Black Eyed Peas BG Vox

ddrumddude · 10th June 2007

Everytime I hear one of their songs on the radio I love how silky their background vocals sound. Any suggestions to something similar? Is it just her singing a bunch of times, does it sound like they use a harmonizer, i'm just curious. They are soooo smooth, I love that!

lowfreq33 · 10th June 2007

To start with, she has a good tone to her voice. I hear compression, but it's very smooth, probably a couple of comps chained in series, 3db of gain reduction on each. It's double tracked and tuned as well.

ddrumddude · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

To start with, she has a good tone to her voice. I hear compression, but it's very smooth, probably a couple of comps chained in series, 3db of gain reduction on each. It's double tracked and tuned as well.

Great to know! I've always wondered. She does have a GREAT tone to her voice!

So, I know this is a newb question, but what exactly does comps in a chained series do? I'm assuming this is running one comp into another? How many would you guess?

It's double tracked and tuned...both tracks or only one?

sorry for such basic questions, but I really want to learn how to get that smooth sound

Thanks again!

lowfreq33 · 10th June 2007

OK, here's what I do. Set the second compresser (slow attack and release, 3:1 or 4:1 ratio) so that you have 3 db or so of gain reduction on the average levels, and 6 db on the peaks. Then set the first comp (fast attack and release, high ratio) to catch the 3 db of peaks so that they don't hit the second comp. It shouldn't pump, if it does adjust the attack time. This is kind of general, but it should get you in the ballpark.
She could probably get away without the tuning, but people (the label) are so used to hearing it that it just gets done. If I'm tuning doubles, I usually don't touch the pitch curve, I just get the average pitch the same. Otherwise it just sounds funny to me. The differences are what make it work.

studjo · 10th June 2007

I'd ask an engineer who worked on that record - or recorded with BEP.

Jo

donsolo · 12th June 2007

HARD HARD panning.

That's what I hear on top of what we're already talking about.

Seems like it's almost tripple tracked. Left Right Center.

There's a LOT of tuning on that voice though, you can hear the artifacts. And on some of that (IE My Humps) I think it's actually the harmonies are just retuned from the original.

filterayok · 12th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsolo

HARD HARD panning.

That's what I hear on top of what we're already talking about.

Seems like it's almost tripple tracked. Left Right Center.

There's a LOT of tuning on that voice though, you can hear the artifacts. And on some of that (IE My Humps) I think it's actually the harmonies are just retuned from the original.

ALMOST triple tracked?? Four stacks per note at the very least is pretty much the standard----two left, two right---some do much more, but i VERY rarely see less then 4 per note....

ddrumddude · 12th June 2007

Ok, so like on the song "Pump It" where they sing "Turn it up, turn it up". I know I hear her voice for sure, I hear it's panned hard Left and Right. It's layered maybe 3 or 4 times per note...per side? And they are all pitch corrected, right? Do you hear other voices in there?

What other efx are you hearing? I'm sure compression.

To me it's so clean, and sounds so smooth...without this big reverb sound, but still sounded effected somehow.

Is it that there is nothing going on right where they are singing that helps it stand out so well?

Thanks for all the help on this! I just LOVE that sound!

donsolo · 17th June 2007

Triple tracking is the Take 6 and Rockappella tracking method. Though they don't really need pitch correction. The main effect is pitch correction to give it that pseudo-robotic sound on My Humps. I'm going to agree that it's at least doubled on EACH side.

rainbobryte4 · 20th June 2007

I know another technique for that smooth background sound is layering it 3 or 4 times per L and R, (be careful the layers aren't too alike, or else you could get phasing issues) singing harmonies and especially octaves, and not only chain compressing it, but adding a short delay on some or all of the vox tracks...this worked for me while trying to recapture that justin timberlake sound.

black eyed peas = brilliant

ddrumddude · 20th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainbobryte4

I know another technique for that smooth background sound is layering it 3 or 4 times per L and R, (be careful the layers aren't too alike, or else you could get phasing issues) singing harmonies and especially octaves, and not only chain compressing it, but adding a short delay on some or all of the vox tracks...this worked for me while trying to recapture that justin timberlake sound.

black eyed peas = brilliant

Cool! Any chance I can hear what you did?

rainbobryte4 · 20th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrumddude

Cool! Any chance I can hear what you did?

Sure...you can go to my myspace to hear my emulation project of "My Love" by Justin Timberlake. I remade EVERYTHING from that song...NOTHING is copied...let me know whatcha think!!

www.myspace.com/taylorlamb

jwantuch · 21st June 2007

A good singer is the MOST important thing to me. Next, pay careful attention to your signal chain. Cheap circuitry leads to distortion. Most people don't consider distortion to be "smooth". I'm not saying that you have to buy a vintage Neumann to track all of your vocals; there are upgrades that you can do that don't cost a penny. For example, there are a number of mics that layer several layers of protection for the capsule/ribbon. These layers, while offering protection, cause smearing/muffling of high frequencies that will really define your sound. Throw out half of your microphone and you've already improved it. Maybe not the answer you're looking for and there's definitely more that you'll have to do for that sound that you want, but I've seen good engineers with a million+ dollar facility complain about their mixes being muddy when the summing amp on their console is a bunch of 5534's. Substitute discrete JFET's and it clears itself up. I'm not trying to say that good gear will make everything sound better, but sometimes inferior designs will hide greatness. This is all assuming good enough engineering to get the most out of your gear. There's already been enough said about mixing which is an even bigger topic of discussion. Just wanted to throw that bit out there.

C Heat · 21st June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainbobryte4

Sure...you can go to my myspace to hear my emulation project of "My Love" by Justin Timberlake. I remade EVERYTHING from that song...NOTHING is copied...let me know whatcha think!!

www.myspace.com/taylorlamb

Good job man

rainbobryte4 · 21st June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Heat

Good job man

thanks! its the first emulation project i've ever done...so it was quite challenging and educational, but extremley fun to work on

Oroz · 21st June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainbobryte4

I know another technique for that smooth background sound is layering it 3 or 4 times per L and R, (be careful the layers aren't too alike, or else you could get phasing issues)

Phasing issues? You could get phase issues if you record the vocals with 2 mics at the same time but not if you do each take separately. Maybe what your trying to say is that if the takes are too alike they start to sound a little weird (resembling a phasey sound) and if they're not perfect they'll contribute more to the layering sound that we're looking for, right?

rainbobryte4 · 22nd June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oroz

Phasing issues? You could get phase issues if you record the vocals with 2 mics at the same time but not if you do each take separately. Maybe what your trying to say is that if the takes are too alike they start to sound a little weird (resembling a phasey sound) and if they're not perfect they'll contribute more to the layering sound that we're looking for, right?

right...if they are very similar...you will have some weird phasing-like sound issues...another way to avoid that...is detuning some of the vox by a couple of cents...i think there may be a plugin out there that does it for u, haven't tried it yet

ddrumddude · 25th August 2007

Ok...so right on the subject of phasing. If you use pitch correction on the tracks, will that cause phasing? I guess I'm not entirely sure as to what happens when you pitch correct something. I get the notes will be correct, but will the way it does it cause phasing?

If that isn't the case, I could take 3 takes per side, pitch correct, and get close to that type of sound? Or am I going about it wrong?

They are just SOOO tight and smooth. I love it!

10th June 2007	#1
ddrumddude Gear interested Joined: May 2006 Posts: 29 Thread Starter	Black Eyed Peas BG Vox Everytime I hear one of their songs on the radio I love how silky their background vocals sound. Any suggestions to something similar? Is it just her singing a bunch of times, does it sound like they use a harmonizer, i'm just curious. They are soooo smooth, I love that!

10th June 2007	#5
studjo Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 2,414	I'd ask an engineer who worked on that record - or recorded with BEP. Jo __________________ www.studjo.ch http://soundcloud.com/studjo/sets

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10th June 2007	#2
lowfreq33 Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,186	To start with, she has a good tone to her voice. I hear compression, but it's very smooth, probably a couple of comps chained in series, 3db of gain reduction on each. It's double tracked and tuned as well.

12th June 2007	#8
ddrumddude Gear interested Joined: May 2006 Posts: 29 Thread Starter	Ok, so like on the song "Pump It" where they sing "Turn it up, turn it up". I know I hear her voice for sure, I hear it's panned hard Left and Right. It's layered maybe 3 or 4 times per note...per side? And they are all pitch corrected, right? Do you hear other voices in there? What other efx are you hearing? I'm sure compression. To me it's so clean, and sounds so smooth...without this big reverb sound, but still sounded effected somehow. Is it that there is nothing going on right where they are singing that helps it stand out so well? Thanks for all the help on this! I just LOVE that sound!

17th June 2007	#9
donsolo The Audio Whisperer Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Austin Posts: 2,395 3 Reviews written	Triple tracking is the Take 6 and Rockappella tracking method. Though they don't really need pitch correction. The main effect is pitch correction to give it that pseudo-robotic sound on My Humps. I'm going to agree that it's at least doubled on EACH side.

20th June 2007	#10
rainbobryte4 Gear interested Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Fredonia, NY Posts: 12	I know another technique for that smooth background sound is layering it 3 or 4 times per L and R, (be careful the layers aren't too alike, or else you could get phasing issues) singing harmonies and especially octaves, and not only chain compressing it, but adding a short delay on some or all of the vox tracks...this worked for me while trying to recapture that justin timberlake sound. black eyed peas = brilliant

21st June 2007	#13
jwantuch Gear interested Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10	A good singer is the MOST important thing to me. Next, pay careful attention to your signal chain. Cheap circuitry leads to distortion. Most people don't consider distortion to be "smooth". I'm not saying that you have to buy a vintage Neumann to track all of your vocals; there are upgrades that you can do that don't cost a penny. For example, there are a number of mics that layer several layers of protection for the capsule/ribbon. These layers, while offering protection, cause smearing/muffling of high frequencies that will really define your sound. Throw out half of your microphone and you've already improved it. Maybe not the answer you're looking for and there's definitely more that you'll have to do for that sound that you want, but I've seen good engineers with a million+ dollar facility complain about their mixes being muddy when the summing amp on their console is a bunch of 5534's. Substitute discrete JFET's and it clears itself up. I'm not trying to say that good gear will make everything sound better, but sometimes inferior designs will hide greatness. This is all assuming good enough engineering to get the most out of your gear. There's already been enough said about mixing which is an even bigger topic of discussion. Just wanted to throw that bit out there.

25th August 2007	#18
ddrumddude Gear interested Joined: May 2006 Posts: 29 Thread Starter	Ok...so right on the subject of phasing. If you use pitch correction on the tracks, will that cause phasing? I guess I'm not entirely sure as to what happens when you pitch correct something. I get the notes will be correct, but will the way it does it cause phasing? If that isn't the case, I could take 3 takes per side, pitch correct, and get close to that type of sound? Or am I going about it wrong? They are just SOOO tight and smooth. I love it!