CLA Vocal Compression

[msrecprod]

I was listening to the first Blindside record and the Autopiolit Off record. On both records the vocals sound exactly the same sounding (compression and EFX wise). This is not the case with all of his records that I listen to. The thing I notice most about it is the compression. At some points I can even hear the pop of the compressor working. This sound is something I only hear in his mixs. I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of the compressor used on his vocals also what EFX stuff is he running on the vocals.

[Winey]

1176

[msrecprod]

Winey, I agree that most of his mixes sound like the vocals could be an 1176, but on the two albums I mentioned, I think there is something else going on. Not sure though. Mybe I just havn't used an 1176 in the way that he's using it. Any ideas on the settings?

[bpatural]

the couple times i've been in there he uses a pegged 1176 on vox...his brother i've seen use that vac rack thing too.

[robmix]

1176 everyday of the week. On some country vox he used to use a 2254 sometimes followed by the 1176 but that became very rare.

[msrecprod]

Does anyone know how it was set, or how he was hitting it to get that clear in your face vocal.

[u b k]

i have no idea how he does it, but the best way (ime) to get a really clear vocal that's all upfront, all the time, is to do a boatload of fader rides. i'm a huge fan of squashing a vocal to near lifelessness, then using the fade to restore motion and dynamics exactly where i want them. call me old fashioned, i like the la2a for smooth bigness, and the 1176 for hypey bigness. i also eq and de-ess before compression, no sense making the compressor pump on freqs i don't want to hear anyway.

and if you want the vocal to pop, draw a little sawtooth waveform on your daw's automation at the beginning of a word. assuming you have the all powerful mouse, use it!


gregoire
del ubik

[84K]

Originally Posted by u b i k

i have no idea how he does it, but the best way (ime) to get a really clear vocal that's all upfront, all the time, is to do a boatload of fader rides. i'm a huge fan of squashing a vocal to near lifelessness, then using the fade to restore motion and dynamics exactly where i want them. call me old fashioned, i like the la2a for smooth bigness, and the 1176 for hypey bigness. i also eq and de-ess before compression, no sense making the compressor pump on freqs i don't want to hear anyway.

and if you want the vocal to pop, draw a little sawtooth waveform on your daw's automation at the beginning of a word. assuming you have the all powerful mouse, use it!


gregoire
del ubik

Having an Atomic Squeezebox around would probably save you a lot of time in your mixing.... the box does the fader rides. It is truly amazing.... feels weird when you first hear it... big wow factor.

[msrecprod]

That sound's like what I kinda do. The biggest problem that I run into is that the lowend of the vocal get's pushed way up on the tails of phrases. I can ride the vocal down, but the exagerated low end is still there. That's why I was wondering about the CLA compression, because he gets it in your face without all the bad artifacts that I'm experiencing.

[msrecprod]

Does anyone know what eq is going on the vocals to smooth it out? Thinking about it now different eqs would make a huge difference in how the compressor acts. Also after some searching I found some info that The Thrill Factor had posted about Vak Rac compressors on Lord Alge's vocals. Can anyone comment on this?

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by msrecprod

That sound's like what I kinda do. The biggest problem that I run into is that the lowend of the vocal get's pushed way up on the tails of phrases. I can ride the vocal down, but the exagerated low end is still there. That's why I was wondering about the CLA compression, because he gets it in your face without all the bad artifacts that I'm experiencing.

EQ going into the comp.

That's what i do 99% of the time when mixing leads.

The crucial aspect of a lead are the mid frequencies.

Certain singers move up and down the mid ranges so making a compressor more freq dependent makes it stay out of the problem consonants.

The only time i do the reverse is when i am using the comp for coloration.

Also for the in your face sound a compressor chain is needed(2 compressors in series) with an EQ before an after.

Lastly splitting parts on 2 faders is needed for certain sections.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by msrecprod

Does anyone know what eq is going on the vocals to smooth it out? Thinking about it now different eqs would make a huge difference in how the compressor acts.

Read above.

Originally Posted by msrecprod

Also after some searching I found some info that The Thrill Factor had posted about Vak Rac compressors on Lord Alge's vocals. Can anyone comment on this?

The Vac Rac on stun has a certain sound.

It tends to make the vocals bright but not with alot of artifacts.

I prefer it on a vocal that needs less coloration and has been tracked correctly.

[u b k]

Originally Posted by 84K

Having an Atomic Squeezebox around would probably save you a lot of time in your mixing.... the box does the fader rides. It is truly amazing.... feels weird when you first hear it... big wow factor.

you there! with your evil, expensive gear taunts! away i tell you!!

any chance that, in spite of its amazingness, it sounds like @ss? because then i wouldn't have to buy it.

now tell me the truth, but feel free to show mercy thru the judicious use of lies.


gregoire
del ubik

[msrecprod]

Thrill, what types of eq would you use before and after compression? Is there something that you have found as a starting point?

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by msrecprod

Thrill, what types of eq would you use before and after compression? Is there something that you have found as a starting point?

Massive Passive or a Neve in overdrive.

After i like a GML or SSL EQ.

[msrecprod]

Thrill, what Neve do you feel best suits the vocal in overdrive and in other situatons. I guess my question is really, do you prefer the 1073 or the 1081?

[audioez]

Originally Posted by msrecprod

Thrill, what Neve do you feel best suits the vocal in overdrive and in other situatons. I guess my question is really, do you prefer the 1073 or the 1081?

I know you're asking Mr. Thrill, but any neve product pre 1980 is gonna take your engineering experience to the next level, it's scarry!!

[EngineEars]

Originally Posted by audioez

I know you're asking Mr. Thrill, but any neve product pre 1980 is gonna take your engineering experience to the next level, it's scarry!!

You mean the number at the end of a Neve module isn't the year it was made?

[Fibes]

12 to 1-- attack 5-7 release 5-7.

Kill it. to hell with stun

12-1 is the magic 1176 curve. Now the magicians guild will have me killed for releasing that inf

Goodnight.

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by EngineEars

You mean the number at the end of a Neve module isn't the year it was made?

Only in the case of the 33609.

[audioez]

Originally Posted by max cooper

Only in the case of the 33609.

Very much so, I'm partying like it's

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by msrecprod

Thrill, what Neve do you feel best suits the vocal in overdrive and in other situatons. I guess my question is really, do you prefer the 1073 or the 1081?

I was talking about the 1073.

Patching the tape return straight into the mic pre instead of the line input.

And i disagree on the pre 1080 thing since the 1066 has a 10k hi instead of the 12K on the 1073.

This makes a difference on vocals.

But less on drums.

I love the 1081.

Though i've used it more for vocals that need less of the Neve sound and more of as a corrective EQ.

[msrecprod]

Thrill, you got me thinking now. I have a pair of 2254's and I think I'll try eqing into them and using the make up gain to get some distortion. Are there any ratio or other settings you guys like to the 2254's. I've tracked a lot of vocals through them (really like the 4:1), but mixing I'm usually using them somewere else. I'll have to give it a try.

[Prickstein]

Originally Posted by robmix

1176 everyday of the week

Series or Parallel?

[JChap]

If anyone still cares:

"EQ: How much are you compressing and automating the vocals?
CLA: Oh, we’re hitting them with a baseball bat like three or four times over. I’m not using the compression to save myself from having to ride the fader; I’m trying to put some character into it. I want it to sound like it was recorded on a 16 track, with a Fairchild, hitting the tape nice and hard, adding all of that color and character into it — making that in your face sound"

[Louderock]

If I'm not mistaken, I think he uses the Purple Audio 1176. At least he did at one time.

I have to agree on the eq before compression. My chain is typically an 1176 on the channel insert of my SSL and the insert is 'In' but not 'Pre'. This means the insert is not pre-eq. I'll experiment with dipping a little low mid out, around 400 depending upon the proximity effect of how the vocal was recorded. Then, I'll look for frequencies in the midrange around 1k to dip and just listen to the sound. There is no one magic formula since every singers timbre is different. Subtle eq moves can have drastic effects as to how well a vocal can sit it the track. I'll usually put a Pultec after the compressor to add a bit of top around 10k. Interesting to watch your compressor meter while turning this SSL eq on and off. You'll soon realize that these mid frequencies are really what's driving your compressor.

[Lord Fear]

He just mixed a record for me. He was using the retro 176 on the lead vocal. Slaming it fairly hard. The Dbl got a blue stripe and any bgv's were treated with vac rac's. as far as fx he has his two echo pro's that he uses for vocals/guitars. he also had a sde-3000?? roland delay for a slap. i didn't catch all the verbage but i know i saw a rev 7 on the lead vocal.

[gainreduction]

In the SOS interview, which is about the track "the black parade", he says the first stop was Waves L1, done in the transfer from PT to the Sony machine. Then the bluestripe 1176 (which he says is wired all wrong inside) and then dbx263 de-esser.

For this particular track that is.

[wildpark]

if money isnt the chase i take a gml 8900 for fader rides

Originally Posted by 84K

Having an Atomic Squeezebox around would probably save you a lot of time in your mixing.... the box does the fader rides. It is truly amazing.... feels weird when you first hear it... big wow factor.

[84K]

Originally Posted by wildpark

if money isnt the chase i take a gml 8900 for fader rides

I had the GML.... sold it, kept the Squeezebox and bought a second. Not even close, YMMV