Best eq and compressor to get clarity vocals for hip hop vocals

[A Fak]

Originally Posted by CJ Mastering

I want to add so i can clarify.

Can you get a good sound with the Rvox and the other compressors with no attack, release, ratio and knee settings? Yes, BUT, you can get a better sound if you have 100% control over each setting

Cj

I get what you're saying and I agree that you can tailor the comp when you have full control over all the settings. But the beauty of compressors like Rvox, La2, and La3 is that they have their own sound (distortion\comp style\curve) and when you want that sound, you use them. It sounds like it's not your cup of tea and that's fine but there is a reason why you see them in most major studio's and used by some of (if not all) the top engineers in the business. Does Dave Pensado or Michael Brauer have low standards?

Imo all these style of comp's work best when used in series and not doing extreme amounts of GR.

[Ezionjd]

Originally Posted by CJ Mastering

Bro, you don't know me so your 1000% off base about me being arrogant. Like i said and it. Im just answering straight to the point without fluff. But if you feel better calling me names, more power to you.

If you want fluff and smiley faces, im not your guy

I am not saying you ARE arrogant, as a matter of fact from reading your other replies and post's on this forum, I think you're quite knowledgable and very credible.
But some of the replies you had in this thread made you COME ACROSS that way, and not be what i would expect from a professional.
But maybe the noob questions and endless "how do i make my drums bang" threads have gotten to you?
Either way, i still respect that people such as yourself take time to visit these forums and share the knowledge.
Have a nice day.
(Or night, depending on your whereabouts)

[mattgoody]

Originally Posted by CJ Mastering

Bro, you don't know me so your 1000% off base about me being arrogant. Like i said and it. Im just answering straight to the point without fluff. But if you feel better calling me names, more power to you.

If you want fluff and smiley faces, im not your guy

he said you come off as arrogant, which is clear to me as well. Although i value your advice and opinions more than most on the forum, there is no denying that you seem arrogant in this particular thread.

[CJ Mastering]

Well I'm sorry if i offended you or anyone else. I'm here to help others so they can make better music. I'm not here to fight or pick on anyone.

CJ

[Storyville]

For what it's worth, I've used Rvox on gold selling artists and haven't heard anyone complain. Guess I just don't put enough pride or care into my work.

[Vintageidiot]

I think you have to try this and that with whatever mic and pre you used.....waveforms are so different.

[CJ Mastering]

....and i have not used it on songs that are on an award winning album

[Timwaldvogel]

Originally Posted by CJ Mastering

No, i don't like those other ones as i like 100% control over what im doing to a track. Having set attacks, releases and ratios is not soothing i like. If you cant control the attack, release and ration settings ,then i would never use it.

What if a different attack, release and ratio will make the sound better? Having a too fast attack will kill the punch in a track.

Having a too long of a release will not let the compressor react to the next word spoken or sang.

These settings are important!

Tell that to everybody who has ever used a LA2A on vocals over the course of audio history

[CJ Mastering]

I wish i could. I would

[Tha Govna]

Look at me...

I used to hate "use your ears" as an answer, but it almost always is the answer.

The absolute best way to get clarity in your vocals is to practice critical listening.

You do so passively all the time; the more songs you mix the better your critical listening skills get, yadda, yadda, yadda.

So, practice it actively and you'll be on your way to getting what you want.

There is no best eq or compressor for rap vocal clarity. The reason is because of all the other variables; instruments fighting for the same frequency space, the recording itself, the vocal itself, etc.

Maybe all you need to do is take that horn and pan it away from the vocal instead of using eq or compression for example.

You have to learn how to hear that's the problem though.

You have Waves plugins and other ones, so the best thing to do would be to try all the compressors you have.

See what works.

I've a feeling you'll then ask something like "What settings should I use to get clarity?", which is why my suggestion is practicing critical listening rather than an eq and compressor you could use to get what you want.

Forgive me for assuming if this is not the case. I know my answer is cliché' and not very helpful in appearance, but I'm not kidding man. Getting your critical listening skills up makes everything else so much easier to achieve.

[Storyville]

Originally Posted by CJ Mastering

I wish i could. I would

And they would roll their eyes. Because an LA2A is truly an optical compressor - it doesn't have a linear attack or release curve. You can effectively time the attack and release by hitting it harder. Compressor construction isn't so simple - a lot of times the fixed settings are fixed to optimize the circuit characteristics.

Which isn't to say that RVox works exactly that way, although it does seem to change it's behavior based on input.

Point is, RVox is an excellent compressor - unbeatable under certain circumstances. And the insinuation that people who used fixed attack/release time devices aren't putting enough care into their work is such a ridiculous statement it belittles your own experience. Which from what I understand is good - so I have to wonder why you would say something so odd.

[Ezionjd]

Originally Posted by Storyville

And they would roll their eyes. Because an LA2A is truly an optical compressor - it doesn't have a linear attack or release curve. You can effectively time the attack and release by hitting it harder. Compressor construction isn't so simple - a lot of times the fixed settings are fixed to optimize the circuit characteristics.

Which isn't to say that RVox works exactly that way, although it does seem to change it's behavior based on input.

Point is, RVox is an excellent compressor - unbeatable under certain circumstances. And the insinuation that people who used fixed attack/release time devices aren't putting enough care into their work is such a ridiculous statement it belittles your own experience. Which from what I understand is good - so I have to wonder why you would say something so odd.

Spot on. What up Story!

[sbechristos]

I almost use the RComp or RVox from Waves on almost every rap song Im mixing. It seems like it adds just the perfect character for a close up rap vocal vibe.

[Izy]

If im not mistaken, isn't rvox on the leadvox on super bass with nicki minaj? I think I saw a Pensado video with that.

[Stackx]

Naw that was the rcomp. I thought the same thing earlier. I remembered they were talking about the ratio being so high and the rvox doesn't have ratio settings.

[yungjoe727]

Thanks for all the reply.... some of em i try to use..... what is the correct chain on mixing i heard it Compressor first then eq then reverb.... different ppl telling me different shit...

[jeremycox]

An 1176 is worth trying too. Dont be afraid to take 10 or more db of gain reduction.

[tdot]

Well, I'll just give a direct answer to a direct question.

API 550B
Tube-Tech CL 1B (Softube plugin, or if you want you could always get a real one)

[StringBean]

Originally Posted by Storyville

For what it's worth, I've used Rvox on gold selling artists and haven't heard anyone complain. Guess I just don't put enough pride or care into my work.

Tracked clean and only compressed with RVox?

I can't imagine one would choose a plugin with access to real gear...maybe I need to check out this plugin lol.

[jeremycox]

Originally Posted by StringBean

Tracked clean and only compressed with RVox?

I can't imagine one would choose a plugin with access to real gear...maybe I need to check out this plugin lol.

Its a pretty sold/versatile comp--but not exactly a character or color piece. It can get vocals pretty crunchy, especially if you use a few of them in parallel.

[Petey C]

As a standard I mess with the waves ssl compressor and eq. I also have a nomad blue tubes bundle. They have some very good compressors and eq.

[jeremycox]

Originally Posted by Petey C

As a standard I mess with the waves ssl compressor and eq. I also have a nomad blue tubes bundle. They have some very good compressors and eq.

Agreed the waves ssl great, and I own the real thing. Slowest attack, fastest release, 4:1 normally is a good starting point.