Vocal Mixing

A quick guide to editing and mixing vocals by phat suspekt

 

Home studios become more and more popular these days. Many recording studios have closed due to the pandemic, but artists still want to release their songs. This short vocal mixing guide might help you to get big sounding vocals and astonishing results mixing in the box.

Need tips with recording? Check my /vocal-recording guide!

 

corrective processing

  • Slice and edit your different vocal takes to correct timing and cut off unwanted noise and breathing.
  • Time stretch doubling vocals to align them with the main vocal track.
  • Use gain riding to limit the dynamics.
  • If necessary, tune your vocals with tools like Melodyne.
  • De-essing reduces the harsh frequencies from 5 kHz to 7 kHz.
  • Search for disturbing frequencies with a bell filter and reduce them.
  • Compress the vocals to cut off peaks and lift the low parts.

 

ADDITIVE PROCESSING

  • Make 2 copies of the main vocals and pan them hard left and right.
    Delay one track by 25 ms and increase the level by 3 db to get a nice stereo image.
  • Use tight doubling takes to blow up the vocals.
  • Doubler plugins can help you if you are lagging doubling takes.
  • Heavily process the adlibs and spread them in the stereo field.
  • Set up a ducking delay to get additional depht without blurring the vocals.
  • Experiment with the predelay of the vocal reverb.
  • Use an additive EQ to musically enhance frequencies.

 

This is my personal approach to mixing rap vocals and should not be considered as a dogma.

/contact me for more infos.