Tips for Mixing Live Vocals

[@sweetwater]

Did you find these tips helpful? Let us know in the comments 👇 and share any tips you would add! Want more tips for getting a great mix? Hit those like and subscribe buttons 👍

[@neilsnow7644]

I use pre fader gain staging. Fader staging after that. Then sweeping eq signals as needed.

[@BAILEYWOODWORKS]

Any videos on live mixing are helpful!

[@robertvondarth1730]

I’m attempting to emulate a very famous metal vocalists live signal chain. He seems to high pass at almost 250 or so? and his live mix is absolutely piercing, (on purpose) almost sounds like triangle waves sawing my ears. Where could I find some assistance in this?

[@lopakaholmberg]

This is a great overview of his signal chain, but 5 more min with an audio sample would have been killer

[@tukstuimaba]

What do I do if vocals is not coming out from the monitors but the front only ?

[@martenmanna]

Just a question out of curiosity, whats that mixer behind him/the one hes using in the video?

[@ESAmen]

Behringer maybe

[@joejackson8537]

Looks like a Soundcraft Vi7000

[@sabrinasucka]

Avid S6L bad ass console right there.

[@michaelsmithers177]

This video is too general. The comments "settings appropriate to the vocalist" or "settings appropriate to the genre" aren't very helpful - better to show examples of settings for different vocalists or genres and why these settings work well.

[@betweenthedimensions7165]

already knew most of the basics, but i really appreciate hearing the number ranges he uses on different settings. cheers!

[@NellerProductions]

Summary: "ah it depends"

[@doctorgrowl]

If you add pitch shift and delay for more depth to the vocal, do you keep the vocalist's monitor sound clean? Or do you let the vocalist hear it with the added effects?

[@sweetwater]

Hello! I'd recommend leaving their monitor signal clean, unless they request otherwise. Thanks for the interest! Spunde, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1732, [e-mail]

[@zornzembrano5558]

Have to watch with raising the gain not only for clipping but for background noise too.

[@jamtayokuyaken8758]

Really Helpful. Thank you very much from the Philippines!

[@achalorocks]

On compressors, in what case would you go up to 6:1 on vocals? Wouldn’t that kind of kill an energy gain that the vocalists could bring to the mix? Been running a board for two years and am still learning, but we usually run 2:1 on vocals and just pull down vocalists individually if they get too loud or the vocals as a whole with grouping on a fader. Just curious on the usage of ratios that high.

[@oldlivesoundguy1491]

If you have a real screamer with no mic technique you might need high ratios … But usually 4 or so is the highest you need ..

[@louie170dx]

These tips absolutely helpful I wanna try it on my mixing in live situation.

[@jayedwardsuk5984]

Anyone know wjta thr basoc eq mix would be via thr jmix8 for damce music singers ?

[@zeroUnitygain]

So this fool didn’t mention gain staging?! Okay my I’ve toured the world

[@tomasenrique]

Amazing!

[@GreenAsJade]

Hmm - this video is about live ... I presume we mean "live performance as opposed to studio". In that context, do you really try to pingpong vocals?

[@jesterraj]

What's the 4 basic freq to as vocals....make rock singer ?

[@ohmyarceus087]

Omg i only just passed the intro and have high expectations!! If you can make Avril Lavigne sound good you must be a whizz!! 🤩😅

[@rafama95]

I wonder if you can review Luke Silva's live performances and breakdown what tools and settings he has. I love to sing (at home) on gatherings but I want to level it up a bit by sounding like him. 😊

[@chrisw1462]

So a three-band compressor isn't a mult-band compressor? Hmmm...

[@GreenAsJade]

This is very helpful, but could have been so much better with examples. For example ( :) ) I now know that I can compress different frequency bands differently ... but so what? What would I aim to achieve with that?

[@dreammix9430]

Hey thank you for the great tips! These are all things I can definitely use.

[@mattzach34]

this is a great video, but what would be more awesome is if its applied hands on in the video maybe a mock concert or even a real one, all the while being documented and add narrations later after recording everything. Thanks for these videos sweetwater!

[@BAILEYWOODWORKS]

This is really great stuff. Are there more videos about mixing and EQ?

[@tea_pocket13]

Thank you!

[@iosiapati6003]

How about Analog Mixer, is it the same process 😉

[@jeffdtre]

what is industry standard for front of house to measure

[@ericclinton7399]

Depends but over 100db you are causing hearing loss after 15 mins, of course this depends on which weight you are measuring by, i personally mix around 90 dbA RMS but i mostly do symphonic and jazz, if i have to raise my voice to talk to someone standing next to me, i consider my mix as being too loud

[@beatxampler9166]

REALLY CHILLED BACKGROUND MUSIC

[@ralphwcurtis]

Thanks.

[@justinTime077]

Too dense

[@TheAntarcticaProject]

❤❤❤❤

[@axtonbenita4020]

Witch digital mixer is that...??(Brand)

[@ericclinton7399]

Looks like a Digico, love them, i love having dynamic eq on each channel. Great pres, super flexible and super fast scene changing ability fir Broadway musicals

[@AdamFoldes]

It’s the WING on the close-up B-roll shots.

[@karinariveroll8254]

Great video!

[@GabrielTobing]

This has really helped me a lot XD Now my voice is much better.

[@m.borges5747]

#EgbertoMaks

[@eanroad]

Great info!

[@honzarysanek954]

Compressor ratio from 3:1 to 6:1 - that´s quit a lot don´t you think? I ussualy use for live rock bands 3:1 max. It depends on mic technique of singer of course. I´m using about 6:1 and more for bass guitar and bass drum.

[@onzkicg]

Hi, during live mix are you still listening on headphones or just the house L/R speakers? Is headphones reliable for checking critical level balance of band? I’m using Allen Heath QU24 and every time I use HP to check level balance, the mic is obviously loud all the time, but in speakers it sounds ok already, with the band. What’s the philosophy behind using headphones? Is it for soundcheck only or always reliable all throughout the mix? I mean is it like balance everything using headphones first (primary) then double check in speakers (secondary) ? Thanks

[@sweetwater]

Hey, onzkicg. Thanks for reaching out! So I personally would never mix live sound from headphones. I would use the headphones to listen to details, to check channels for reference, and to Solo individual inputs, but that is all. When mixing live, you really want to listen to the speakers and the room and adjust for that so that all of your attendees hear the same thing you do and have the best experience. If you mix on the headphones they will never totally sound like the PA in the room. If you have any more questions, just reach out. Thanks, Grant Embury, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1647, [e-mail]

[@MarcEverettProductions]

Does automatically setting fader to unity and adjusting the gain copacetic to numerous personal mixers etc that are affected by what said gain level is set at?

[@thirdwatchtheband8292]

Great tricks! Thanks.

[@AlmaRockeraOficial]

🚨 Don’t waste your time 👎🏼 unless you have 0 experience

[@bandit788]

Did you mean high pass after 100-150Hz!!! Or low pass below that?

[@und9r]

High pass is cutting low frequencies. Low pass is cutting high frequencies.

[@cooperarbogast4018]

Think logically. Does it make sense to low pass vocals at 150Hz?

[@RickK1988]

Now. Lowcut means cutting low frequencies. As high cut would mean cutting high frequencies. 2 different descriptions, but essentially the same thing.