VOCAL MIXING ESSENTIAL (By Smartstar)

 VOCAL MIXING ESSENTIAL (By Smartstar)

Good morning.

Mixing is an essential/important role in the music production process.

When mixing vocals, you can go through this process: 

GREAT RECORDING 

CORRECT PITCH OR ADD SUBTLE PITCH

REMOVING OF ROOM RESONANCES

REMOVING OF SIBILANCES

BALANCING OF VOCALS/AUTOMATION 

SHAPING THE VOCALS WITH AN EQ

ADDING OF SPACE

SHAPING WITH EFFECTS 

GREAT RECORDING

For you to achieve a great mix, you must first of all get it from the root, a great recording or recorded vocals reduces the amount of unnecessary work you will do on a vocal.

Get it right from the recordings before attempting mix, don’t rush the recording process.

Make use of good microphones, and audio interfaces when recording.

CORRECT PITCH OR ADD SUBTLE PITCH

This is mostly done by the use of pitch correctors (Autotune, Melodyne etc).

To correct pitches that aren’t on the right track, and also to improve good pitch in a vocals.

Ensure to use to a reasonable amount to avoid manking your vocals sound artificial.

REMOVING OF ROOM RESONANCES

This is done using an Eq (Equalizer). Be it analog or digital eqs. 

Some eqs are labelled from 20hz to 10k hz,  some from 20hz-20k hz and so on.

The basics human hearing range of sound is from 20hz- 20k hz.

[The Eq sheet is labelled as 

-20hz- 200hz – Low/Sub/Bass Frequency (Vocal Body)

-200hz- 500hz – Low Mid frequency

-500hz- 2k hz- Mid Frequency

-2k hz- 20k hz- High Frequency (Vocal Presence)

The Eq is divided into two 

Subtractive Eq (Used to cut unwanted frequencies)

Additive Eq (Used to boost frequencies where necessary)

To Eq your vocals, simple use the eq sheet above, use an eq to clean up your vocals.

Don’t eq when its not necessary

Eq with a reason, don’t just eq without a reason and also be careful the amount of eq you do, to avoid making the vocal sound thin and artificial..

  4.REMOVE SIBILANCE

This can simply be done using a de-esser to tame highs around 5k – 7k hz.

  5.BALANCE VOCALS/AUTOMATION 

You can make use of a compressor and automations to carry out this process, 

Compressor helps to balance/tame peaks but only when used reasonably.

Compressor boosts where the vocal is low and tames where the vocals is high to give it a bit of balance.

Here is a sheet for Compression 

-Ratio- 1:5:1 (This controls the ration amount to which the signal is compressed to)

- Attack Time- 15ms(Up to 30ms for more punch) This is denoted as the time it takes for the compressor to grab the signal.

-Release Time- 40ms(The time it takes for the compressor to release the signal it catches and compressed the signal).

-Threshold-24db (The level in which the compressor begins to act on the signal)

-Gain Reduction 2-3db

-Knee- Soft

-Make Up Gain- 2db

=>This compression sheet above if for a mild punchy vocals for a soft vocal try 

-5db Threshold

-60ms Attack

-40ms Release

-Ratio 4:1:0

-Knee: Soft

-Make Up gain 2db

Use Your Ears.

NB: YOUR VOLUME BEFORE COMPRESSION SHOULD BE SAME AFTER COMPRESSION IN ORDER TO FEEL THE IMPACT OF THE COMPRESSION. 

ALSO: EQ BEFORE COMPRESSION TO REMOVE BAD FREQUENCIES, IF NOT THE COMPRESSOR WILL ADD TO THE BAD FREQUENCIES

 THEN AFTERWARDS EQ AFTER COMPRESSION ALSO TO MAKE UP.

  6. SHAPE USING EQ

Boost around 5-7k for Vocal presence and other frequencies where necessary.

  7. ADD SPACE/SHAPE USING EFFECTS

This is done with use of reverb and delays to make your vocals fit more into the Mix.

Use reasonable amount 

NB: I am not perfect 

This is basics 

This sheet will work for you, depending on the type of vocals you are working on.

But ensure you make use of your ears

Thank You

By Smartstar……………….