Help recording R&B vocals

[abstract]

I'm trying to find a format to record r&b vocals. Would I record the lead 2 times pan left and right? Chorus 4 times? 3 part harmony? Looking for advice from other producers on this subject. I usually record rap vocals but recently i've run into an r&b artist i would like to work with. Any information you're willing to share would be greatly appreciated and put to good use!

[filterayok]

record the lead at least four times on different playlists, (i do as many as fifteen sometimes) so you can comp ONE amazing take, i wouldn't layer it.

BGV's quad everynote, and theres no limit to harmonies, just quad everything, but everything has to be SUPER tight when you stack.

[KeMiKaL]

Heres How I Do it:

CHORUS:

6 Takes (you may choose to do 8 or 10)

Pan 2 of them Hard Left and Right
Pan 2 of them 75% Left 75% Right
Pan 2 of them 60% Left 60% Right

(HARMONIES In Chorus: This varies depending on how any parts you gonna have, I usually have my artist do 4 Takes for 2 diff Harmonizations)

Harm1: (2 Takes)

Pan Hard Left and Hard Right

Harm2: (2 Takes)


Pan Hard Left and Hard Right



Verses:

I ususally use 1 good take for Center, but my artist may want some harmonizations as well, keep the harms in the center as well

but I also do voice overs (adding power to certain words of the verse usually the last bar)

the voice overs I do 2 takes each panning each 75% L 75% R

hope I helped...

and remember

the more takes.. the more "fuller" your vocals are going to sound

[abstract]

Thanks for the help! Anyone else willing to share?

[jb4play]

Great tips in here, also, try Synchro Arts- VocALign (Synchro Arts - VocALign). Does wonders on stacks/bgv vox to make them sync just right.

[abstract]

Originally Posted by jb4play

Great tips in here, also, try Synchro Arts- VocALign (Synchro Arts - VocALign). Does wonders on stacks/bgv vox to make them sync just right.

Hey thanks for the info!

[Canine]

I tried difernt tings.The best rise Im getting is from a hard pan left to right.
Then pushing the time on a track so it kind of phases and makes a track soung bigger.

[matthew.sawicki]

Originally Posted by Canine

I tried difernt tings.The best rise Im getting is from a hard pan left to right.
Then pushing the time on a track so it kind of phases and makes a track soung bigger.

Sounds like you're just duplicating a track... tutt

Boooooooo!

[FULL-DUPLEX]

As stated before VocAlign for easy sync.

An airy, "modern" sounding mic like the Sony C-800G, ELA 251 resp. their clones.

And a lot of stacking vocals...

[sonnyblack2000]

Also for the doubles of the lead in the hooks, have 2 trx full power exactly like the lead and then 2 trx sung in a more breathy way, the mix of those different tones will give you some nice open airy sound.

[abstract]

Kool thanks for the info

[yungcbmusic]

For a clean and balance format. I would utilize the following:

Lead Vox For Verses:

1 take Center (No Dub Or Paning). If the singer has a great voice, no need to have other voices fighting for the lead. Comp As many takes as you desire & Pick the best 1.

Background Vox/Harmony's:

2 to 6 takes depending on how thick & full you like them (pan each of them, try hard panning, then try to slightly pan them all with different values slightly appart)

Chorus:

Various ways.

U could double the chorus, & Hard pan them L, R.

U could do a triple take. Pan 1 L, Pan 1 R, Pan 1 Center.

Or U could do a four pass chorus. 1st & 2nd takes Paned L, 3rd & 4th takes R.

Intro/Outro:

Same as verse.

-Yung CB (www.yungcbmusic.com)

[RTR]

WOW.,..Lots of VOX takes these days....

[CJ Mastering]

Here are some basic tips on vocal recording. Recording vocals are not genre specific, so this applies to most, if not all vocals.

vocal recording tips

Compressors are also important, so ill posr this for you also.
audio compressor tips

I hope this helps you get your vocla to whare you want them

[warrior545]

actually it all depends on your project, I haven't hear it yet so I will give you some guidelines:
1. if the arrangement is very busy you may record only one take,
but notice that one take can sometimes sound not so smooth if you don't have a high quality signal path, two or three takes can get the smoothness back.
2. if the arrangement have a lot of free space you may record 4 voices harmony that means you reach 16 takes, or 17.
every 4 are panned to the sides, and the main one to the center.
3. when the singer is in your studio, record as many takes as you can, later when the singer leaves you to work, try all the combination that you think may work and use the best combination you find, next time with this same singer the work will be a lot easier.