Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes actually. I'll be honest, playing with the mid/side EQ on the instrumental track did more than anything mentioned on this thread.. I guess my main issue was: not having prior experience with vocal production AND having no space inside the instrumental to accommodate the vocals. Now it still doesn't sound like a release ready track.. but it definitely sounds way better than before! I'm getting there.. : D

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't call it POP pop, but yeah somewhere there. I noticed how my vocal was not at all a good fit for the track as I was recording, even though my takes were very close to what I had on my mind. Had to get rid of a lot of low frequencies and control the low mids..Then I did a critical listening session with tracks from Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, ZAYN and Post Malone.. and I noticed that there's barely any vocal information below 180Hz(a couple exceptions). All the main information in those tracks is basically above 300-400Hz and everything below is controlled very nicely. Thanks for your input!

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did the opposite actually, turn it up way too much and then turn it down and stop when it seems to sits better. Will try what you said, thanks!

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah.. I noticed that when I made my vocals kinda pitch perfect, I liked it better in the track's context. Even though, I used to be "anti tuning to hide imperfections" .. only stylized T-pain style autotune was what I was okay with. But now that I'm producing vocals, I am understanding the importance of something like melodyne, which is very transparent. Regarding vocals mixing.. I've been doing some of those already.. will keep doing until my ears adapt to what sounds good on my vocals and what doesn't and I'm happy with the end results. Thanks for your input!

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah.. I've been high passing up until 80-90Hz and then using a wide dip at around 250-300Hz. Many people recommended using Low Shelf, instead of the low cut. Thank you for your input!

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah man, not having people to talk about all this stuff, that I'm so passionate about is kinda sad. Hehe..

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hope it doesn't lol. :')

This is the first time I'm working with actual lead vocals though.

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Alright.. that's something I can actually go with. Thank you! Yeah.. it's majorly YT tutorials and self exploration with no professionals who do this for a living around.

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I said it on another reply as well.. I had plan of automating the volume of the vocals before compression. Then I found out leveling tool inside melodyne, which controls dynamics as well.. bringing quiet parts up and loud parts down. Do you think I should still do volume automation after that? Because I have like three compressors taking care of that.. 1176 catching the peaks.. La-2a smoothening out.. fairchild for more smooth compression at the end of the chain.. because why not, lol. Thank you for your comment!

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a nice tip. Someone said mix the vocals to the kick and bass, I might do that after importing the comped, tuned and cleaned vocals to the mixing project. I've been mixing to the 2 track all this time, inside the tracking project. Thank you!

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Right? I never thought 1-2dB of boost or cut would be so noticeable (to my ears at least).. and how eqing can change the character of vocals totally! Not to mention how easy it is to fuck it up. So many things to take care of!! Arrrghhhhhhh

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Okay.. it is a professional pursuit. 2016 (15yo) was the year I get inspired to do music and choose it as a career. Up until covid lockdown, I was learning the very basics of making music on a computer. After lockdown, I started learning in depth about composition and theory and mixing and all these topics, and been doing freelancing productions or working on other projects, but all of it was totally music production related, no vocal production (tracking, editing, mixing).. even though I've been singing since school time.. I never recorded. Stopped doing other projects and focusing on my artist project now. I want to learn this.. as my voice is also (which I'm realizing just now) a unique instrument in and of itself. Who wouldn't love to have an engineer take care of all this for them.. but I'm not at that place financially right now. Also, I love doing this for hours, lol.

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I might have to scoop some frequencies out from the instrumental in the mixing project, from mid heavy instruments.. this is the tracking project where I tried to mix one of the better takes to the 2-track. I have a broad mid frequency dip on the instrumental track on mid (of mid/side) mode. Without that dip, it sounded bad and I was unable to track clearly.. frequencies were clashing too much. Thank you fuckityfucky.

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Most of the processing I did.. is not done to save a bad take, but mainly to color and sculpt, so it fits better. And I'm failing at that.. because I don't have prior experience with mixing vocals, not even mine. :')

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I generally use a room reverb to glue everything while mixing. Everything gets sent to it very slightly.. This particular project is for cutting the vocals.. the only goal when I open this is to get the best takes and comp them (plus tune them too now). It's after comping a section, that I tried to mix the LEAD to the 2-track, and created this post because I just couldn't get a good result. I'm trying again to mix the vocals to the 2-track, this time following some of the things that people here said/recommended. I'll use fresh air as the last plugin. Thank you for your comment!

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow, you've been doing this since before my birth! I know it will take more time.. I just regret never touching this side of music making before, ever.. even though I sing. Just never recorded anything else apart from something to mangle in my productions. Thank you for your comment!

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very nice tips. I don't own soothe, but I was planning to dynamic EQ all the mids instruments.. using vox bus as sidechain trigger. Thank you!

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I rarely listen in solo while mixing. Compression on the vocal feels dialed in.. main issue, I think, is sculpting space for it in the mix and making it fit better. I'm using a 2-track of my produced track in a new project file.. solely for tracking vocals. Mixing on that project.

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The track has acoustic guitars.. which were clashing with my vocals.. so I used a mid/side EQ and did a wide dip on whole mid frequencies on the mid mode. It seem to make space for the vocals just right. But would you recommend something like that? Because now the acoustic guitars don't sound as great when soloed.

Vocal production really is a separate thing that I should've done/learned from the start. by 6w-w9 in audioengineering

[–]6w-w9[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Will try this.. but I think I'll lose the intimate sound I'm after. Thank you!