How Pro Engineers Put Effects On Vocals

Streaky

12 Jul 202304:07

Summary

TLDRIn this engaging tutorial, the presenter shares a technique for enhancing vocal effects to achieve a clean and impactful sound without the typical issues of delay and reverb washing out the vocals. The video addresses the challenge of adding delay to vocals without making them sound messy. Instead of using side chaining, the presenter introduces a method of vocal automation that selectively applies delay to the last word of each phrase, thus avoiding overlap with the first words. This is followed by the use of a compressor to duck the delay volume when the next vocal phrase begins, resulting in a clean and well-defined vocal track. The tutorial concludes with a before-and-after comparison of the track, showcasing the effectiveness of the technique. For those interested in mastering audio production, the presenter also provides a link to a website offering discounted courses on mixing and mastering.

Takeaways

🎤 The goal is to achieve clean vocal effects without them being washed out by delays and reverbs.
🔄 To make the vocal more interesting, the producer works on a vocal track with gaps between words that sound dry.
🚫 Adding a delay to a vocal track can make it sound messy if it affects the entire track, especially when there are gaps.
✂️ A solution is to apply the delay only to the last word of each phrase, avoiding the messy effect.
🎛️ Vocal automation is used to control when the delay effect is applied, specifically to the last word of each phrase.
📈 By automating the delay send, the delay is triggered only on the last word, enhancing the impact without clutter.
👍 Encouragement is given for viewers to like and subscribe for more content like this.
🔄 After applying the delay to the last word, a sidechain compression technique is used to avoid overlap with the next vocal phrase.
🎚️ A compressor is set up on the delay channel to duck its volume when the main vocal comes back in, ensuring a clean mix.
🎼 The final result is a track where the delay effect is well-controlled, providing a fuller sound without interfering with the vocals.
🎓 For those interested in learning more about mixing and mastering, a promotion for a summer sale on courses is mentioned at streaky.com.

Q & A

What is the main issue with the vocal track as described in the script?
-The main issue is that the vocal track sounds dry and lacks impact due to the gaps between each word, making it less engaging in the song.
Why does adding a delay to the vocal track make it sound messy?
-Adding a delay to the vocal track makes it sound messy because the delay picks up on the first transient of each word, causing an overlap and blurring of the words.
What is the proposed solution to make the vocal track more interesting without making it sound messy?
-The proposed solution is to apply the delay effect only to the last word of each phrase, rather than the entire vocal track.
How is the delay effect automated to apply only to the last word of each phrase?
-Vocal automation is used to release the last word of every phrase to the delay, so the delay only picks up on the last word.
What is the purpose of side-chaining the delay in the described process?
-Side-chaining the delay is used to duck the volume of the delay when the vocal comes back in, ensuring a clean transition and preventing overlap with the next vocal phrase.
How does using a compressor in conjunction with side-chaining help in the process?
-The compressor, set to side-chain to the vocal track, reduces the delay's volume when the next vocal phrase begins, resulting in a cleaner and more controlled sound.
What is the effect of the described vocal processing technique on the overall mix?
-The effect is a cleaner vocal track with a more filled space due to the delay on the last word of each phrase, enhancing the song's impact without making it sound cluttered.
Why is it important to avoid having the delay on the first part of the vocal?
-Having the delay on the first part of the vocal can cause the vocal to sound washed out and less clear, as it would overlap with the main vocal, reducing the song's intelligibility.
How does the side-chain release work in the context of the vocal track?
-The side-chain release determines how quickly the delay's volume returns to normal after the vocal has finished, preventing an abrupt end to the delay effect.
What is the significance of the gaps between words in the vocal track?
-The gaps between words are significant because they can make the vocal track sound dry and less engaging if not properly addressed with effects like delay.
How can one learn more about professional mixing and mastering techniques?
-One can learn more about professional mixing and mastering techniques by visiting streaky.com, which offers courses and has a summer sale for discounted learning opportunities.
What is the final result of applying the described vocal processing technique?
-The final result is a vocal track that sounds more interesting and impactful, with a clear and controlled delay effect that enhances the song without causing a muddy mix.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Enhancing Vocal Clarity with Selective Delay

The video begins with the host's intention to improve the quality of vocal effects without losing clarity due to excessive use of delays and reverbs. They discuss the challenge of adding delay to vocals without making the performance sound messy. The host demonstrates how to use automation to apply delay selectively to the last word of each vocal phrase, avoiding the common issue of side-chaining which can lead to a less controlled effect. The result is a cleaner vocal sound with a more impactful presence in the song.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Vocal Effects

Vocal effects refer to the various audio processing techniques used to modify and enhance the sound of a voice in music production. In the video, the focus is on making these effects sound clean without them being washed out by other elements like delays and reverbs. The script discusses how to achieve a more impactful vocal sound by strategically adding effects.

💡Side Chaining

Side chaining is a mixing technique where the level of one track is automatically adjusted based on the level of another track. In the context of the video, the author discusses how not to use typical side chaining to avoid a messy sound when adding delay to vocals. Instead, a more controlled approach is suggested using automation and compression.

💡Delay

Delay is an audio effect that records an input signal and then plays it back after a period of time, creating an echo or a repeated sound. The video script mentions the challenge of adding delay to vocals without making them sound messy. The solution involves applying delay selectively to the last word of each vocal phrase.

💡Reverb

Reverb, short for reverberation, is an audio effect that simulates the natural reflections of sound in a physical space, giving a sense of space and depth. In the script, the author mentions that even with reverb applied, the vocals still sound dry and lack impact, which is why additional effects like delay are considered.

💡Vocal Automation

Vocal automation involves the use of automation to control various parameters of a vocal track over time, such as volume or effects send levels. The video demonstrates how to use automation to release only the last word of each vocal phrase to the delay, creating a more interesting and less dry sound.

💡Compression

Compression in audio production is a tool that reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal. In the video, a compressor is used to duck the volume of the delay when the next vocal comes in, ensuring that the vocal sound remains clean and the delay effect does not overlap in an undesired way.

💡Transient

A transient is the very start of a musical note or sound, which typically has a high amplitude and decays quickly. The script discusses the issue with adding delay to vocals, as it can pick up on the transient of the word, leading to a messy sound. The solution is to avoid delay on the initial part of the vocal.

💡Phrase

In the context of music and vocals, a phrase refers to a group of words or notes that form a single unit of musical thought. The video script talks about adding effects to the last word of every phrase to enhance the vocal performance without cluttering the entire track.

💡Mixing

Mixing is the process of balancing and adjusting the individual tracks in a multitrack recording to create a balanced and cohesive whole. The video is about improving the mixing of vocals by adding effects and using techniques like automation and compression to achieve a clean and professional sound.

💡Mastering

Mastering is the final step in music production where the mixed audio is polished and prepared for distribution. It often involves adjusting the overall sound to ensure it translates well across different playback systems. The script ends with a promotion for a course on how to mix and master like a pro.

💡Streaky.com

Streaky.com is mentioned in the video as a resource for learning how to mix and master music professionally. The script promotes a summer sale on the website, offering courses at a discounted price for those interested in improving their music production skills.

Highlights

The speaker demonstrates how to achieve clean vocal effects without them being washed out by delays and reverbs.

A common issue with adding delay to vocals is that it can make the sound messy and unclear.

To solve this, the speaker suggests applying delay only to the last word of each vocal phrase.

Side chaining is mentioned as a technique but is not preferred due to lack of control.

Instead of side chaining, the use of vocal automation is proposed to control the delay more precisely.

Automation is used to release only the last word of every phrase to the delay.

The speaker provides a demonstration of how the vocal sounds with the applied delay and automation.

A side chain is then introduced to duck the delay volume when the next vocal comes in.

The use of a compressor is shown to achieve a cleaner vocal sound by ducking the delay during vocal entries.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of a clean mix and how the technique fills the space with delay effectively.

A before and after comparison of the track is presented to illustrate the impact of the technique.

The speaker promotes a website, streaky.com, for learning how to mix and master like a pro.

A summer sale is mentioned for those interested in purchasing courses on streaky.com.

The speaker encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more content on vocal effects and mixing.

The video provides a step-by-step guide on how to make vocals more interesting and impactful in a song.

The technique avoids the common problem of vocal delays causing a loss of clarity in the mix.

The use of automation to control the delay on the last word of each phrase is a key innovative method.

The combination of delay, automation, and side chain compression results in a professional and polished vocal sound.

The speaker's method ensures that the vocal effects enhance the song without overpowering the lyrics.