1. Parallel Aggressor - Baby Audio 2. Abbey Road Vinyl - Waves Audio 3. SnareBuzz - Track Spacer 4. Zener Limiter - Softube
Although there are many equalizers that have been created over the years, the parametric EQ houses the majority of possible EQ functions. With a comprehensive parametric EQ you can emulate any shelving EQ, graphic EQ, or semi-parametric EQ - so unless you have a preference, parametric is the best option.
1. What Creates Vocal Clarity? 2. Start with a Simple EQ 3. Upward and Downward Compress 4. Saturate High Mids 5. Parallel Compress Highs
1. Know Everything about Your Plugins 2. Match the Vocals’ Loudness 3. Utilize Various Compression Types 4. Oversampling is Important
When trying to understand compressors, it helps to know the different behavior of 1176, Tube, VCA, Optical, Digital, and upward compressors. By knowing the parameters of these different compressor types, we’ll know which ones cause distortion, which work well for particular instruments, and how they affect the frequency response.
To make vocals sound better, start by editing - when editing, cut out background noise, use clip gain to balance dynamics, and even remove plosives or unwanted sibilance. Then you can introduce subtractive EQ, Compression, Additive EQ, Saturation, Exciters, and various forms of short and long reverb.
When mixing a song, start with routing in which similar instruments are grouped together, then sent to individual busses and route these busses to your stereo output. Then you can attenuate frequencies, establish levels, compress, saturate and excite, process your busses, add temporal effects, and more.
Insert 1. Subtractive EQ with TDR Nova Insert 2. Tuning with MAutoPitch Insert 3. Compression with MCompressor Insert 4. Saturation with BPB Saturator
Xfer Records - SerumArturia - PigmentsNative Instruments - Massive XVital Audio - VitalKilohearts - PhasePlantu-he - Zebra 2Spectrasonics - Omnisphere 2Parawave - RapidArturia - V CollectionLethal Audio - Lethalu-he - DivaReveal Sound - SpireREFX - Nexus 3NativeInstruments - FM8Future Audio Workshop - Sublab
When making music, layer in your chords and percussion first - followed by your melody idea, bass, supporting instrumentation, and a pad if desired. Then replace your melody idea recording with a vocal comp, doubles, harmonies, and BGVs before performing a quick mix and master, or preparing the tracks for mixing.
When layering vocals, start with a good lead performance or comp, then build from there - layer in a lead double, lead harmony, and then any additional BGV tracks and process as needed. Additionally, use an instrument like a synth or piano to support your melodies, in turn strengthening the pitch.
When trying to make a clear mix, start with proper routing in which the outputs of your tracks are routed to busses - then use high pass filters, high-frequency saturation, compression on the lead vocal, and some air bands to add clarity. Finish the mix and export each individual stem.
When mixing rap vocals, the main way to make it indicative of professional tracks is to have it sound separate from the instrumental, and create a crisp sound in the high end. You can accomplish this with inverse equalization, parallel high-frequency compression, and more.
Labs - Spitfire AudioIris 2 - IzotopeSyntronik - IK MultimediaArcade - OutputMassive X - Native InstrumentsKontakt - Native InstrumentsBBC Symphony Orchestra - Spitfire AudioTwin 2 - FabFilterFM8 - Native Instruments
When mixing vocal effects, be sure to understand the routing of your signal from plugin to plugin, and how this routing can be utilized to achieve certain effects. Additionally, if the plugin you’re using has a wet/dry dial, this can help blend in just the right about of processing.
