{"id":26967,"date":"2020-07-05T18:06:51","date_gmt":"2020-07-05T22:06:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.raytownproductions.com\/blog\/?p=26967"},"modified":"2020-09-04T09:31:01","modified_gmt":"2020-09-04T13:31:01","slug":"ultimate-guide-mixing-clean-vocals-metal-and-rock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.raytownproductions.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-mixing-clean-vocals-metal-and-rock\/","title":{"rendered":"ULTIMATE Guide to MIXING CLEAN VOCALS for METAL and ROCK [Like Periphery, Tesseract]"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”0px|||||” custom_padding=”30px|||||”][et_pb_row disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Waves Header Ad” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”||20px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” disabled=”on” saved_tabs=”all”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.8″ text_orientation=”center”]<\/p>\n

Get your discounted Waves plugins courtesy of Raytown Productions!<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.raytownproductions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Waves-Horizontal-Banner.jpg” alt=”Waves Plugin Discounts!” title_text=”Waves Horizontal Banner” url=”https:\/\/waves.alzt.net\/r7WgG” url_new_window=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” border_radii=”on|3px|3px|3px|3px” border_width_top=”2px” border_width_bottom=”2px”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.8″ quote_font_size=”18px” header_2_font_size=”22px” custom_padding=”||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”20px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”20px” header_2_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|3px|3px|3px|3px”]<\/p>\n

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Mixing clean vocals for heavy genres like metal can often be an afterthought.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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We spend <\/span>so much time<\/span> making a wall of guitars and mixing punishing drums, but what ends up happening is there is <\/span>NO SPACE left for the vocals<\/strong> – ESPECIALLY HUGE CLEAN SOARING VOCALS in some styles of metal and prog rock (think Tesseract, Periphery, Contortionist, etc.)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I personally struggled with this for a <\/span>long <\/span>time.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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After years of reading pretty much all the “mixing clean vocals” tutorials for metal, I pretty much gave up. It didn’t matter what I did to make the vocals sit right.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
It took a LONG time, but the answer was right in front of me<\/strong> the entire time. Turns out these mixing clean vocal tips also work for EDM, Rap, Pop, or other dense\/loud music.\u00a0<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Below, I’ve condensed all these years of trial and error into this <\/span>extremely detailed, step-by-step walk through<\/strong> on how to mix <\/span>crystal clear vocals<\/strong> in dense mixes<\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Get ready because there are lots of knowledge bombs<\/strong> about to be dropped.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Pro Tip” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ text_font=”||||||||” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.05)” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,0,0,0.05)” background_color_gradient_end=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_direction=”270deg” custom_margin=”25px||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_module=”25649″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n

Pro Tip: <\/strong>Scroll to the bottom to watch the video<\/a> at the end of the article where Bobby walks you through each step of the process<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.5″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.5″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Mixing Clean Vocals in Metal” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ header_2_font_size=”28px” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” border_color_all=”#000000″ border_width_bottom=”2px”]<\/p>\n

How To Mix Clean Vocals for Metal and Rock<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Compression” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”25px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false”]<\/p>\n

Compressor Settings for Mixing Singing Vocals<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Compression Text” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”25px||||false|false”]<\/p>\n

Aggressive and dense songs often need a more aggressive vocal compressor.<\/p>\n

My favorite for this is the .<\/p>\n

Set your release<\/strong> as fast as possible<\/strong> (7 on the plugin) and slow down your attack to add aggression<\/strong>. A slower attack (larger attack times) allow the initial transients to go through the compressor, which sounds more “in your face.”<\/p>\n

A good starting point<\/strong> would be attack at “3” and release at “7” on this plugin. On other plugins, aim for around 30-50 ms attack and the shortest time possible for release.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.raytownproductions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/1176-Settings.png” alt=”Compressor Settings for Waves CLA-76 Plugin” title_text=”Compressor Plugin Settings for Mixing Clean Vocals” url=”http:\/\/bit.ly\/2uEzk1a” url_new_window=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”||1px|||” custom_padding=”25px||25px||false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset1″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ text_font=”||on||||||” quote_font_size=”18px” header_2_font_size=”22px” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”20px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”20px” header_2_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|3px|3px|3px|3px”]<\/p>\n

To add aggression<\/strong> to clean vocals<\/strong>, experiment with slower<\/strong> attack<\/strong> and faster<\/strong> release<\/strong> settings like shown above for the Waves CLA-76 plugin.<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”EQ” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” link_option_url_new_window=”on”]<\/p>\n

EQing Vocals<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”EQ Text” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”26px|||||” link_option_url_new_window=”on”]<\/p>\n

To give the vocals “air”, start by removing some muddy frequencies near 300-600 Hz. Start by boosting the EQ and listen for the spot where the vocals sound the worst<\/strong> or are hard to understand. Those<\/u> are the frequencies you want to remove.<\/p>\n

Make your cut there. Try not to over do it! These frequencies give the vocals some weight, so we need some to sound powerful. Watch here!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Parallel Bus” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”26px|||||”]<\/p>\n

Adding Weight and Thickness to Clean Vocals<\/h3>\n

For this trick, we will be setting up a parallel compression bus<\/strong> (or you can use any compressor plugin that has a “dry\/wet knob.<\/strong>” That basically<\/span> is the same thing.<\/p>\n

My favorites are:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You want to send the clean vocal to this bus (or if you have the plugin on your clean vocal channel, adjust the amount of compression using the dry\/wet knob – should be below 50% and closer to 10%).<\/p>\n

Aggressively compress the vocal to bring out the breaths and airy details of the vocal. Then adjust the volume of this aux send to taste. Often, it will be much lower in volume compared to the main vocals (of if you have a dry\/wet knob, adjust this to dial in the effect).<\/p>\n

Watch Me Set the Parallel Vocal Bus in Cubase Here!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”3″ admin_label=”Twitch Signup” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ width=”100%” custom_margin=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding=”23px|50px||50px|false|false” border_radii=”on|2px|2px|2px|2px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.5″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.raytownproductions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Twitch-sm.jpg” alt=”Fabfilter Pro MB Plugin Ratio and Release” title_text=”Twitch-sm” _builder_version=”4.4.8″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.5″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Twitch Signup” _builder_version=”4.4.3″ custom_padding=”0px||25px||false|false”]<\/p>\n

Come learn more mixing and mastering secrets with me live in the studio on twitch!<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span>\ud83d\udcc5\u00a0Thursdays<\/strong> at 8 PM EST
<\/strong><\/span>\ud83d\udd17\u00a0<\/span>twitch.tv\/raytownproductions<\/a><\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.4.5″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.5″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Vocal FX” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ header_2_font_size=”28px” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” border_color_all=”#000000″ border_width_bottom=”2px”]<\/p>\n

Vocal Effects (Stereo Widener, Delay, Reverb)<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Stereo Widening” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”25px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false”]<\/p>\n

Subtle Stereo Widening Vocal Trick<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Stereo Widening Text” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”26px|||||”]<\/p>\n

To make the track larger than life, I like to widen my vocals using a stereo widener. But be careful! A little vocal widening can go a long way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When I mix clean vocals, my favorite plugin is .<\/p>\n

I set up this plugin as an FX bus\/aux send so I can use it for multiple vocal tracks<\/strong>. When set up this way, my favorite plugin settings can be found in the image below. If you don’t want to make an FX send, you can add the plugin to your main vocal channel or bus and dial the wet\/dry knob back.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To dial in the right amount of vocal widening<\/strong>, increase the send or wet amount until the effect is obvious. Then dial it back until you just can’t hear the effect anymore… then dial it back just a touch more<\/em>. DONE!<\/p>\n

Watch Me Dial in the Right Amount of Vocal Widening Here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.raytownproductions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/SoundToys-Microshift-Plugin.png” alt=”RP Blog – SoundToys Microshift Plugin – Vocal Widening ” title_text=”SoundToys Microshift Plugin” url=”http:\/\/bit.ly\/3aiPXOW” url_new_window=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”||-2px|||” custom_padding=”25px||25px||false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset1″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ text_font=”||on||||||” quote_font_size=”18px” header_2_font_size=”22px” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”20px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”20px” header_2_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|3px|3px|3px|3px”]<\/p>\n

Use a spacial enhancer to widen vocals like SoundToys Microshift plugin.<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Delays” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false”]<\/p>\n

Vocal Delays<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Delays Text” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”26px||0px|||”]<\/p>\n

Mixing clean vocals completely dry will sound strange in the final mix. This is because we normally don’t hear vocals that way in our daily lives. We need to give the vocals a\u00a0sense of space<\/strong> and that can be achieved with delay.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Delays” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false”]<\/p>\n

When to Use a Delay Instead of Reverb?<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Delays Text” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”26px||0px|||”]<\/p>\n

Delays are useful when you want to make the vocals sound bigger and more lush, but don’t want to push them back in the mix.<\/p>\n

Reverbs have a tenancy to make us think the vocals are farther back in the mix. So if your vocals feel too far away, you might want to reduce your reverb (or get rid of it) and use a delay instead.<\/p>\n

I typically use 3 different types of delays on my vocals. A slower, tempo synced delay to add length to the vocals, a faster ping pong delay to add width, and a tempo mismatched (1\/4 note one side and 1\/16 on other) to “fill in the gaps”.<\/p>\n

I highly recommend rolling off low end from your delays to prevent buildup of frequencies in the low mids. So try putting\u00a0 a high pass filter around 400 hz and adjust to taste.<\/p>\n

If you need your delays to hide more when mixing clean vocals, use a low pass filter to dial back the high frequencies. Try a low pass filter around 3 KHz and again, adjust to taste.<\/p>\n

Watch Me Dial In Delay for Lead Vocals Here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Reverb” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false”]<\/p>\n

How to Add Reverb to Vocals<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Reverb Text” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false”]<\/p>\n

Reverb give the vocals a sense of space. Depending on what you are trying to achieve, you may not need to add any reverb at all (very dry, clear vocal sound). Instead, just using a delay might be a better option.<\/p>\n

If you to gel your vocals with other instruments, this is my favorite way to do it. Without getting too much into the nuances of reverb, there are a few different types that have different sounds. My favorites are plate (tight, high frequencies, linear decay), hall (usually dull sounding, 3D, lush), and room (tight, early reflections, width).\u00a0<\/p>\n

I tend to blend a little of all three to get the vocals to sit just right.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Adding reverb will almost always make the vocals feel like they are being pushed back in the mix, but you can add a little predelay (50-100 ms) to make the vocalist feel like they are close to the listener, but still in a large room.\u00a0<\/p>\n

YMMV with different plugin companies, but some of my favorites are:<\/p>\n