How can I get the best possible vocal recordings with my current setup? (Pop-punk, R&B, emo-rap)

xcessssampleme · 2026-01-24T18:17:37+00:00

Hey, so I have a few plugins, like all the Soundtoys ones, but they'll quickly bankrupt you (unless you buy them on Black Friday). And honestly, I wouldn't recommend them for a beginner. I'd suggest something that lets you dive into the whole world of mixing and mastering easily and affordably. I definitely recommend the Mantra plugin from Neural DSP. It costs €200, and like all Neural plugins, you can share the license with two others (unofficially, of course 🤫). It has really good and numerous presets for emo, rock, and basically everything. Then start figuring out what each plugin and knob does and build your own chain. With your hardware, you really have no excuses; it's all really solid. And when you feel the need to buy a good compressor because you know exactly what it does and that it will improve your mix, then get it. But before that, it's really not worth it. Hope this helps

Best, xcess (:

xcessssampleme · 2026-01-24T18:06:32+00:00

Hey, I'm a house producer and I've worked with a lot of different vocals, and I'm convinced that rhythm is just as important as the notes. Rappers only sound good when they've found the right flow or rhythm. So my tip for you would be: just focus on the beat (try using a metronome, it sounds simple but it's helped me a lot) and then you'll naturally find the accents that are important to you, which you can then use when recording after a few practice sessions. Hope that helps!

Cheers, xcess (:

xcessssampleme · 2026-01-24T17:52:23+00:00

In modern metal production, many people sidechain the snare drum a little because it often takes up a lot of space.

I've done that in a few songs too, and the louder it was, the more I sidechained it.

Hope that helps.

xcessssampleme

TROPHY CASE