Anil Singh wrote:Is there a specific level for vocal tracking in a mixdown? How loud does it have to be. Where does it have to be (Eg. panning) and can I or should I use Har-Bal and T-Racks to make the vocal sound good first then add it to the mix?
Thanks
"Knowledge is power"
Anil
Go to my home site
www.hdqtrz.com and click on tips. You will find a great article on recording vocals.
VOCALS - E.Q.
Record vocals flat.
To avoid popping tell singer to move mouth slightly away during "problem words", or move mic off-axis from singer's mouth. If all else fails, cut 100Hz by 10dB.
During recording "soft, wispy" vocals close to the mic, cut 100Hz by 7dB. (If you're using a condensor for close-up vocals adjust the mic's pad to -10dB.)
For more "top" = boost at 6 to 12kHz, but watch out for sibilance !
For more "presence" = a little boost at 3 to 4kHz.
To take out "harshness" and leave room for other instruments = cut 1kHz by about 6 to 12dB. (You can use a bandpass filter. Bandwidth = a 0.5 octave.)
Backing vocals sit better in the mix if you roll off a touch of bass. This may sound thin on it's own, but will be normal in the mix.
Note : The longer the reverb decay time is, the lower it should be in the mix.
To eliminate sibilant sounds, use a de-esser or an equalizer with filtering in the sidechain path of the compressor.
VOCALS - COMPRESSION
(A variety of different settings !)
1) 3:1, Gain reduction = 10dB. Singer with wide dynamic range = 4:1 or even higher, right up to 10:1.
Gate = slow release. Set to AUTO (or fast attack, rel. = around half a sec (.5))
2) Ratio = somewhere between 4:1 and 8:1, Attack = fast as possible, Rel. = Around half a sec.
Thanks to Mark Dance for the settings above.
Cheers
Earle