Why do vocals on musical recordings seem so good but so bad on your productions? The answer is that a mix engineer has processed the vocal tracks to get them sounding amazing. Keep in mind, there's no magic going on, and we can't take a poor performance and make it sound new, we are just adding to what is already there. The mix engineer will use EQ to accomplish two things: to turn down or remove unflattering frequencies such as muddiness or nasal tones, and then to turn up pleasant frequencies such as clarity and airiness. Compressors are an often misunderstood effect which is essentially an automatic volume knob. It turns the vocal down by a certain 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 designs of compressors and they are all 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 certain trouble frequencies, essentially reducing each S sound only while letting the rest of the vocal remain untouched. 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 compressors to give your vocal a more professional sound.

Posted by: audreylangley21 at 05:43 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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