Vocoflex for Harmonies | Logic Pro

This video tutorial demonstrates how to utilize Vocal Flex in Logic Pro to create backup and main harmony parts from a single recorded vocal track. The process involves duplicating the main vocal, applying pitch correction, and then using Vocal Flex to modify the voice's sound and create distinct harmony parts. The presenter explores different voice styles, adjusts volume levels, and fine-tunes the harmony parts to achieve a fuller sound. The video also touches on the potential for further creativity with the tool, such as changing the timing for a more humanized effect and the possibility of using the technique as part of the songwriting process. It concludes by emphasizing the flexibility and creative potential of Vocal Flex for those looking to expand their vocal arrangements without re-recording with multiple singers.

Takeaways

• 🎤 **Use Vocal Flex for Harmony**: The video demonstrates how to use Vocal Flex in Logic Pro to create backup or main harmony parts from an existing vocal track.
• 🔄 **Duplicate Vocal Tracks**: The process starts by duplicating the main vocal track to create separate harmony parts.
• 🎛️ **Pitch Correction and Effects**: A pitch corrector and SSL native vocal strip are applied before using Vocal Flex to avoid needing to re-record harmony parts.
• 🚦 **Voice Sound Modification**: Vocal Flex is used to change the sound of the duplicated voices, avoiding the need for different singers and providing more flexibility.
• 🎶 **Flex Pitch for Harmony Creation**: Flex pitch is utilized to create harmony parts by transposing the pitch of the duplicated voices.
• 👥 **Multiple Voice Styles**: The video suggests using different voice styles (masculine and feminine) for the background vocals to add variety.
• 🔧 **Adjust Volume and Panning**: Volume levels and panning are adjusted for each harmony track to ensure they are distinct and well-balanced.
• 🎵 **Humanize the Performance**: Flex pitch allows for the adjustment of timing to make the harmonies sound less perfect and more human.
• 🔄 **Transposition for Different Registers**: The ability to transpose the pitch up or down an octave helps in fitting the harmony parts into different vocal ranges.
• 🎚️ **Tonal Adjustments**: If the original vocal has too much vibrato, Vocal Flex allows for toning it down to achieve the desired sound.
• 📈 **Layering and Creativity**: By layering different harmony parts and adjusting their characteristics, a fuller and more complex sound can be achieved from a single vocal track.
• ♾️ **Endless Possibilities**: The tool offers a wide range of creative possibilities for songwriters and producers, allowing them to build off a single vocal track effectively.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of using Vocoflex in the context of the provided transcript?

The primary purpose of using Vocoflex in the context of the transcript is to create backup harmony parts or main harmony parts from an existing vocal track without the need to re-record or use other people's voices. It allows for the duplication of the main vocal, changing the voice's sound, and creating harmony parts using the flex pitch feature.

How does the process of duplicating the main vocal and creating harmony parts begin?

The process begins by duplicating the main vocal track and creating two different tracks. These tracks are then panned out to be heard separately. The main vocal is run through a pitch corrector and an SSL native vocal strip before being processed by Vocal Flex.

What is the role of the pitch corrector in this process?

The pitch corrector is used to make slight adjustments to the pitch of the duplicated vocal tracks. It ensures that the harmonies are in tune with the main vocal before further processing with Vocal Flex.

How does the SSL native vocal strip fit into the audio chain?

The SSL native vocal strip is placed after the pitch correction and before the rest of the audio chain. It is used to process the vocal track, likely enhancing its quality or applying some form of equalization or compression.

What is the significance of using the built-in engine in Vocal Flex?

Using the built-in engine in Vocal Flex allows for the creation of different voice styles, such as a more masculine or feminine voice, for the harmony parts. This is done without needing to bring in additional vocal recordings or use other people's voices.

How does the flex pitch feature contribute to the creation of harmony parts?

The flex pitch feature is used to create harmony parts by transposing the duplicated vocal tracks to different pitches. This can result in an octave shift or other pitch changes that contribute to the harmonious blend of the vocals.

What is the creative potential of using Vocal Flex with a single vocal track?

The creative potential is vast; starting with a single vocal track, one can create multiple harmonies that sound like they are sung by different people. This can lead to a fuller, more complex vocal arrangement without the need for additional singers.

How can the timing of the harmonies be adjusted to sound more human?

The timing of the harmonies can be adjusted using the flex pitch feature to make the harmonies less perfect and more human. This can be done by making the harmonies carry over a bit or starting slightly at different times.

What is the final output expected to sound like after using Vocal Flex?

The final output is expected to sound like a fresh voice, with a strong lead and well-blended background parts. The harmonies should sound natural and creative, potentially indistinguishable from a finished product recorded with actual singers.

Can the process demonstrated in the transcript be part of the songwriting process?

Yes, the process can be an integral part of the songwriting process. It allows for the creation and experimentation with harmony parts, which can then be refined and potentially re-recorded with actual singers if desired.

What are some of the additional possibilities with Vocal Flex that will be explored in future videos?

While the transcript does not specify the exact possibilities, it suggests that there are more advanced techniques and creative uses for Vocal Flex that will be covered in future videos, enhancing the viewer's understanding and ability to use the tool.

How does the use of Vocal Flex impact the overall workflow of creating harmonies?

The use of Vocal Flex streamlines the workflow by eliminating the need for multiple vocal recordings or singers. It provides a flexible and powerful way to create harmonies, allowing for quick adjustments and experimentation within a single vocal track.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Creating Harmony with Vocal Flex

The speaker discusses using Vocal Flex to create backup or main harmony parts from an existing vocal recording. They explain the process of duplicating the main vocal track and then using pitch correction and Vocal Flex to alter the voice's sound, creating different harmonies without re-recording. The speaker also mentions using different voice styles, such as masculine and feminine, to add variety to the harmony parts.

05:01

🔄 Adapting Vocals with Flex Pitch

The speaker continues by demonstrating how to use Vocal Flex to transpose the pitch of the duplicated vocal tracks, experimenting with octave shifts to find the best harmony. They also discuss the possibility of changing the timing of the vocals to avoid a perfectly synchronized sound, aiming to humanize the harmonies. The speaker emphasizes the creative potential of using a single vocal track to build multiple harmonies, suggesting that with the right approach, the result can sound like a finished product.

10:02

🎼 Enhancing Vocal Tracks with Flex and Additional Tools

The speaker talks about the flexibility and power of Vocal Flex, highlighting its ability to change the timbre and sound of the voice after pitch correction. They mention the possibility of further tweaking the vocals to achieve the desired sound. The speaker also suggests that while re-recording with actual singers is an option, the techniques shown can be part of the songwriting process. They conclude by encouraging viewers to explore the full range of possibilities that Vocal Flex offers and to look out for more videos on the topic.

Keywords

Vocal Flex

Vocal Flex is a feature or plugin used in music production software that allows users to modify and manipulate vocal tracks. In the context of the video, it is used to create backup harmony parts from a single recorded vocal, without the need to re-record new harmony parts. It can change the voice's sound and pitch, which is crucial for creating harmonies that complement the main vocal line.

Harmony Parts

Harmony Parts refer to the additional vocal lines that are sung in conjunction with the main melody to create a fuller and richer sound. In the video, the author demonstrates how to use Vocal Flex to generate these parts from an existing vocal track, enhancing the overall texture of the song.

Pitch Correction

Pitch Correction is a process used in music production to adjust the pitch of a vocal or instrumental performance to ensure it is in tune. In the video, a slight pitch correction is applied to the vocal track before using Vocal Flex, which helps in creating a more polished and professional sound.

SSL Native Vocal Strip

The SSL Native Vocal Strip is a software emulation of the SSL channel strip, which is a combination of various audio processing tools like EQ, compression, and saturation. It is used in the video to process the vocal track before applying Vocal Flex, contributing to the overall tone and quality of the vocals.

Delay

In audio production, Delay is an effect that records an audio signal and then plays it back after a period of time, creating an echo or a sense of space. It is mentioned in the video as part of the effects chain applied to the vocal track to add depth and dimension to the sound.

Flex Pitch

Flex Pitch is a specific feature within Vocal Flex that allows for the manipulation of the pitch of the vocal tracks. In the video, it is used to create harmony parts by duplicating the main vocal and adjusting the pitch to different octaves, resulting in a more complex and layered vocal arrangement.

Transposition

Transposition in music is the process of changing a piece of music from one key to another. In the context of the video, the author uses the term to describe the adjustment of the pitch of the duplicated vocal tracks using Vocal Flex, allowing for the creation of harmony parts in different vocal ranges.

Panning

Panning in audio production refers to the process of adjusting the balance of an audio signal between the left and right stereo channels. In the video, panning is used to separate the duplicated vocal tracks in the stereo field, making each harmony part more distinct and audible.

Volume Adjustment

Volume Adjustment is the process of changing the loudness of an audio signal. In the video, the author makes slight volume adjustments to the duplicated vocal tracks to ensure they blend well with the main vocal and do not overpower it.

Humanize

To 'humanize' in the context of music production means to add variations and subtle imperfections to a performance to make it sound more natural and less mechanical. The video discusses using Flex Pitch to adjust the timing of the harmony parts so they don't align perfectly, which adds a human touch to the vocal arrangement.

Tamber Changer

A 'Tamber Changer' likely refers to a tool or effect that can alter the tonal quality or 'timbre' of a sound. Although not explicitly detailed in the video, it is implied that after using Vocal Flex, the vocals might pass through a tool that can further modify their tonal characteristics to achieve the desired sound.

Highlights

Using Vocal Flex to create backup or main Harmony Parts from an existing vocal track.

Duplicating the main vocal track for creating harmony parts without re-recording.

Adjusting the voice sound using Vocal Flex to avoid it sounding like the original voice.

Utilizing Flex Pitch to create harmony parts with duplicated voices.

Applying a slight pitch corrector and SSL native vocal strip for initial vocal processing.

Inserting a delay before the rest of the vocal chain for enhanced vocal effects.

Selecting built-in engine voices for creating a masculine and feminine style for background vocals.

Adjusting volume levels and panning to separate the duplicated tracks.

Experimenting with vocal sound until a desirable voice is achieved.

Applying Vocal Flex and using the built-in engine to create different vocal styles.

Creating a third harmony part an octave down for richer vocal arrangements.

Duplicating the track and transposing parts to higher or lower octaves for variety.

Humanizing the vocal harmony by adjusting timing and phrasing.

Flex Pitch allows for creative transposition to fit the vocal range.

Vocal Flex's flexibility in changing the timbre and sound of the voice.

Potential to tweak and blend background parts to achieve a strong lead vocal.

The ability to start with one vocal track and create the illusion of multiple singers.

Flex Pitch can adjust timing for a less perfect and more humanized sound.

Vocal Flex's potential in the songwriting process and creating a finished product feel.

The creative possibilities of Vocal Flex for building harmonies from a single vocal track.