Why do vocals on musical recordings sound so good but the opposite on your recordings? The answer is that a mixing engineer has processed the vocal tracks to get them sounding better. Keep in mind, there's no sorcery taking place, and we can't take a poor performance and make it sound new, we are just enhancing what is already there. The mix engineer will use an equalizer to accomplish two tasks: to turn down or take out unflattering frequencies such as muddiness or nasal tones, and then to turn up pleasant frequencies such as clarity and airiness. Compression is an often misunderstood processor which is basically an automatic volume knob. It turns the vocal down by a specific ratio when it gets too loud. This keeps the level of the track more constant in the mix and also gives the vocal some character and feeling. There are many differing styles of compressors and they are each sought after for their traits such as harmonic distortion and circuit style. After compressing, vocals usually need some sort of de-essing to control sibilants. This is a high ratio compressor that only acts on specific trouble frequencies, essentially turning down each sibilant only while letting the rest of the vocal remain unprocessed. Over de-essing can make the singer sound like they have a lisp, so be careful. There are many more techniques to practice, but begin with basic EQ and compression to give your vocal track a more professional sound.

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