.sjv.io/DKyvWa
Shure SM7b sweetwater.sjv.io/5g5vk3
AKG C451b sweetwater.sjv.io/jre9Rv
Shure SM81 sweetwater.sjv.io/eK1LnD
Audio Technica AT4050 sweetwater.sjv.io/JzKMqr
Preamps/Outboard:
API 3124 sweetwater.sjv.io/eK1LRD
EL8 Distressor sweetwater.sjv.io/XYmMd4
Favorite Plugins:
BSA Clipper blacksaltaudio.com/clipper
Escalator blacksaltaudio.com/escalator
Low Control blacksaltaudio.com/low-control
Waves SSL Bundle waves.alzt.net/dMd4q
Waves CLA Compressors waves.alzt.net/0va0P
Waves Platinum waves.alzt.net/jxz2M
Slate Trigger 2 sweetwater.sjv.io/MmAM53
SoundToys Rack sweetwater.sjv.io/xkLgyd
Auto-tune Pro sweetwater.sjv.io/OreMYr
Vocalign Project sweetwater.sjv.io/xkLgyA
Cranesong Phoenix II sweetwater.sjv.io/PyOMrz
Instruments / Amps:
Ludwig Black Beauty Snare sweetwater.sjv.io/1r9vDR
Gibson Les Paul sweetwater.sjv.io/B0nvz1
Evertune Guitars sweetwater.sjv.io/WqyM6P
Fender Jazz Bass sweetwater.sjv.io/nLX5R6
Sansamp Bass Driver DI sweetwater.sjv.io/OreM9Q
EVH 5150 sweetwater.sjv.io/4PGvr9
Mesa 2x12 cab sweetwater.sjv.io/75avGA

[@chrisebarb4080]

The trick I found that helped a lot is compressor chaining. Use 2-3 compressors on vocals, each of them not too high on the ratio, no more than 4:1 usually, with a soft distortion on the last compressor. Also, do your EQ cutting before Compressors, do EQ boosts after compressors.

[@parallel_saintt9204]

So 2 eqs total? Asking cause this comment helped me just confused about the eqs, 1 or 2?

[@chrisebarb4080]

@@parallel_saintt9204 2 EQs. Do reductive EQ before your compressors. Then another EQ after the compressors for adding high-end crispness and lo-mid warmth.

[@chrisebarb4080]

@@parallel_saintt9204 use a parametric EQ before the compressors for gently rolling off 14k+, rolling off 100hz and below, and reducing unwanted frequencies with accuracy. Then use a graphic or solid state EQ for your boosts after the compressors

[@yaaaaassss-ws8eh]

Sounds pro af. Gonna try this

[@parallel_saintt9204]

@@chrisebarb4080 appreciate it man i will try this!

[@kobecayne5776]

you literally just leveled up like 30 of my tracks. i cant explain to you how greatful i am

[@WyattBrown377]

Wow that's a lot of compression! Too many gurus mindlessly say stuff like "mixing is all about subtlety, never compress more than -3db" but sometimes you gotta smash it.

[@samchoate1719]

Yeah man, gotta use the ears. I train a lot with soundgym and now 90% of the “mixing tricks” type videos are shite. This one is awesome though. I’m liking this channel more and more!

[@bijan.sadeghi]

@@samchoate1719 thanks for mentioning that I was looking for something like it

[@AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL]

Genre dependent. If it sounds good and your rig isnt on fire then why worry?

[@B3AZY]

Honestly they say subtle because they have big fancy equipment but if you don’t you gone have to make big moves

[@artbluevibe6629]

@beazy so basically with analog gear you don't need to push to hard compared to digital plugins? Was also wondering this.

[@zeclomal2265]

I've heard Jordan repeat this a thousand times...so I knew it was comp!

[@NathanJamesLarsen]

This is such a topic that I used to honestly be like "oh only 3-5dB compression to not overdo it" and now... I just don't care as long as it sounds great... just did a vocal session last week and was hitting almost 20dB of compression on my WA-2A (analog) at the loudest parts and it sounded just insanely good. And that wasn't even the post-processing - that's just as we tracked it!

[@cylershaw7701]

I do predominantly extreme heavy music, and even still, I do about 15db to even 21 db if the song needs it. I need to try outboard tracking. It sounds fun.

[@AlexKosSaheli]

Same thoughts here

[@famousmwofficial8046]

I actually saw some where back in the day I think it was young guru if I'm not wrong who said over compression is what he uses when the sound is recorded on poor quality hardware. So with fancy equipment that makes sense but for the rest of us that ain't in super fancy studios compression is our friend

[@Greybell]

i noticed pop music for the past 3 years have been cranking up their compression and limiter. Using KZbin stats, their loudness is around 7 - 9 db compared to the usual 5 db in the past decade. I think some songs work with the overcompressed sound but most just sound dizzyingly loud with no room to breathe. I think subtlety is still a good advice, as long as the final product doesn't sound mushy because of the overcompression.

[@ToneSherpa]

yeah when you are using a hardware compressor all rules of looking at the meters and not compressing too much just kind of go out the window. not sure precisely why.. but it just works out that way for me. with most plugins though, when you are compressing say 10 dB.. it definitely sounds like 10 dB of compression objectively.

[@ramzicle]

Well, I guess if you never told us we'd never knooow. So, thanks for telling us! I've been going hard on vocal compression for a while now cause of you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@elmanaro]

This comment made me laught so much 😂😂😂

[@limelighter1]

This way of showing how you worked and your thought process is something that more people need to do. Good stuff, Jordan

[@stripedelicstudios]

I love it when a video comes out on exactly what I'm struggling with. I just couldn't get vocals to sit right. Now I'm gonna compress them much more! Thanks!

[@louistotalcontrol]

Excellent video - you continue to build my confidence in the studio & I'm extremely thankful for that!

[@selloutplayer]

I learned this after 2 years of my mixing journey. Thank you for just straight up putting it up there!

[@victorcobane6644]

Hell yeah, I've been recording a new song recently and had pretty extreme multiband compression on it, then followed up by a general compressor as well on all of the vocals so far, and I have been thrilled with the results. Seeing this video while looking for tips on how to make it even better is so gratifying.

[@cylershaw7701]

SUCH a good example on why compression is so important on vocals. Especially hit records like you were saying! Awesome job man!

[@sethmonroe9603]

Man I love your tutorials, the way you explain things is so “ matter of fact “ that it really assures me to go and do it. I would love to see some more troubleshooting videos, as you know, as mix engineers, sometimes we get less than feasible material to work with, I’d love to see how you handle some of the common problems with vocal recordings that were done in a less than ideal environment ect. When re recording isn’t an option. Thanks man, keep ‘em coming!

[@AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL]

Thank you for this video, I wrote an album over the pandemic and Ive been learning to record and produce the instruments one by one as I've needed to. I'm on to vocals now and this was super helpful. The layering trick was really cool as well. The compression blew my mind, it instantly made my vocals sound like a real song.

[@bogatibokorakos]

OMG, this just solved my biggest problem in my current mix!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Jordan! :)

[@davidhayman9330]

Thankyou Jordan, this is such a good video!...one of the best and most helpful mixing insights Ive seen, and very well explained! I've heard alot about compression on vocals being used to shape the sound, but this has really helped me understand what theyre talking about...it is certainly a surprise!

[@nedim_guitar]

I actually thought about this these last couple of days. I've been listening to some music from different genres and it was the first time I really thought about the vocals, the first time I noticed that the vocals were really heavily compressed. And it sounds great!

[@bucurgabriel6319]

You are always so inspiring in the choice of topics that concern a large majority...Thank you for everything you do to help musicians!🥰

[@ironboy1991]

I have struggled rigorously with this for months and finally you have saved my sanity and passion for this. Thank you.

[@hoji00725]

This is so good it's almost unbelievable to me still. Absolute gem of a video right here, major kudos kind sir! 🙏 You are a lifesaver! Thank you!

[@timothythomasmusic777]

Watching so many videos on compression and listening to all the warnings of over compression so I was almost afraid to use it. Thanks for making things a lot "clearer"

[@codyt5]

Wow thanks! This is one of the first videos I've seen where I can actually hear the compression effect clearly despite KZbin own compression!

[@camonthejam]

when you mentioned how the compressor was emphasizing the attack/annunciation of the vocal, it all finally began to make sense to me. thank you !

[@Pitalopin187uu3]

i like to use low level compressors a lot on vocals, something i've really been doing a lot lately, it's been helping a ton getting everything balanced and shaped how i want

[@stephenbruce5431]

Fantastic video! I love that you take us on a journey to get there. Well done.

[@DavidNwachuku]

Love the straight forward and showing each step fast and Efficient non wasting time content. 10 out of 10

[@UndetectableBomber]

two compressors that morphed my mixes: the OSS compressor from Analog Obsession & Crammit from Sixth Sample.. i recently did a vocal mix for an upcoming song featuring Bizarre, and Bizarre's vocals were already mixed and sounded pretty amazing. The mix i did for the other artist, who had recorded his vocals at my place, just weren't sitting right until I added Crammit. After minor tweaks in Crammit, the artists vocals were at the same mix quality that Bizarre's engineer had done. The OSS was already in the mix and made quite a difference but the addition of Crammit changed everything. Chances are, Bizarre's vocals were recorded on either the u87, the Telefunken ELA M 251E or the C-800G and my recordings were done on the NT1 lol and my mix sounded right up there with biz's mix once i added crammit and made a few tweaks.

[@samuelbrunson5979]

Man I so love the way those harmonies sound being raw by itself without the mixing & mastering fx's @ 3:33...Just beautiful and close to being/sounding professional without the enhancements. Love It Dude *****

[@thePunkRockMix]

Right said! When I started back in 2002 everybody told not to overcompress blabla - and i believed it and wondered why my vocals never sounded right. One day I really accidently had the insert active in on my console with my 1176 on where the GR Hit constantly between -12-20# db - that was the day I realized not to listen to otheres but to the music! Great video and thanks for not telling the boring automation fairy tale. Yes automations is imoportant, but for me clearly at the end of the process.

[@alessandrosummer]

Yeah unless you have a really high ratio (above 8:1) compression with a quite low threshold sounds great

[@nanaandbump.]

I started the same year, and had the same issues! I developed a somewhat paranoid conspiracy theory that the guys telling you not to compress much do so because they know you are going to struggle to get the sounds you are after, and that means less competition for them. . . The other thing I hated when I was younger was people asking to see what the compressor is doing to make sure it LOOKS like it sounds good. Then, if you are compressing more than a few db, you get reprimanded and you're stuck going down a rabbit hole of having some producer fine tune every parameter on every part of your chain for every individual channel, all soloed, and you spend the next 12 hours creating an absolute nightmare. Then the next day the client goes with your first mix anyways.

[@alessandrosummer]

@@nanaandbump. the best thing is use multiple compressors doing a tiny bit of gain reduction, with a total of maybe 30 db of gain reduction but without having the sound squashed (the amount being too much also depends on the compressor you’re using)

[@thePunkRockMix]

@@nanaandbump. Haha. I feel you, that is still sometimes the Case.

[@seymourceikemusic6699]

great video. I love how you know the moves and questions a beginner makes and asks. Very straightforward tips. thanks

[@smeemusic]

I'm so happy to have found this channel. This is what I was looking for when I found Glenn Fricker's channel a few years ago. I think I was catfished into that channel. This channel has actual mix content. I think I'm gonna cozy up here for a while. Lol. thank you for what you're doing!!!

[@np466]

Glenn was the 1st channel I followed. Then I realized how obnoxious it can be and moved on lol

[@xSirEnderx]

That man’s got some hot takes

[@timskedden5970]

Awesome videos on mixing and love the 4 EQ series vids, awesome

[@StigmatizedProductions]

Great tutorial as usual by Jordan...I agree 100%...This is definitely the way to go!

[@LoveStroker]

One of the better videos I've found in a while. Thank you!

[@dumb371]

this video is gold, thank you SOOO much mate, i spent hours on trying to understand what was the problem with my mixes...i never realized the power of the compressor until i watched this video!

[@panzeralienofficial]

Best video i have ever seen on vocal mixing. Thank you sir!

[@steverok67]

Great channel. I appreciate all the honest advice. I do think, for me, the more I learn about what it takes to make pro-sounding, modern recordings, the more I want to go in the opposite direction, with less of everything in my home-studio den. There is alot of freedom in being an amateur. Cheers, and keep up the great work.

[@SupernovaSun77]

I mean this is spot on. We don’t need other mixing channels long as we have this one.

[@psychologygallery]

Re-watched this AWESOME video on finishing a vocal with compression! It is an excellent tutorial which I will continue to remind of myself moving forward. Thanks alot and best!!!

[@miscalt]

Love the pacing and realism of this tutorial. Isnt relying on special gear or plugins - great information - and none of the annoying KZbin stuff like stopping multiple times to tell me to sub

[@6582rg]

I love the way you roll. You don't copy others. You push limits on everything. I love it. Your metal drum mixes sound better than anything I've heard. That covers 46 years of playing drums back to 1977.

[@miamisynthwave]

Thank you so much, for this video that really has helped me to up my game as a producer. I’ve always used compressors of course, but I held back a little too much. Now vocal mixning has become a fun, and satisfying process, in stead of a time consuming pain. Im really greatful, Thank you 🙏😄

[@DavidDorenfeld]

Amazing. Thank you for sharing what's really going on!

[@bigbillrecords]

I'm glad I found this video and thank you for making it. You're right. In my case, it's everything I've been doing plus carefully position serious compression. That smooth, mellow, polish, and garnish professional vocals have come from compression. This solves my problems. Can't wait to use this when I get artists with blessed vocals since I'm currently using my vocals and I'm no vocalist.

[@mikafizz1022]

Can you improve without all that too? 😢

[@coltonrudd]

I was STOKED when I saw the song you were working with was "Round You" by Jevani Sanders. Discovered him through another one of your videos, and I think it's great he's worked with you! What a killer combination. I'm only 50 seconds into the video but that alone has me hooked to watch the rest. Thanks for the killer content JV!

[@TNT-km2eg]

Yet another never green

[@OverAndOverAndOver]

This is BEAUTIFUL, thank you!

[@gamingwivmystdays]

Thank you for making this video, it helps a lot. Finally I know the key to improving my songs.

[@Big_Old_Bondy]

Great video. It took me 13 years before I learned how to properly set up a compressor. My ears at first could'nt work out what it was doing. Once you can hear it you can get the balance of attack/relese dialed in, which is crucial.

[@PaulieJellico]

This video was INSANELY helpful. Thanks dude!

[@sarahcarrillo2128]

You are truly the GOAT here on KZbin especially for beginners like me who are just figuring out how to mix their own music. Appreciate this video so much!

[@jg1772]

Thanks! Love your channel

[@stephenhendricks]

I’ve always wondered this. Thank you!

[@maxiwirth]

To be fair: once you've wrapped your head around compression which is definitely the basis for a great sounding vocal, EQ, Layering and Reverb/Delay are equally important!

[@dariofromthefuture3075]

Thank you. Needed this

[@UziBlancoOfficial]

I'm new to your channel but definitely gotta say thank you for the work you've done an info tou provided in this vid bro!!

[@johnward910]

Thank you for the video. I track analog before going into the box. Everything I track is compressed. Once in the box, everything will get compressed at least one more time via final multi- compression, while some tracks are individually compressed again an eq’d prior to any FX. Have recently been using multi compression on the individual kick and bass tracks. This has worked out well for me.

[@iestynwalters7681]

Great clear example 👍

[@schiribeatstrap]

🎚🎵 Mind blown! This video completely shattered my preconceptions about mixing vocals. 🤯💥 The secret techniques revealed here are a total game-changer. 🙌🔥 Thank you for challenging the norms and pushing the boundaries of vocal production! 🎶✨ Can't wait to apply these newfound insights and create some pro-level magic! 🎤🎧💫

[@stripedelicstudios]

I had to come back here and say thank you thank you thank you! This is one of the most helpful videos I've ever seen. I've been severely struggling with the vocals in an electronic song I made. After tons of trial and error, I had a deep feeling it was compression, but I was too scared to push it too hard. After seeing your video, I took a similar approach with my CLA76, SSL E Channel and CLA2a plugins. The vocals sit perfectly now and they sound so much more confident!!! Thank you!!!!

[@smithaj171dg]

It’s awesome that I found your page. I play in a couple rock bands and wanted to start recording myself to save money. I’ve been recording in my living room for about 2 years now, and I’ve found that I’ve naturally doing a lot of the things you advise, so it’s good to know that I’m on the right track. I’m gonna get into the automation tactics you mentioned and I’ve gone for your free tutorial as well. Thanks for making these videos.

[@azstratus1]

Thank you for your videos and insight! Really appreciate you mix cheat sheet as that really made a huge difference in a recent post-production of a "modern" Elvis tribute show. I adopted your techniques and was able to convert it and tailor it for the post-production. Even drum parallel compression which really worked as you described and demonstrated (from another video). Thanks for your work!

[@abbyrodebaugh6634]

Very insightful, thank you!

[@ralliev9013]

dude i struggled for sooo long and most of the time just didnt know why my vocals wouldnt fit in with the rest of the song. This changed everything even though its sooo simple omg

[@showpony321]

Awesome lesson. Thanks!

[@shawnfranco1822]

Very enlightening. Thank you very much.

[@Ross_Sandoval]

Sick lesson. Thanks for introducing me to introducing me to Jevani Sanders this little line been stuck in my head

[@frankwendel8671]

Very good video. This really helps. Now we're on the right path.

[@suxgegaming]

You won't realise how many people need this video, i spent six years wondering what the secret was and i recently found out myself that it was compression, coming into this video i took a guess and knew that was what you were gonna point out, Good stuff

[@joeyxl3456]

Wow, not only are you very musical, you are really good at explaining and teaching. Thank you sir.

[@jasonwright4144]

this is so good man! Thank you! :)

[@GusAndrade]

The 1176 Bluey is my absolute favorite compressor for vocals (and almost everything else). Definitely agree with what you said about the attitude it brings to the vocals, specially when you smash it with 10+dB. Great video!

[@Pittsburgh_Mike]

The bluey is great, I love it! When I see a deal on another one, I'm going to grab it.

[@sinnersrisemusic]

I concur, man! Pushing EQ hard into the bluey is amazing. It's pretty much THE vocal sound.

[@TexasJackdaw]

Great explanation. Good tips. Liked and subbed. 🙏

[@jarrodf_]

Great tip. Thanks for sharing

[@AMech01]

Thankyou very much Jordan. This really helped me 🙌🤘🏻

[@KingChingCheung]

THANKS ! you are talented and professional !

[@sparkyapplepants8944]

Great stuff. Thank you!

[@lareinelaaren]

Thank you so much for explaining that in your video, mixing vocals make so much more sense for me now thank you !

[@ron9085]

thanks bro this tutorial helped me with my vocal mix so much🙂

[@mruniverse1843]

This was very satisfying to watch as music engineer! Thank you!!!

[@instantdismissal]

Love it!!! Smash that vocal

[@hevaldosouza4979]

Awesome video 🎹🎼👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@em8969]

You are an absolute legend!

[@stillwavesmusic8854]

I love your channel. very simple and straight to the point. I Mainly make hip hop, or more lofi sounding indie tracks. but I'm trying to broaden my reach into shoe gaze and other alternative rock genres. heavier music. but your tips help me out so much as a beginner engineer. and producer. thank you

[@lun-xbeats7847]

Cool bro. I tried all of your tutorials on reggaeton and trap eres el Mejor de youtube..thank you for imparting your knowledge with us....

[@domyon]

this is an amazing video bro thank you so much

[@nickclube295]

Took me years to figure this out. Had one singer come in to do a Suzy Quattro song where I used the ALL setting on the CLA-76 for the first time - sounded spot on.

[@fluidalchemist68]

Great video, thank you!

[@tomas_kucccera]

THIS! Is the secret I wanted to find for so long! Thank you, I finally can listen to my own voice and I kinda like it :D :D

[@jelleepit]

I knew the effect I was after years ago when I first started to work with a singer. I just didn't know how to achieve it. I even tried making her sing behind bubblewrap! I then discover compression and it all fell into place. Now I have discovered side chaining with reverb and delay my life is complete.

[@samxday]

Bubble wrap 😂

[@thepillgrim5286]

Thank you for this video ❤

[@eismanbeats]

love your videos alot

[@ashdeen]

Thanks for the vid, I've been trying to do less compression and focus on EQ more lately but my mixes have honestly been sounding worse. So going to go back to playing with more compression and see how it goes. Also that dudes voice sounds so good. But I guess if you never tell me, I'll never know!

[@zibaheyinmi]

I’m following you 😭thank you!!! 😩

[@6wav257]

Starting off my chain a neve1073 emulation, i use cl1b for a smooth high end sound, a 1176 for the excitement, a 2a for body, an oxford inflator for parallel conpression. Tape saturation is important too i usually put it before the 2a. I only did a low cut a bit off highcut and cut some low mids on a ssl emulation.

[@TheHonestTruth]

Yup! What showed me the"sound" was in compression is when I got mad and it nothing but compressor on my vocal track ( 10 lol) and the track sounded dynamic even though I had no eq on it! Now, I use sends to do most of my heavy compression lifting.

[@arkhael]

Thank u! Very helpful!

[@kingtchalla2775]

Mann I really like that automation u did tbh 😅 super cool and informative video thanks for Sharin 😊

[@bloodyharprecords4910]

Another thing to be mindful of is layered compression. You can smash it to give that character and then another to bring some life back to it. Bc totally smashed alone isnt great all the time. Also smashing the saturation on colorful eq’s is part of this “sound”. Different tones per tool and shaping the tone to fit in the mix well. Some people are into sidechain compression but honestly I haven’t gotten into digging the sound. This with proper mixbus compression, vocal bus compression & the vocal channel compressor is more than enough. Even some multiband compression for backing vocals is super nice.

[@mukmusicdiary]

Thanks for the video! Any chance you could show us how you'd approach a full vocal track from raw DI recording (no hardware processing) to Finished? It would be amazing to see the workflow.

[@lexingtonsmp]

Thank you for this.