Doubling vocals

[networkresearch]

How often do you double up on main vocals?
For what reason would or wouldn't you do it?
At what approx. level or ratio will you mix it in?

On the last cd my band made we double up almost every main vocal. This time around I'm thinking only on the faster, louder songs.

Any replies will be greatly appreciated

Jonathan

[lord_bunny]

I love vocal doubling. There are as many ways to go about it as there are moods or "scenes" possible in the songs you have. On some of my song's I really prefer ala Elliott Smith/Beatles/Floyd of just having two lead vocals at equal volume, perhaps panned. It really depends on what the song is about though. You could make an arguement that if the song is about something lonely or solitary then perhaps a double is not appropriate. Dark Side Of The Moon covers this exestential theme all over and yet David's vocal is doubled I think in almost every instance... so it's Art not science.

When I mix pop rock tunes sometimes I do a 65/35 split in levels just to thicken up the lead without getting too crazy, because the artist doesn't want to deal with re-creating that vibe in a live situation.

Also, I've used a lot of different ADT's before and nothing will ever beat just singing those lines over and over until you've got some takes that are nearly identical... and then the flaws that are left become the stuff that gives you goosebumps.

[Engine Room]

If you have an extra tape machine lying around try a tape delay on the lead vocal. Worked wonders for Elvis.

[Avalon Adam]

Sometimes only doubling on the "chorus" or parts that are supposed to sound "bigger" is a better way to use it dynamically. However, some bands or hip hop artists like to double all over the place which can be cool in certain cases but sometimes it is just too much. So use your ears and apply it when necessary.

[Mushy]

Doubling entire vocal performances (ie Jack Johnson) fatigues my ears. The purity of a single voice should never be discounted. The words mean more that way.

I'm all for doubling as an effect but you have to remember that as a trick, it's one of the oldest ones in the book. Whenever I hear too much doubling, I always equate it to amateurism.... Kind of like too much reverb...

As with everything, though, these ideas develop with experience. There is also taking into account what is right for the song. Hey, it works for Jack Johnson so it must be right for his songs.

[gainstages]

I agree a lot with the last 2 posts. doubling is great, but don't get carried away - sometimes letting a single voice breath and have some space around it is great.

i love having a lot of contrast between a thick chorus and a gentle/delicate verse. very nice on the right song.

I use delay a lot, fills out the sound without having to double everything. I do believe in doing lots of doubles, and in some cases triples but again, as with anything, use your ears and use in moderation.

[paully]

Originally Posted by Mushy

Doubling entire vocal performances (ie Jack Johnson) fatigues my ears...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mushy,

In another thread, someone wanted to know his 'secret'. I listened to half a dozen tracks, and I swear I didn't hear doubling. They actually sounded like VERY single voiced. Can you suggest a track where it is evident? Starting to doubt my hearing!

Best, Paul

[N.Kontra]

I think everyone touched on what I would say, but for here is a technique I use sometimes. Sing your double in a much more dynamic manner emphasizing certain parts then use a limiter rather than a compressor. The idea is to retain depth without always having to hear a double. You'll hear it when you want to. Automating volume can help achieve this effect as well.

[xmostynx]

Originally Posted by paully

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mushy,

In another thread, someone wanted to know his 'secret'. I listened to half a dozen tracks, and I swear I didn't hear doubling. They actually sounded like VERY single voiced. Can you suggest a track where it is evident? Starting to doubt my hearing!

Best, Paul

i'm in this boat with you...

i hear alot of doubling and such on chorus' i've listened to 'the news'

and a few tunes off in between dreams...


it sounds like good equipment, good mic placement, and his ability to to sing.

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by paully

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Mushy,

In another thread, someone wanted to know his 'secret'. I listened to half a dozen tracks, and I swear I didn't hear doubling. They actually sounded like VERY single voiced. Can you suggest a track where it is evident? Starting to doubt my hearing!

Best, Paul

A question I have along this line is, can one use something like a Rane SM26b to split the vocal in two, run this into the console, and slightly pan each differently so it sounds like two yet is only one voice?

[dcharrison]

I came across an interesting twist on vocal doubling. Quite by chance, while setting levels, I asked the singer to sing his part. It was a short piece and we wound up laying down the whole song even though the vocals sounded quite odd to me. Thing is, I couldn't see into the studio, and it turns out the artist was sitting on the couch about 6' away from the mic when he sang!
Naturally, we went on to do a proper take up close to the mic, and when I played it back, I inadvertently left the goofy track up in the mix. What a surprise! 'The goofy track was kind of like a room mic in that it had lots of ambiance and kind of like a double since it was a slightly different performance, but it didn't have that obvious Everly Bros. sound. I loved it, but I couldn't sell the band on it.
"Hey, we're not a commercial band, man."
Still, it remains in my bag of trix just in case someone actually wants to sell records.

[stagefright13]

Another thing you can do that sounds cool is leave the main vocal track stock. Then add a second one on a second track that has been Melodyned to 100%. Then automate it in for certain words or sections as the double.

[dcharrison]

I think the most valuable advice I have read here is to only double where it makes sense to double. You can choose to do it on the verse, but not the chorus, on the chorus, but not the verse. You can do it where it makes sense with the mood, with the lyrics, or with the instrumentation. The important thing is to think about what that sound means to the song.

Also, consider what it means to your life as a performer. If you are strongly identified with that sound, your CD customers are going to expect to hear it live--and probably forever.

[macleodgrant]

i now use the Antares Duo plugin, this thing rocks and actually sounds like another person singing