Comparing Multiple Air ShelvesBoost 3kHz HarmonicIncrease Reverb PreDelaySeparate Sibilance, then Boost HighsEmulator Specific ExciterSoothe2 then SaturationTrackSpacer on VocalParallel Highs Base
When using delay, it is useful to know how to time your delay with your BPM, how to make the delay taps sound like one source, and how to introduce stereo imaging with delay. Additionally, it’s best to know some common delay functions like crosstalk, feedback, and modulation.
If you’re looking for a more advanced way to mix your vocals, start with some important editing, like clip gaining your entire vocal track section by section, and isolating sibilance to a new track. Then tune, add some upward compression, and try some creative processing like modulated saturation.
When tuning a vocal, start by knowing which notes you need tuned, and select those notes in the tuner - from there you can achieve a natural sound, and aggressive sound, or one best suited for BGVs. After you’ve finished tuning, use some subtle reverb and saturation to blend the effect in.
When making your mix sound warm, try transformer or tube saturation to create a strong second-order harmonic - then amplify the lows with some upward compression and a low shelf. Optical compression may make the mix sound warmer as well, but be sure not to compress too heavily.
Regardless of the processing that you add to your mixbus, always ensure that the effects are subtle - otherwise, you may ruin a perfectly good mix. Equalization, saturation, compression, and other typical effects are useful; however, delay-based stereo imaging should be avoided more often than not.
Soothe 2, then Weiss De-essDynamic Subtractive EQSaturn 2, FET AccentizeOpto Peak Down CompressionSlapback ReverbStylized Reverb & Crosstalk EmulationWeiss De-essSubtle Gullfoss
Zebralette - U-heLabs - Spitfire AudioAmore Grand Piano - Precision SoundThe Orchestra - The Alpine ProjectSmashed Analog Kit - Noiiz
If you’ve been mixing for a while and you want to learn how to do it better, some small but important tips may improve your productions. Knowing where clipping is occurring, some good free plugins to expedite workflow, and how you can utilize saturation to void high CPU.
Making a vocal brighter includes affecting the high-frequency range in one way or another including using an EQ, an Airband EQ, an exciter, saturator, or other various techniques. Using certain types of reverb can also create a bright vocal if the reflections are in the high-frequency range.
When saturating a full mix it first helps to know what saturation is doing to your mix, and how the harmonics used will improve its sound. You can use saturation or analog emulation plugins, or you can combine compression and distortion to create your own effect.
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When mixing your vocal, you can use equalization in advanced ways - like using a side-chain dynamic EQ technique to separate your vocal and another instrument. Or you can use modulation and saturation to alter the frequency response in either a dynamic or time-based way.
When saturating your signal, keep in mind how the harmonic formation created by the saturator will impact the tone and timbre of the signal. By knowing these different formations and how to achieve them, you can accomplish saturation that also equalizes, and even stereo expands your signal.
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