Vocal Trick They All Use

[@getsmarter5412]

Live and studio guy here 40+ years- You're standing in a large room, first thing you hear is a delay slap from the back wall (with much less highs than the original), then that delay bounces around and decays into reverb. I put a delay on the vox (250-450 ms, depending on tempo), roll off everything above 5k, then feed that delay into the reverb, the reverb having a bit more pre-delay. This is how delay and reverb develop in a room. Using this live also puts distance between the original and the effect, warms up the DDL and verb, and reduces the chance of feedback, as effects in a live mix will destabilize an otherwise stable vocal mix. This also makes the original very clean as there are no immediate effects to clash. I do like your suggestion here 'tho, as it does emulate that distance between the original and the effect, and also cleans up the vocal as it's happening.

[@musicmaestrodj]

getsmarter, Interesting... A re you running that chain off a bus and mixing in the vocal separately? Thanks.

[@AcousticGhost]

am gunna try that today, nice tip cheers

[@user-pp5wy8zz8j]

@@AcousticGhosthow did it go?

[@davidkellymitchell4747]

In the old days we used pre-delay to push the reverb off the vocals but also used compression on the reverb to make it bloom like you are doing here. Gets the reverb wash off the vocals but still has plenty of reverb for an effect.

[@arturts987]

WWWOOWW! Side-chain compressor on effects to the vocals, it's so obvious and genius! I'm in sound engineering for 20 years and this thought has never come to my mind :) Awesome to learn something new, and I love how simple this thing is :))

[@thetruthchannel349]

Before plug-ins & DAWs engineers would just automate effects & you get the same result. This is just a quicker automation.

[@MannyDemaga]

Duuuuuuude. I put this into practice and it made my vocal sound so much better, thank you so much ❤️

[@caseymclane1972]

another tip for clarity is to high pass the reverb/delay up to 250-700 Hz depending on the type of the effect

[@peegh5766]

The song will become thin and tiny on an ATC

[@colbyg1784]

@@peegh5766He is talking about EQing the wet reverb signal, not the dry vocal signal. EQing reverbs to 250 will definitely not thin the track. A lot of Abbey Road reverbs are high passed to 600hz. Give it a try

[@chrisw5742]

@@colbyg1784 lol how ya do that in Reaper??

[@kishorilalkishoreda5719]

Could you please be more specific on what you said, thanks

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

That's a good trick to keep reverb or delay as its 6 sound. The high pass like this is half the Abbey Road EQ trick.

[@DodgaOfficial]

I really like sending the delay send to the reverb send as well, so you get those additional reflections but also have the delay by itself as well, sounds super sweet.

[@ezasjad]

That what I noticed and was going to ask you , sending bus 2 deals into bus 1...

[@JeremyRobinson-rg3ws]

I gotta try this! Thanks

[@cernunnos_rex]

Yes to this. Dry delay is a mood, but it's not always the one I want. Sometimes I'll even send so much delay to the reverb bus that the original delay signal practically disappears and is more "felt" than heard

[@harrisfrankou2368]

Cool have 5 busses small verb delay and big verb...and Two compressors.

[@cassetteo]

I like not using stereo outs and only use busses

[@tarastmichel]

This makes such a difference! I’ve been doing something similar to get those nice rich reverb tails that cut through the mix without making the vocal sound like it’s in the shower.

[@tarastmichel]

@Xavi-Cam not exactly… you’d have to manually duck the reverb with automation with the wet dry fader and because this uses side-chain compression to duck the reverb it will give a bit different sound regardless. Besides it’s better to use a send for reverb anyway since you can play with the sound more and even use additional plugins with your reverb to shape things.

[@mr.e8432]

There are also reverbs and delays out there like Orilriver, (which sounds fantastic and is free),that has ducking built right into the plug-in so you don’t even have to compress after the effect.

[@white-houseinc.9827]

hey mate, just downloaded it, how do you get it to duck like the compression would on side chainmode?

[@malevahouse]

Thank you

[@HaileMecael]

Probably best just to get a better singer lol

[@nicebluejay]

@@HaileMecael this is unrelated to this technique

[@0525ohhwell]

@@HaileMecael How does that even make any sense?

[@paulbruce4630]

The logic stock compressors are really really good. Very underrated and underused.

[@kaidoChess]

So many beginners miss this. I did for YEARS. Great video

[@cyb3625]

It’s easier and takes less cpu if you make a “space” bus taking input from your other buses (delay, verb) w all your spatial effects and then side chain that

[@jonathanharris6232]

Top tip

[@alexwhittlee]

Can we get this with some photo references por favor

[@LEVRAN]

Yes

[@Tiktokrecaps]

​@@alexwhittlee it's simple bro ...so follow these instruction.....so all your reverb and delays add a buss for them so you can affect all those sends ...then add a compressor and sidechain it to the vocals ...that's it

[@Rck-vert]

You'll lose control if u do it that way tho, since you'd only have one compressor ducking everything. All ur effects will be ducked by da same amount too. *Just saying

[@Ermz]

Congrats on finding a format that's repeatably working for your channel!

[@ourmindzdj]

Streaky mate fair play. Some of your old videos have sub 20k views and this has 450k in 2 months. I’ve been watching/listening/learning and studying with you for probably 4 years+ but well done brother, that’s a lot of good work!

[@Abodazz_Music]

The most helpful tips are always provided by the G.O.A.T Streaky 🔥

[@AJDOLDCHANNELARCHIVE]

This has given me an idea to do this for lead guitar work too! When playing huge flurries of notes the delay and reverb can turn everything into a bit of a blur, but you still want that added sustain of the reverb and delay when the notes are ringing out - I think I can do this in real-time with my Fractal Audio AXE FX II unit. Cheers from sunny old (for once this year) Cambridge!

[@Streaky_com]

yes top weather today finally!

[@frankfrank7921]

No, it won't work unless you upgrade to Axe FX III turbo. That's what Cliff says anyway.

[@harrisfrankou2368]

I use three expression pedals...all from subtle to nearly too much. EHX and Catalin Bread. It's great.

[@AJDOLDCHANNELARCHIVE]

@@harrisfrankou2368 Nice. I've got one of the big beefy Behringer (built like a tank) footswitch boards which has a couple of expression pedals - I've been meaning to do some in-depth programming to control interesting things that you could never do with a purely analog rig.

[@mustafaunsoy]

This is "THE SINGLE BEST MIXING TIP" I have every tried. I used in on flute/woodwind recordings with phenomenal results! Thank you so much!!!!

[@garythebard]

Love it when KZbin recommends a channel like this. Great videos! Thank you for what you do! Song sounded nice too!

[@jamesbastani4295]

This is cool. Depending on the dynamics of the vocal performance, you can create some really cool effects by experimenting with the threshold. You can make softer parts really cloudy and airy and the louder parts piercing and edgy.

[@killaavenged]

This definitely cleans up the vocal really nicely, but the original tone is also really fun. I don't think either is better, it just depends stylistically what you're going for. The superwashed vocals on the original is really nostalgic and messy, the sidechain compressed vocals are very The Weeknd and sound fantastic and clean.

[@burningflower1]

Exactly!

[@tracyblair3064]

I will definitely put this to use. Thanks Streaky!

[@michaelhtritter]

Brilliant, clear example. I watched, then immediately jumped over to my DAW to pull up my last mix. I went to sidechain and ... very unfortunately it doesn't have side-chaining (Vegas Pro). But still, when I send 100% of my dry vocal signal to a bus, put 100% wet reverb on it, and then quickly and heavily compress the reverb effect before blending it back in, this does the trick pretty damn well. Still gives me the clean yet lush result you hype, way better results than a straight reverb blend, and a big improvement even without the sidechain. Thanks so much for the brilliant insight!!

[@SeanofAllTrades]

There's a bunch of free compressor plugins that can do sidechaining. Melda Audio's MCompressor is one example.

[@tonyhansen655]

Great tip! This should tidy up some overly-airy trance vocals I've been working with. Thanks!

[@Ambientnauts]

This is really cool thanks for the demo. An add on to the trick for singers who throw away the last note on a line or go flat is to bring the full reverb back at those instances. That brings up a whole new continuity issue with the mix as a whole but it can be useful. Especially when working with indie singers.

[@Syst3mGlitchOfficial]

Slight hack to this: Send to fx bus, use the same send AS the sidechain key input on a trackspacer by wavesfactory behind the effects on said bus. I like trackspacer for this vs a 1-band compressor.

[@warpacademy]

Awesome tip mate. This one has cleaned up many a vocal-driven tune. Solid job showing how powerful it is.

[@martin-1965]

I record my vocals and guitar parts at home on logic to a guide drum and click track before sending to my producer who does all the amazing magic that guys like you bring to make my average vocals sound far too good haha. Love this trick though - so utterly noticeable the change in clarity that putting the compressor in front on the vocals via buses. This is why I "stay in my lane" and know my place is to write and perform the song and let someone who understands my music and has the experience and skills to mix and produce it to the highest level. Music is a collaborative artform and without dedicated, talented people like Streaky and thousands more, I would just make rough demos instead of deeply satisfying finished tracks I, and everyone involved, can feel proud of making. What I'm saying is, as much as I find what you wizards do fascinating and need to know the basics to get a decent recording of my tracks done, once I have done my job I need to let the pros take over and offer my input when it comes to the final mix. I think too many people try to be jack of all trades and master of none these days. Gawd bless you sir and all other who sail the high seas of mixing and producing. Us howlers and twangers would be nothing without you 😎😎😎😎

[@muzic4lyfe2005]

Well said and agree....however current finances are kind of putting me in a position to be a decent jack of the mixing/mastering trade....plus its pretty fascinating to learn

[@CSGATI]

New tools are amazing old school relied mainly on talent.

[@jazzybeeff]

Thank you for the trick. This song sounds so beautiful. Is there any link that i can listen the full version?

[@jackboezwinkle9938]

First video of yours I’ve ever seen, and I’m already a fan. Concise, well-paced, and easy to follow. Thank you for this.

[@Streaky_com]

Where have you been 😂😂😂 I’m 12 years in

[@AKAtAGG]

Top fkin advice right here, love it. You smash it out the park every time.

[@weshunter]

I don’t how I just found your channel, but I’m g,as I did. I’ve watched a million mix videos and so far the 2 of yours I’ve seen in the last two days are probably the best 2 mix videos I’ve seen.

[@Streaky_com]

🙏

[@Squidaniel]

I think it's a new thing but your new catch phrase of "Let Me Show You How" is brilliant.

[@Streaky_com]

Thx

[@jinglesbluecat]

Nice subtle difference - thanks. I always delay the signal to the reverb by at least 250ms - this really makes the reverb sound leap out in the mix and double track the vocal !

[@mambabeatzswaag4232]

Always a master class on this channel! Thanks you for showing me this trick!

[@U_Dulcet4224]

I just got this Valhalla reverb and I just gotta say, it makes a change in your vocals…grateful for your video man, keep it up🔥

[@ramspencer5492]

Yep. Really old trick. And pre-delay on the reverb. You can also set up two identical reverbs but set one to early reflections and the other to tail only. And get depth that way by putting different vocals and other stuff into different percentages of early reflections and reverb tail. Using both trucks at once create a lot of perceived depth in the 'room'.

[@thebluadonna]

dude i've used this on so many of my songs and it makes such a difference. thank you so much streaky. have a great week everyone! happy mixing!

[@Manmademadman]

It's a great tip, and really helped some of my tracks lately. Valhalla Delay now how Ducking in a recent version. Hopefully this will make its way across the Reverbs as well as a built in parameter.

[@michaelschnell5633]

Great explanation for "ducked Reverb". In Reaper You don't even need separate tracks. You can use the internal routing in an FX chain for this, and even create a "Container" for the Ducked Reverb configuration, sore same and use use them in any FX chain like a single plugin.

[@musicmaestrodj]

I have to learn this. Do you know of any tutorial on it? Thanks!

[@michaelschnell5633]

@@musicmaestrodj I suppose there are videos by Kenny Gioia on "Pin Routing" e.g. "Parallel FX on the Same Track in REAPER" (I don't dare to post links here) OTOH there is a much praised new Reaper 7 Script that provides a graphical user interface for this (including "containers", which allow better structuring and saving parts of an FX chain in a file similar to a "meta-Plugin"), needing no explanation, Search "V7 Script : Paranormal FX Router - Parallel FX " (to be installed via ReaPack, Sexan's repository)

[@halflightdnb]

Somehow I knew it would be sidechaining FX. Such a great technique. I do this with lead sounds too. Another great vid.

[@dantepatel]

Of course. It just makes sense because it's the most effective way to eliminate the parts of the reverb you don't want.

[@MaxFury_Official]

Great trick indeed. Sidechaining is the most important step to get extremely loud EDM mixes. Now this is a nice sorta Nu-Disco track and that in your face agression isn't that important but still. Multiband-sidechaining just the lowend forexample is a really great tool to get some extra loudness out of the mix, but you've probably covered that in a video already. Kids have no idea how blessed they are to get videos like this for free. I had to work and experiment to learn these things back in 2006. When i started doing some EDM stuff! This specific vocal/reverb trick was very common for lead sounds back then in Hard Dance songs!

[@PharaohLawLess1]

That’s why I use plugins that have the ducking option already in it like the Valhalla Delay and Baby Audio Crystaline

[@djzoneymusic]

Amen🎉

[@maxfens]

what? i didnt know you can do it in valhalla delay. What should i do to make it work?

[@PharaohLawLess1]

@@maxfens They have a preset you can use to get the talking then you would adjust to taste

[@MWesley75]

Great video. In addition, you can delay the time before the reverb and echo start. Then it kind of moves out of the way until the words are finished

[@em8969]

This is a brilliant tip especially if you want the vocal not to get washed up (sometimes that sounds great too), used to struggle with this

[@berkeleybernie]

Probably the best A/B demo of reverb ducking on vocals that I've seen.

[@g_bavera]

Hey Streaky, thanks for all the content you're producing! It helps a lot. Here's a question that perhaps you could answer in a new video: What's your take on Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio? Do you plan to upgrade your studio? Anyhow, thanks a again! Cheers.

[@BassFunMusic]

The playlist here is lit! It's my go-to jam for every mood! 🎧❤

[@theoryof11]

Thank you so much for another a banger video you truly are one of the gems on KZbins when it comes to producing and mixing I've been doing this for years and years and I've seen a lot of crap videos 20 minute long videos and there's only maybe two minutes of gold and I had to sit through it to get to it. Blah lol Anyways thanks for cutting through the fluff! Much love from Detroit! Streaky!

[@Streaky_com]

plenty of my early ones are like that...thanks for your kind words :)

[@djicebreaker80]

Thank you for this demonstration, showing this trick for the vocals to sound cleaner and tighter in mix to give that extra edge above the competition

[@donaldrobertson8957]

I’ve struggled with this for a long time both live and in the studio. Just as soon as you said to side chain the compressor, it all made sense. Thanks so much!

[@PerilErinyes]

Thank you for showing the entire process and the side chain clip too, it’s often overlooked as common knowledge, but for those of us doing things trial and error, there are knowledge gaps that the absence of a basic understanding can prove damning lol! So THANK YOU! Very well done 🎉

[@tkalsnv]

would just using a reverb/delay plugin with the ducking option work the same or does it slightly produce a difference sound since it's just sidechaining? very interesting! thank you for the tip!

[@AutPen38]

If your verb/delay has a ducking function with some customisation ability (i.e. gain/threshold and release time) use that instead of using a compressor.

[@mistermusicenterprise3148]

Thats a really old trick. But it works so good. Trackspacer do the job fast and depend on the frequency.

[@ShelcoGarcia]

Automation will also take it to the next level precision wise love this video

[@mawot_music]

Without the trick sounds more 80 s, I like both

[@davidhayman9330]

Thanks for sharing that's simply profound!

[@L.DOT.P.]

TIME FOR CLASS! 😤😤😤😤 MASTERCLASS!

[@iamwhoiam254]

You have changed my life with this

[@Digibeatle09]

This video was suggested to me by KZbin - i.e. I'm just a random viewer - good luck to all you mixers - it's obvious to me now why Simon & Garfunkel never achieved any fame due to the lack of these technological aids 50 or so years ago ........................

[@palaHD]

They would’ve used it if it was available back in 1939

[@GehMemories]

Not all compressors have the side chain option to change to vocal ya?

[@JRosenfeld]

Thank you,Streaky,for your efforts to make us do better mix/masterings.

[@NaweedQadirdotcom]

I just applied it to my new song mix, and this changed the vocal from ok to amazing tight sweet sounding vocal. Thank you so much Streaky for sharing this trick.

[@effsixteenblock50]

I'm slapping my forhead right now! I had thought about this before. I thought it was done manually but ducking is so obvious! Thanks so much! Subscribed!

[@b00psn00t]

Thank you so much!

[@DanBires]

You know wants awesome. When it's bypassed reminds me of the 80's big reverb. Love that sound.

[@Streaky_com]

Hahah yeah true love that too

[@Campusanis]

Very cool, I always thought there was some kind of pre-delay trickery involved, but this makes much more sense

[@7echnoid]

Wow! This is one of the best mixing tips I've heard so far! Thanks!

[@nabilinho]

I had learned this technique in music prod school, but it's been so many years that I forgot! thanks so much!

[@DDRMR]

I sidechain delays and reverbs to almost everything now unless I'm intending to create an ambient sound or sound designing. Very much a game changer

[@ricardohenry2160]

I use fast and slow tricks with my music to push written spells or freestyle

[@bassManDavis1953]

Fanbloodytastic trick! Thank you so much Streaky

[@cirrusboy77]

Takes a lot of the effects mid mud out too . your my new favorite production tutorial guy 👍

[@kishorilalkishoreda5719]

God bless you my friend once again, its a game changer, since I moved to PC recordings from the old system, my voice sounded very thin, now I can hear it much better than before..

[@juanwaissman1]

can u do it in studio one??? i cant made this in studio one

[@betowarrior_]

Sounds sweet, keeps the Vocals tight and at the same time giving you this spacey width to it.

[@bloodsweattones]

One of the best tips, thank you! I have had this problem with washed vocal since I love reverb and big atmospheric sounds and this tip really helped me understand what I need to do.

[@nils2660]

Wtf who paid you

[@bloodsweattones]

@@nils2660 no one LOL. It has really been an issue for me and this guide was helpful.

[@BrewerShettles]

Using ducking on the reverb / and the delay bus to let the vocal shine then follow with the reverb / delay - Nice!!! LP and HP EQ as well

[@csm_sounds]

Great technique! Thank you for sharing! What song is this? Love the voice!

[@shlomo_bachar_Music]

Wow This Song Sound Amazing Where can i find It?

[@synchro505]

And here I thought sidechain compression was mainly for synthwave! LOL Awesome technique for vocals or instruments with lots of reverb and delay that need that magic touch to clean them up. Many thanks.

[@jeffreyklaproth7794]

Those lyrics are amazing! I almost cried.

[@MarlonKingShow]

Nice one. Would have been good to see the vocal chain before the fx also.

[@arphot]

Thank you for your easy-to-understand tutorials. I appreciate the work you do to provide this information to us.

[@alexanderewing3779]

Really cool technique, Streaky. I'll definitely be using this in my mixes, now. Cheers!

[@RFWMusic]

Wow, really nice technique! That song was pretty smooth too!

[@gabrielaaron]

Thank you for sharing this trick!

[@tykobray4132]

you can also add in EQ sidechaining if you still want the vocals to have reverb behind them and cut out midtones while the vocals play

[@xlapse]

bus reverb and delay(add delay send to reverb bus, sidechain compressor, highpass reverb and delay to play in 250-700hz 0:31 Without trick 3:10 with trick

[@the.brad.thomas]

Man. Such a great tip. Keeps the effects in the track and reduces washiness! love it, Streaky.

[@catsven1973]

Oups !! Brillant.. thank you ! I used to process it with the predelay trick .. I use compressor to dim it .. but this sidechain compression does it in a better way… you’re the best.

[@OTWKilo]

Tip: add an eq on the buss AFTER the delay before the reverb and low cut to 600hz and boost 2k at 1.5-2db. It’ll help the delays stand out a lil tad

[@tonyholden7099]

Thanks you for showing me this trick , and this will encourage me to show you more . 😄🙏🙌

[@thebasspapa]

very happy to found your channel...I am way too old for being a pro, but I love to produce my music in a better way. Thanks

[@bolali]

So simple yet helpful! Beautiful! Thanks!

[@shawnspeake]

wow! good shit my dude! super appreciate that!

[@rh666]

That's a nice tip! I also like to do some hi-pass on the reverb bus so the muddiness of the reverb would be gone.

[@marksr12]

That's sound great! Thank you.

[@MarcBoraDAWmusic]

Brilliant! Though I am also a Logic Pro user, but I have never come up with your way before. I subscribe your channel and will learn from you. Thank you. 👍

[@marcusjohnson58]

Thank you for sharing that method. Oh my goodness!!! I’m not subscribed to your channel. I can already believe your content will help me greatly. God bless you.

[@obezijana]

What I hear is different styles. One is more reverb and spacey, the other one is less reverb and more in the face with a little not pleasantly compressed sounding, that indeed sound like dua lipa's. I personally liked the reverb one. But that's just my preference. As a producer I have to know how they do it and understand it more. I appreciate the tutorial.