What effects distinguish chorus from verse?

[suzzymackenzie]

Main sonic feature I would expect from a chorus is a bigger sound and in all dimensions. Like a Greek chorus - the impression of a small crowd of people echoing, reiterating, backing up what the soloist said.

So perhaps you'll be using more voices and/or other instrumentation coming in to left and right to add breadth, and using EQ and reverb on them to add depth.

You'll expect a dynamic lift - more loudness in the chorus.

There'll be more harmonic richness - a verse guitar gets a bit more drive, the piano player turns to a growly hammond instead.

And structure-wise there will be ramp-up or build up signals at the end of a verse telling you clearly that the chorus is about to hit - could be a crescendoing drum fill, or a whole pre-chorus that steps up a few chords to reach up to a higher rooted chord for the chorus.

[Bender412]

In other words, the arrangement, structure and content of a song is what differentiate the sections, more so than just "effects."

[BeatGenerals]

For me its never really about effects but more instruments. For my hooks ill usually add new sounds to thicken it up or really strip it down when compared to the verses. To bring them in ill do some drops, sfx, to build it up to the hook. Not sure if you mean just vocals effects though lol.

[Adam Dempsey]

Originally Posted by Bender412

In other words, the arrangement, structure and content of a song is what differentiate the sections, more so than just "effects."

This, with the vibe/energy of a performance. Sometimes possibly some slight fader automation to help things along. Sometimes, fx-wise, some mix elements may get drier – rather than wetter – to help bring them to the foreground.

[Laurend]

Originally Posted by Bender412

In other words, the arrangement, structure and content of a song is what differentiate the sections, more so than just "effects."

I totally agree with that statement.

[frans]

Originally Posted by Bender412

In other words, the arrangement, structure and content of a song is what differentiate the sections, more so than just "effects."

The verse should be a good idea, the chorus a really, really good idea. In case of songwriting, study the classics. Motown, Beatles, Napalm Death (..just kidding)

[deft_bonz]

Originally Posted by Bender412

In other words, the arrangement, structure and content of a song is what differentiate the sections, more so than just "effects."

Originally Posted by frans

The verse should be a good idea, the chorus a really, really good idea. In case of songwriting, study the classics. Motown, Beatles, Napalm Death (..just kidding)

Voilà

Nothing more to say.

Effects should just support the vocals and/or put them into a space, so the mix doesn't sound flat.

It could be interesting to have a small room during verse, and a big room during chorus. But I can imagine that this could confuse the audience.

[khan88]

Great input. The thing I wonder about adding layers of vocals (ex, singing the chorus a few separate times and layering them) is comb filtering (or phase cancellation or whatever its called)

I really dont know much about it, but how do you prevent "weird" things from happening when layering vocals?

[RonT]

Originally Posted by khan88

Great input. The thing I wonder about adding layers of vocals (ex, singing the chorus a few separate times and layering them) is comb filtering (or phase cancellation or whatever its called)

I really dont know much about it, but how do you prevent "weird" things from happening when layering vocals?

This happens more often when recording the same sources with different mics. When stacking vocals, you are recording at different times and phase issues usually does not happen as much or if it does, it's not that noticeable. Plus you usually pan each take a little different. A little EQ seperation with frequencies and BAM!, Instant "Chorus" with no phase issues.

[khan88]

How many layers are commonly used on choruses in general?

You brought up an interesting method. How would you EQ each one so that you dont cross into the frequency zone of another instrument? What type of filter?

Also, how would you pan each individual one? (specifically, literally how would you turn the pan knob(s). Knob if its a mono track, knobs if stereo.

[Nizzyo]

Pa pa pa poker face pa pa poker face =D

[LimpyLoo]

I usually throw wah-wah on the lead vocal when the chorus drops.

[Nizzyo]

Limpy, is that Johnathan Richman? Very nice!

[LimpyLoo]

Originally Posted by Nizzyo

Limpy, is that Johnathan Richman? Very nice!

He's the best.

[RonT]

Originally Posted by khan88

How many layers are commonly used on choruses in general?

You brought up an interesting method. How would you EQ each one so that you dont cross into the frequency zone of another instrument? What type of filter?

Also, how would you pan each individual one? (specifically, literally how would you turn the pan knob(s). Knob if its a mono track, knobs if stereo.

3 part harmony example:
Two takes for each note. Usually put the low note more towards the center. (-20 for left, +25 for right) Mid or Melody note can go hard left/right or -90, +90. High note at -78,+74

Take everything out below 100 and sweep the mid freq around 800 and cut to taste for Mid or Melody pair. Do something different for the highs. Boost a little at 12k and compress the hell out of it. Boost low mid for low pair and cut the high mid a touch. Send all to a group and compress the group with bus comp. Add some short delay. Add your choice of verb. Automate to taste and be proud of your creation....

Of course this is all subjective, do what sounds great!

[LimpyLoo]

Originally Posted by RonT

Of course this is all subjective, do what sounds great!

Like wah-wah on the lead vox.

[joedoc]

This is a fascinating topic, and worth taking lots of notes on while listening.

To throw in an observation, I dig a lot of the arrangements on Beck's recent albums, and was surprised to notice that on one track (can't thing of which track it was offhand) that the verse vocals were double tracked and with effects, and that in the chorus the move was to a drier, single vocal take.

Taking this idea as an approach to arranging, "drier" sounds usually have more dynamic impact than sustained, effected sounds, and can therefore be useful in creating more impact in a chorus. Lots of cool ideas for mixing can be taken from turning the clichés on their heads.

[khan88]

Originally Posted by RonT

3 part harmony example:
Two takes for each note. Usually put the low note more towards the center. (-20 for left, +25 for right) Mid or Melody note can go hard left/right or -90, +90. High note at -78,+74

Take everything out below 100 and sweep the mid freq around 800 and cut to taste for Mid or Melody pair. Do something different for the highs. Boost a little at 12k and compress the hell out of it. Boost low mid for low pair and cut the high mid a touch. Send all to a group and compress the group with bus comp. Add some short delay. Add your choice of verb. Automate to taste and be proud of your creation....

Of course this is all subjective, do what sounds great!

I am confused what you mean by two takes for each note? Just to clarify, we are still talking vocals right?

[Bender412]

Originally Posted by khan88

I am confused what you mean by two takes for each note? Just to clarify, we are still talking vocals right?

Double track each part.

http://www.mindbenderproductiongroup.com/

[khan88]

Originally Posted by Bender412

Double track each part.

Mindbender Production Group - Pittsburgh recording and production studio

What do you mean by "each part" ....each bar? each word? each verse?

Do you mean singing the vocals once, then going back and singing them again, and line them up so they play at the same time?

[fastlanestoner]

automation is HUGE here! I love automating pans in the choruses, and arrangement plays a part as well. Bringing in more instruments to make the chorus feel denser and back off on the verses is a great technique too

[Stackx]

Just make the chorus bigger or different. There 100's of ways to do this try out a few n see which one works best. Each song is different.

[Bender412]

Originally Posted by khan88

...
Do you mean singing the vocals once, then going back and singing them again, and line them up so they play at the same time?

Yes, also known as layering or stacking. VERY common recording practice.

http://www.mindbenderproductiongroup.com/

[deft_bonz]

Just make sure to get a very good singer when stacking, or be prepared to edit the hell out of the takes

I just recorded a singer this weekend. He was so tight, that after 4 loops I got 4 takes that I could use. All the same... PERFECT fat choir!

[RonT]

Originally Posted by khan88

How many layers are commonly used on choruses in general?

You brought up an interesting method. How would you EQ each one so that you dont cross into the frequency zone of another instrument? What type of filter?

Also, how would you pan each individual one? (specifically, literally how would you turn the pan knob(s). Knob if its a mono track, knobs if stereo.

Originally Posted by khan88

I am confused what you mean by two takes for each note? Just to clarify, we are still talking vocals right?

Originally Posted by khan88

What do you mean by "each part" ....each bar? each word? each verse?

Do you mean singing the vocals once, then going back and singing them again, and line them up so they play at the same time?

Sounds like you got it! Let us know how this method works for ya!