Need advice on taming harsh female vocals!

[Stackx]

Links aren't working for me.

[doubledre]

oh really? I'll check it when i get back home from work. Not sure why its not working.

[RickFuimo]

One of my instructors from school once suggested using a multiband compressor on female vocalists if the upper mids are too overwhelming at intense parts.

It essentially will give you better results than EQ, because the compressor will only attack the designated frequencies once they reach the threshold you set, so that the rest of the vocal track, when not as intense/harsh, won't be effected.

[Stackx]

Yup thats a good technique when you have a wide range that is harsh because if you use de-essers you'd have to use like 4 or 5 of them lol. but if its just one frequency that is harsh use a de-esser. but the best way to get rid of harshness is at the source when its being recorded.. if you've done your best there and its still harsh then automation is your second best. just bring the volume level of those down to where they're not so relevant.

just remember when you use any tools always use them lightly, once they become noticeable back off them a lil.

[BillSimpkins]

Put an EQ on the sidechain path of the compressor and boost the harsh mids. If you have a Distressor, select the midrange boost on the detector section. The plugin "Smack" has a midrange detector boost too, I believe.

[huejahfink]

+1 on sidechain.
ITB, I find Waves C1-SC in sidechain mode with the filters set up to the offending frequency region. I find this excellent and pretty seamless for this.

[NYCruiser]

Another thing to consider is mic choice and mic placement during tracking.

[trweiss]

Multiband compression is a good idea. Of course, it helps to know which frequencies to attenuate. A good technique is to put a parametric eq on the vocal track. Set the q as narrow as possible, boost the maximum, and sweep the spectrum. You'll very quickly and accurately find the problem frequencies.

[huejahfink]

A dynamic EQ could also be used.

[Justsomeguy]

I had a similar problem with a female vocal for a folk track. i spent a long time with different EQ's, comps, de-essors trying to soften it up and get it to work in the mix. the quickest and most effective solution was a different mic (ended up using an Apex 205 unmodded). i say "quickest" because once we found the right mic for her voice it needed very little processing to get it to sit in the track, although the hunt for the right mic took an hour or so and ALOT of mic's but it paid off.

What DAW are you using? if you've got Logic 8 or 9 it's standard compressor has a side chain window built into it and you can very quickly set up frequency conscious compression in it