Vocal Thickening Tips

[XHipHop]

I'm mixing a track right now where the chorus was only single-tracked...what would you guys suggets to widen/thicken the sound? I have some decent effects so I'm willing to try anything. I've already done some stuff with harmonizers but I'm very interested in learning knew techniques and would like to experiment.

[filterayok]

try this------duplictate your track six times---pan three left, three right.....then pitch each track like two or three cents il you got your main original vocal in the middle, two cents up on the right, two cents down on the left, then another 4 cents down on the right, four cents down on the left, then six up, six down....see where i'm going with this??? you should also nudge them all a bit to avoid phasing.....But it won't sound good if the pitched vocals are too loud----its gotta be SUTTLE as all hell---should sound kinda like your original vocal's on steroids.....

[heyman]

Try this... Clone the track- make a duplicate.. then add a 3mils delay to the cloned track and pan it hard right or left... Leave the main vox track right down the middle..

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

but I'm very interested in learning knew techniques and would like to experiment.

What i do is in the audio list i look for any extra takes of the chorus that didn't make it(for whatever reason) and i compile them to make a double or sometimes a triple.

You fix them up and voila...instant layered chorus.

[putney]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

I'm mixing a track right now where the chorus was only single-tracked...what would you guys suggets to widen/thicken the sound? I have some decent effects so I'm willing to try anything. I've already done some stuff with harmonizers but I'm very interested in learning knew techniques and would like to experiment.

R&B ? Rap? What kind of track ?

[rickrock305]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

What i do is in the audio list i look for any extra takes of the chorus that didn't make it(for whatever reason) and i compile them to make a double or sometimes a triple.

You fix them up and voila...instant layered chorus.

if your lucky...i find that audio files are rarely named properly, especially ones that didn't make it in the actual take. Chorus leads will be named ad libs or Audio File 02NORM_04_03_28GAIN, some crap like that. Most people are way too lazy when it comes to naming audio files.

[themaestro]

if i dont stack the vocals i make a send from the lead out to a stereo auxilary and put digidesign pitch on it. pitch the left side down a hair, and pitch up the right side. then i put a compressor on the auxilary to squash it a little. a little small room verb to air it out, then pull it all the way down on the fader. then in headphones i bring it back up slow till it thickens the lead but doesnt sound like a robot. that works for me

[blayz2002]

Originally Posted by heyman

Try this... Clone the track- make a duplicate.. then add a 3mils delay to the cloned track and pan it hard right or left... Leave the main vox track right down the middle..

Sorry to go off topic slightly...but could this also work on a lead rap vox..if I only get one track of lead? I'm thinking there may be phasing issues.

[themaestro]

Originally Posted by blayz2002

Sorry to go off topic slightly...but could this also work on a lead rap vox..if I only get one track of lead? I'm thinking there may be phasing issues.

the tip i posted is PERFECT for lead rap vocals, NO PHASING!!!

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

What i do is in the audio list i look for any extra takes of the chorus that didn't make it(for whatever reason) and i compile them to make a double or sometimes a triple.

You fix them up and voila...instant layered chorus.

It's a no-go on the other takes, unfortunately. It seems like when they nailed it, they moved on to track other things. The take I'm using is the only usable one.

[Charlie-O]

Not sure if you tried it, but waves doubler works great..... the basic doubler preset is the on I use. That and a little delay set at 1/8 (dependin on tempo) should give you that aftermath chorus feel.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by Charlie-O

Not sure if you tried it, but waves doubler works great..... the basic doubler preset is the on I use. That and a little delay set at 1/8 (dependin on tempo) should give you that aftermath chorus feel.

I'll def. check that out. what bundle does that come in? I haven't given waves any money in a looooong time.

[XHipHop]

I wonder if that new antares avox bundle is any good for this sort of thing, too.

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

I'll def. check that out. what bundle does that come in? I haven't given waves any money in a looooong time.

Wow, i just found it in the waves musicians bundle for $159. The price is right..

[Charlie-O]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

Wow, i just found it in the waves musicians bundle for $159. The price is right..

Demo t out for your session, no B.s., I use that plug alot..... Its a great tool. I bought the diamonfd bundle, and doubler and rvox get alot of miles. I also like it on keyboard sounds when they are in need of thickening.

[themaestro]

wow guys, not to get pissy, but it sounds like ya'll just aren't hearing me? is it becuz of my post count, i look like a newbie? i've placed songs on major label relaeses using the technique i posted, i've seen some of the TOP mix engineers in the game (grammy winners...john fry, jean marie newkirk, phil tan) all use digidesign pitch for thickening rap leads! you dont have to buy waves, demo anything out for a session, clone this-clone that, just give it a try, its been tried and tested and it works..:(

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by themaestro

wow guys, not to get pissy, but it sounds like ya'll just aren't hearing me? is it becuz of my post count, i look like a newbie? i've placed songs on major label relaeses using the technique i posted, i've seen some of the TOP mix engineers in the game (grammy winners...john fry, jean marie newkirk, phil tan) all use digidesign pitch for thickening rap leads! you dont have to buy waves, demo anything out for a session, clone this-clone that, just give it a try, its been tried and tested and it works..:(

If you read my original post, I said I went right for the harmonizers (pitch shifting). Your technique was the first thing i tried and it definitely helped.

I'm just looking for other ideas to try out. I'm mixing a few songs by this artist so I put this track aside for the moment. No disrespect intended!

[Shan]

Originally Posted by themaestro

wow guys, not to get pissy...

And it's a very common tip that many here use. It's the old Eventide dual H910 trick. Used as far back as the 70s and posted in many threads throughout GS.

I myself would like to know the history of this one. I use it on many mixes myself. Many variations on a theme on this one.

Shane

[Shan]

Originally Posted by XHipHop

I wonder if that new antares avox bundle is any good for this sort of thing, too.

I had a bit of success with AVOX DUO myself. Although I used it on a radio ad on a very fast dialog part. Give the demo a shot.

I have also used the Waves Doubler with good results on a rap vocal where they forgot to do the double in one section of the track.

And since you are looking for 'knew' techniques, as mentioned in your first post , depending on your own vox skills, you could probably double it yourself. That is a very common method also. Some of the Averil recordings come to mind that use that technique. I think I read a 'how to' interview by one of the producers that did that somewhere on the net.

Another cool tip is to run your 'fake' plugin double through an old SPX90 in bypass. It 'dumbs down' the sonics a bit. That is also useful on the Dual H910 trick(Use 2 SPX90s in bypass) if you are using plugins to emulate it. (And even plugin verbs and delays) The SPX90 trick I got from Thrillfactor long ago.

Shane

[rickrock305]

Originally Posted by Shan

Another cool tip is to run your 'fake' plugin double through an old SPX90 in bypass. It 'dumbs down' the sonics a bit. That is also useful on the Dual H910 trick(Use 2 SPX90s in bypass) if you are using plugins to emulate it. (And even plugin verbs and delays) The SPX90 trick I got from Thrillfactor long ago.

Shane

interesting one! I'll have to try that out

[themaestro]

sorry, its just been one of those days :)

[filterayok]

Originally Posted by themaestro

wow guys, not to get pissy, but it sounds like ya'll just aren't hearing me? is it becuz of my post count, i look like a newbie? i've placed songs on major label relaeses using the technique i posted, i've seen some of the TOP mix engineers in the game (grammy winners...john fry, jean marie newkirk, phil tan) all use digidesign pitch for thickening rap leads! you dont have to buy waves, demo anything out for a session, clone this-clone that, just give it a try, its been tried and tested and it works..:(

HELLLOOOOO!!! Imagine how offended I am!!! I said basically the same thing in the FIRST post!!! Yall fools better recoginize!!! Just Kidding

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by Shan

I had a bit of success with AVOX DUO myself. Although I used it on a radio ad on a very fast dialog part. Give the demo a shot.

I have also used the Waves Doubler with good results on a rap vocal where they forgot to do the double in one section of the track.

And since you are looking for 'knew' techniques, as mentioned in your first post , depending on your own vox skills, you could probably double it yourself. That is a very common method also. Some of the Averil recordings come to mind that use that technique. I think I read a 'how to' interview by one of the producers that did that somewhere on the net.

Another cool tip is to run your 'fake' plugin double through an old SPX90 in bypass. It 'dumbs down' the sonics a bit. That is also useful on the Dual H910 trick(Use 2 SPX90s in bypass) if you are using plugins to emulate it. (And even plugin verbs and delays) The SPX90 trick I got from Thrillfactor long ago.

Shane

Thanks for the advice...and the "knew" thing was definitely a typo! I play poker usually while typing on here...lost $ last night.