Mixing Vocals

[saxxo]

Hi Guys,

i have to mix in vocals on my new track!

and i was wondering what is the best/most common way to start.

where do you start and whats the best way of processing.

do you start with melodyne'ing the vocals so there all in tune and then inport them in your project?

or do you first lay them down in the track as arrangement to see how it flows
and then melodyne them?

also what are good technics to layer the vocals for the wide harmonie's ?

do you use 3 layers and pan them to different sides with different EQ & Volume?

and what plugins do you recomend to achiev the best results ?

all help is appreciated

Greets Saxxo

[saxxo]

anyone?

[Harry_HH]

Hi Guys,

i have to mix in vocals on my new track!

and i was wondering what is the best/most common way to start.

where do you start and whats the best way of processing.

do you start with melodyne'ing the vocals so there all in tune and then inport them in your project?

or do you first lay them down in the track as arrangement to see how it flows
and then melodyne them?

also what are good technics to layer the vocals for the wide harmonie's ?

do you use 3 layers and pan them to different sides with different EQ & Volume?

and what plugins do you recomend to achiev the best results ?

all help is appreciated

Greets Saxxo

Well, IMO, the best way to learn is the famos trial-and-error. The above depends very much on the style/genre you are in, what is the quality of your source material, what are you personal preferencies etc.

But to describe how I proceed in most of the cases, just few points:

1. Especially in vocals the quality is the king. The less you have to use Melodyne the better. Because of e.g. the timing, when creating harmonies, I sing/let the vocalist(s) sing first all the parts, then I do the Melodyne (or similar) correction for all the vocals at the same time, in this way you can e.g. correct the timing issues and listen the total sound of the parts/harmonies. Compare always different variations, including non-corrected originals, during the process.
2. How I create the vocal harmonies, I make first the harmony arrangement by piano (or is some cases guitar), record different harmony parts to separate tracks in MIDI. When you sing each part, listen (and see!) the MIDI note picture of the single harmony part at the same time when you sing it. Well made arrangement is 50 & of the job (expecting that you can sing or you have a talented singer/s).
3. Effecting is an other story, there are many different ways to get a good result.
For me the most difficult part is the reverb/type and amount. Eq-compressing,de-essing-reverb-coloring, panning is the typical path,try different eqs and compressors/settings. I've got also got good results by using Waves hybrid vocal plugins. Of course effecting comes after possible pitch correction.Try different versions, all you need is ears (and time and some talent). H.

[timbesamusca]

I would first listen to the vocals in context with the rest of the music and then only tune the parts which stick out as tuning everything perfectly can make it sound robotic. Unless you want to go for that Cher effect of course!