Need Help With Background Vocal Processing

[wagtunes]

Here is my situation.

I have 7 background vocal tracks. All by professional singers. But each one recorded separately. I want to process them so that they sound like they are all in the same room and all singing together.

I have no idea where to begin. The problem begins with the tracks themselves. They are all made from the same source track. So there are no slight timing issues. Every note is right on cue for each track. So that's problem number.

Then of course there is creating the room ambience. I would like it to sound not just in the same room but almost like gang vocals.

Like I said, I have no idea where to begin. Background vocal processing has always been my weak spot. I do have Avox harmonizer if that helps. But not sure how to use it in this instance.

Any tips you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Watchful]

So you're sure there are no timing issues? Listen carefully to the start of each syllable, but also for how long each singer holds that note: sometimes you get a word like "guess" sounding like "guess-ss-ss" as different singers release their breath at different times.

Melodyne can help if that's the case; also, it's useful for eliminating breath sounds, clicks, and swallow sounds. Sometimes that's not audible on an individual track, but when you group a bunch of singers together, boy, you can hear it.

Again, if each track is indeed perfect, here's what I would do (others will contribute other suggestions that work, I'm sure):

1. Group all tracks into a submix and balance them relative to each other. You usually don't want one singer dominating the rest. Now you can raise/lower the level of the backing tracks at once, without having to readjust individual tracks.

2. Put some compression and light EQ on that submix. If these are backing tracks, you don't need to overdue it on EQ--just make sure they're not masking your lead vocals.

3. Think about panning: it's not required, but it often helps a lot to spread your singers out across the stereo field. Put one at each end, and keep the rest spaced apart between there. With 7 tracks, I might go 80% left, 80% right, 50% right, 50% left, 30% right, 30% left, and maybe 15% left or right. This is optional: your needs may make it better to keep these mono.

4. Send the submix to two other tracks.

5. On one track, pop in a short reverb such as a plate reverb.

6. On the other track, use a room reverb to give the room some depth. You want to look at any pre-delay as this can help change the shape of the room. Only you know what you will want here.

7. Now comes the fun part. Adjust those send tracks to taste. Maybe you want the short reverb being a little louder; maybe you want the room reverb being beefier. That's up to you.

8. Turn the output all the way down on the submix and sends to 0. Listen to your lead vocals, and slowly bring up the submix and sends, little by little, until your voice sits right on top of them, and the background singers sound like they're spread out in the room behind you. Feel free to mess with the plate and room reverbs if the room sounds too small or too large or too short.

Save often and take notes; if you find a solution you love, you may want to use it again!

Edit: I doubt you'll need/want a harmonizer or even a chorus. If your singers are good, you don't want to blur them together and muddy things up. I wouldn't bother with saturation unless you're going for a vintage sound--just 2 kinds of reverb should help. Yes, you can add some delay if you like, but that can often cause a distraction if you're not using it everywhere.

[wagtunes]

So you're sure there are no timing issues? Listen carefully to the start of each syllable, but also for how long each singer holds that note: sometimes you get a word like "guess" sounding like "guess-ss-ss" as different singers release their breath at different times.

Melodyne can help if that's the case; also, it's useful for eliminating breath sounds, clicks, and swallow sounds. Sometimes that's not audible on an individual track, but when you group a bunch of singers together, boy, you can hear it.

Again, if each track is indeed perfect, here's what I would do (others will contribute other suggestions that work, I'm sure):

1. Group all tracks into a submix and balance them relative to each other. You usually don't want one singer dominating the rest. Now you can raise/lower the level of the backing tracks at once, without having to readjust individual tracks.

2. Put some compression and light EQ on that submix. If these are backing tracks, you don't need to overdue it on EQ--just make sure they're not masking your lead vocals.

3. Think about panning: it's not required, but it often helps a lot to spread your singers out across the stereo field. Put one at each end, and keep the rest spaced apart between there. With 7 tracks, I might go 80% left, 80% right, 50% right, 50% left, 30% right, 30% left, and maybe 15% left or right. This is optional: your needs may make it better to keep these mono.

4. Send the submix to two other tracks.

5. On one track, pop in a short reverb such as a plate reverb.

6. On the other track, use a room reverb to give the room some depth. You want to look at any pre-delay as this can help change the shape of the room. Only you know what you will want here.

7. Now comes the fun part. Adjust those send tracks to taste. Maybe you want the short reverb being a little louder; maybe you want the room reverb being beefier. That's up to you.

8. Turn the output all the way down on the submix and sends to 0. Listen to your lead vocals, and slowly bring up the submix and sends, little by little, until your voice sits right on top of them, and the background singers sound like they're spread out in the room behind you. Feel free to mess with the plate and room reverbs if the room sounds too small or too large or too short.

Save often and take notes; if you find a solution you love, you may want to use it again!

Edit: I doubt you'll need/want a harmonizer or even a chorus. If your singers are good, you don't want to blur them together and muddy things up. I wouldn't bother with saturation unless you're going for a vintage sound--just 2 kinds of reverb should help. Yes, you can add some delay if you like, but that can often cause a distraction if you're not using it everywhere.

This is absolute gold. I am going to put this somewhere where I can always reference it until it becomes second nature.

Thank you so, so much.

[Watchful]

Let me know if you need more thoughts, but I imagine you'll perfect your own technique right away!

[wagtunes]

Let me know if you need more thoughts, but I imagine you'll perfect your own technique right away!

Thank you so much. I got some nice compliments on this track and it's all because of you.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... ty-started

[Watchful]

Wow, glad I could help!

Nice Bowie vibe, by the way. Also a fair amount of Bryan Ferry thrown in as extra seasoning. And a hint of Warren Zevon for a perfect finish. Any of those three would be happy to claim this song as their own.

The backup vocals absolutely sound "in the room" with you. Whatever you did totally worked. They sound as if they're about four feet behind you, spread evenly around the mic. Couldn't be better.

Very well glued, which is no easy feat. The guitar blends in perfectly. Really excellent work!

[wagtunes]

Wow, glad I could help!

Nice Bowie vibe, by the way. Also a fair amount of Bryan Ferry thrown in as extra seasoning. And a hint of Warren Zevon for a perfect finish. Any of those three would be happy to claim this song as their own.

The backup vocals absolutely sound "in the room" with you. Whatever you did totally worked. They sound as if they're about four feet behind you, spread evenly around the mic. Couldn't be better.

Very well glued, which is no easy feat. The guitar blends in perfectly. Really excellent work!

Thank you. I really wanted you to be pleased. You helped me so much. You really know you're stuff. When I get a chance I will post the details of how I pulled this off.