Tips for Getting Smooth Vocals in the Box

[Vectorman]

Yeah, there is no one specific recipe and it's going to vary between singers. What I need to do for my vocal recorded through an AT-4047 is going to be different than some other singer using a different mic and pre. Obviously some singers have smoother voices to begin with and you're already 75% of the way there as soon as they open their mouth, as opposed to singers with some rasp/grit going on.

Static EQ settings often don't work, of course. I usually at least have to automate a band around 2KHz so I can selectively tame overly peaky vowels. I've heard major label releases where that obviously wasn't done, and sometimes the singer will nail a vowel (especially "E's") that just pins your ears back.

[Uncle E]

I like to draw in the volume changes before getting into fader automation. That also helps the compressor behave more evenly.

[do_androids_dream]

I use reaper and sometimes I will do rough volume evening out with the media item volume control before any processing. Very simple - just split, do a tiny crossfade and set the syllable/word/phrase roughly where you want it. Probably only takes ten minutes to go through a vocal like this and it can really 'help' the compressor as it doesn't have to work as hard and can give a more transparent result.

[do_androids_dream]

Static EQ settings often don't work, of course. I usually at least have to automate a band around 2KHz so I can selectively tame overly peaky vowels. I've heard major label releases where that obviously wasn't done, and sometimes the singer will nail a vowel (especially "E's") that just pins your ears back.

I usually end up with a mixture of static eq settings and specific frequency compression. I find I really like to tame the low end of vocals with a multiband comp these days. It means the warmth and body of a vocal can stay intact better - it's only lowered when it passes over a threshold rather than being ruthlessly scooped out and removed!

[itneveris]

The best way to get smooth vocals in the box is to record smooth vocals.

Thanks Captain Obvious ... and when that fails you have the tips above.

Sorry buddy, if you're resorting to fixing it in the mix, you really should just rerecord it, and with more of this 'smoothness' you're after. It isnt rocket surgery.

[itneveris]

To balance out captain obvious level "just track it better idiots"

I'm surprised you guys took so much offense to his comment. These days, not nearly enough emphasis is put into good practice tracking and getting good performances.

Thanks for being apparently the only one with a goddamn brain.

[itneveris]

I don't like to think about plugins much when recording vocals. I spend a lot of time trying different mics, pres, distances. By the time I record anything it usually sounds great, and I know I'm not going to have to do very much ITB. The only plugins I ever use on a vocal chain are Equilibrium and Compassion - sometimes 2 Compassion's if I need to de-ess. As much as I love our plugins, I could easily do without them compared to the mics, pres, pop shields, room and decent singer. The plugins are usually corrective in nature, inferring you've already done something wrong! Had I of got the positioning, micing and talked to the singer about technique we wouldn't need to EQ the vocals. Verbs are another thing entirely, in as much as I consider that more a part of creating the space of the recording, and although a lot of that might apply to vocals, I don't conflate the processes.


TL;DR - I agree with Captain Obvious.

You rock also.

[grahamsimmonds]

Lot of good tips in this thread. Capt Obvious was correct but it is of little use if you then don't explain how you get there!

I do a lot of re-mixing where re-recording vocals is not possible so you have to work with what you are given. There are no set rules on what works for a vocal because you are working in different musical contexts. However, these are the things I try:

1. UAD API Vision Channel Strip - Adjusting the input gain is key with this with a preset called I think "airy vocal". I then mess around with the eq and compressor settings until I like what I am hearing.

2. Waves L316 Limiter - heard about this plug in from a video on Pensado's Place where he is talking to Leslie Brethwaite. He talks about the L2 limiter but this works just as well. I never thought about using a brickwall limiter in this way but it is so effective. It brings the vocal forward and suddenly you are not struggling with it sitting in the mix. And its on sale at the moment on AudioDeluxe.

3. Eventide H3000 plugin - choose one of the pitch shift/Haas delay presets and there is the "spread" breathy vocal ala Rhianna, Beyoncé etc. Mixing the effect is critical as overdoing it sounds boxy.

4. UAD Precision De-Esser - I love the solo feature on the plug where I can adjust the frequency and threshold to identify and lessen the annoying sibilance frequencies that will ruin a mix.

5. My favourite reverbs for vocals are UAD Lexicon 224, and Exponential Pheonix and R2. All of these will "place" the vocal in a mix whilst not being audible unless you are wearing headphones. All of these reverbs are a class act and demonstrate a quality that brings a smile (and relief) to your face when you add them, like no other.

[xtrax]

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[Uncle E]

I do a lot of re-mixing where re-recording vocals is not possible so you have to work with what you are given.

Good point and it's probably something a lot of KVR members are dealing with. I use a lot of Sonnox Suppresser in these cases.

[itneveris]

Lot of good tips in this thread. Capt Obvious was correct but it is of little use if you then don't explain how you get there!

OK, OK, I'll take the bait. THE SAME THING EVERY SINGLE WEBSITE AND BOOK ON THE SUBJECT SAYS.

You know, good singer, good technique, good room, good mic for the song, compression and EQ to taste. There are no secrets, it's literally the BORING stuff every engineer goes over and you tune it out, because like I said, gainstaging and mic placement is boring, but a Waves UAD SSL pul-neve-tec 11760210 is all sorts of exciting.

I mean damn, I'll take the title of Captain Obvious, but you guys have to agree to the titles of Captain Obtuse and his band of dumbass pirates.

[Uncle E]

What are we talking about here?

- Captain Oblivious