Create a Vocal Exciter

This is to show you how to make your own vocal exciter if you do not have access to one or a plugin one you can use stock plugins, now here's how.

1. Duplicate the track. (You can also use an aux track but I will be duplicating it so you can see everything much easier)

2. Add an EQ of your choice to the duplicate track. activate your HPF and roll off around 4.35kHz. Boost around 5kHz about 10dB.

3. Add a Compressor to the duplicate track. set your threshold around -38 and add some make up gain.

not only does this sound great on back ground vocals or ad libs but it also can fix hollow sounding vocals. of course DO NOT depend on these settings completely USE YOUR EARS to fine tune them!!

hope this helps

#EveryDetailCounts!

Where to start Mixing

I've been asked many times "where do I start mixing?" It's really a preference in the way you work. As for me it depends on what song I am working on. 

Usually when I start I play the song once through and during this first pass I do some EQ, some Compression, Pan, and volume as best as I can in the first pass. I bounce it out and now that has become a reference track for me along with others I keep, one that the artist has sent over and other songs that I listen to during my breaks here and there. 

Another approach you can take is find the strongest part of the song, usually the last chorus, everything should be big and memorable. Make that as big as you can, sounding absolutely beautiful then work backwards so you'll be dimming things down until you get to the most softest point in the song. 

And the last approach that a lot of engineers take is starting off with the drums and mixing from the beginning of the song to the end, mixing vocals last. Some engineers also start with mixing vocals first but that depends on the song itself as well.

hope this helps.

#EveryDetailCounts!

Cut or Boost: EQ

What sounds best is the way to go, not how you get there.

I'm sure a lot of you were told to cut and not boost you add noise, boost frequencies that sound good and cut those that sound bad, or even my all time favorite cut narrow boost wide.

In a perfect world all these would be correct and unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world, so I decided to put my experience in on this subject and hoping it clears some questions up for you.

From my experience and what works best for me is I start by cutting not always narrow not always wide just what works. Most the time it's rolling off the low end and when there is an artifact on the recording I cut it out to my liking. Once done I listen to the mix hear how everything sits then if warmth is needed I add warmth by boosting, if presence is needed I add that, or some air I add that in as well. Adjust the Q and how much you boost or cut to what sounds good to you, that is why the artist chose you to mix the song it's your taste. If you need to boost +15dB go for it, as long as you get what you need. If you have an amazing recording engineer and don't need to EQ then don't do it. Do what you need to do to balance your mix. There are times when I have 4 EQs on a single vocal one to cut one to boost one to balance and last to filter if needed.

To put it simple LISTEN and then do whatever is needed. Boost, cut, wide, narrow, anything you have to do to put out the BEST product you can.

#EveryDetailCounts

Remove Reverb!

As an engineer your job is really to fix what needs to be fix.

For some reason I have been receiving sessions to mix that has the reverb recorded on the vocals. Most of the time it is a BAD thing lol and thats really because the recording won't sit right or when you boost a frequency it will boost the verb as well, creating MORE NOISE! Other times the artist can't help it and it's the natural reverb in their vox booth. In this situation the artist doesn't always want to redo the cut or have the time, money, or emotion to deliver "the golden take" i like to call it, so what's left to do? well your job, fix this reverb! 

The first way to approach it is think about, what is the reverb doing?

-creating space, warmth, thickness...

with that in mind, you need to start with the space reduce the spatial image. You can use a M/S encoder/decoder, there are free plugins like Voxengo MSED or Massey Tools. you can also setup an M/S encoder/decoder using stock EQ's! Takes some time to setup but once done its great especially if your studio doesn't have fancy plugins. I'll post up the steps in a future post unless you want the steps now I can email or post up sooner!

next take out some warmth and thickness easily done with an EQ. 

Last, take care of the sustain of the vocal if there is one, put a gate on adjust to your liking and that should help a ton with that nasty reverb there....

#EveryDetailCounts!

Fresh ears are the best Ears for playback

When playing a mix back for yourself listen with fresh ears the next day or bring in someone to go over the mix.

Recently during a mix i spent countless hours on, My ears were quite tired and I was rushing to get it done and what was happening was because I was focused in on the pieces i was adjusting I couldn't get the small details to sit right. In my case it was super simple as the vocals were too low in the song and all I had to do was raise the volume and add a compressor to bring them out "in your face!" Since I was tired and rushed it actually took me three passes to get the job done right. I ended up having to bring in a fresh pair of ears to go over the mix the third time.

Side Note: don't rush take your time, you can't rush art as everyone says and also don't be afraid to ask for help.

#EveryDetailCounts