Welcome to Sage Audio. Today let’s look at some Creative Vocal Mixing Techniques. But first,
If you have a mix that you need to have mastered,
send it to us to receive a free mastered sample of it with the link in the description.
Side Image Reverb
The chapters in this video are in no particular order.
Let’s start with a fun new trick I’ve been using - in short, I first duplicate my lead vocal;
then on the duplicate I introduce reverb, typically with a longer release time and
higher decay and EQ on the higher frequency range. Last up I insert this free MSED plugin.
With it, I’ll solo the side image by muting the
mid image. This way I can keep a part of my vocal dry and upfront,
but then add reverb to the side image, causing a unique juxtaposition between the 2 signals.
Let’s take a listen.
Tone Vocal Harmony
If I want to create a unique double or make my lead sound really distinct and
unique for a section of a song, I’ll first use the SplitEQ by Eventide and bring the
transient slider all the way down, just leaving the tone of the vocal. Then I’ll use this H8000.
I typically use a doubling setting with some harmonization thrown in. The combination of
these 2 processors results in a vocal without transients and one that’s great for blending in.
Let’s take a listen.
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Automated Parallel Compression
This Newfangled Audio Invigorate plugin is great for adding parallel compression,
limiting, and overdrive - but what’s great is that it’s easy to automate and create a unique sound.
What I’ll do is keep it at a moderate level until I want the vocal to have a distinct character.
Then I’ll increase the mix dial using automation and occasionally
position the middle icon to a more aggressive setting before switching it back to normal.
Let’s listen and let me know when you think this type of effect could be useful.
Panned Binaural Vocal
Next up, I’m going to use this free binaural plugin on my vocal, and like last chapter,
automate the position of the sound source. This makes it easy to create a doppler
effect or make the vocal sound as if it’s moving around the listener in real-time.
The setup is pretty simple, but the result is really cool, so let’s take a listen.
Aggressive Distorted Tuning
Combining tuning and distortion has been popular for a little while now, but it’s still not used as
often as it could be. I’ll start with a tuner and use very aggressive, unnatural settings,
before inserting a saturation plugin that distorts and adds soft-knee compression.
The combination of the 2 works really well and has a lot of potential to be even more experimental.
Let’s take a listen.
Side Image Delay
Let’s do what we did in chapter one but this time with delay - again I’ll have my duplicated vocal,
and first, insert a stereo delay. I’ll typically use a 1/8th and dotted 8th
note delay, add some crosstalk and make sure the effect is more wet than dry.
Then I’ll use the same MSED plugin as before to
mute the mid-image before blending in the effect with a channel fader.
Let’s listen to how this creates side image delay
that would be hard to achieve with a typical delay plugin.
Crossfade Transients and Tone
As far as I know, this Eventide SplitEQ plugin is the only one that can isolate a signal’s
tone and transients - with that in mind, I’ll use automation to increase the level of the tone and
decrease the transients and vice versa. This gives the vocal a distinct shifting quality.
Let’s listen and notice how this could be used in combination with other processing,
like phasing or flanging to create really interesting movement in the vocal.
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Classic Punk LoFi Vocal
If I want a LoFi punk or rock vocal sound, I like to first emulate heavy transistor distortion
to mimic cheaper electronics found in older hardware. Then I’ll insert an EQ and isolate the
frequencies to the mids with a somewhat aggressive resonance around 3kHz to help retain the vocal.
From here you could add reverb, more compression, or whatever you’d like,
but this is a great foundation for a rock or punk vocal.
Modern Digital LoFi Vocal
If I want to create a modern, more unique LoFI vocal, I’ll start with aggressive tuning before
using EQ to isolate the frequencies to the mids, but with less of a high-frequency cut-off than
the last chapter. Then I’ll use this free Codec plugin to introduce lossy-file type distortion.
Again we achieve a lo-fi sound, but this time, the sound is distinctly digital and more modern.
Let’s take a listen.
Reverberated Sibilance
I like to use this trick on rap vocals a good amount - I’ll send the vocal to a parallel track,
and then isolate the high frequencies with a linear phase EQ. Next, I’ll compress to get a
smooth sound to the highs before adding some reverb with 50/50 dry-wet blend.
Lastly, I’ll blend the effect in with the parallel track’s channel fader. Let’s take a listen to it.
If you have a mix that you need to have mastered, send it to us to receive a free
mastered sample of it with the link in the description. Thank you so much for watching.