mixing just vocals

[danielbest]

hello, i would like to ask you how to mix just 4 vocals (bass, baritone, first tenor, second tenor).... because i dont know how to make it sound full, and i dont know how separate them well in the frecuency spectrum field... and the paning options... and the rigth fx (wich name of the compressor or equalizer for example) for the vocal chain to make them shine etc... if you could help me with some advice i will be thankfull....

[gainstages]

if tracked as a quartet, then probably use eq on individual tracks only very lightly. give them their own space left to right. anything goes, but try bass just off center,and then put the others in around that. some traditional people like to hear the lowest voice on the left and the highest voice on the right - panned out just like they would be if they were singing together.

use a little compression as needed on each track but do the bulk of the compression on all tracks using a stereo bus.

use the same reverb on all of them - eq the reverb if needed to bring out the clarity.

[danielbest]

thank you very much... any sugestion about what compressor, eq, reverb, would be better for this situation??....and yes... this is a quartet...

[neilio]

Originally Posted by danielbest

thank you very much... any sugestion about what compressor, eq, reverb, would be better for this situation??....and yes... this is a quartet...

are you otb? or itb?
regardless, you may try to process eq, and reverb,etc on one and do slight panning for your voices

and than using a seperate buss for your compression and using the same panning assignments but more exaggerated and then combine them later.

just an idea.

as far as the equipment recommendation thats an almost impossible question to answer in absentia.

good luck though.

[lowfreq33]

You know, I don't want to be petty, but how is it that so many of these guys get gigs on projects that they don't have clue how to handle? I'm pretty sure I'd never have the nerve to post on a forum for engineers how to mix a vocal quartet. If I'm being a jerk feel free to tell me, but shouldn't this be obvious to anyone who's ever engineered anything?

[danielbest]

sorry... i'm not an expert engineer, i love music and sound, and i have learned a lot about audio stuff and mixed just some things for myself and my quartet, i posted here because i think this is a great place to share (if you want) and to learn..... thanks for all your help....and i'm mixing ITB....

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

You know, I don't want to be petty, but how is it that so many of these guys get gigs on projects that they don't have clue how to handle? I'm pretty sure I'd never have the nerve to post on a forum for engineers how to mix a vocal quartet. If I'm being a jerk feel free to tell me, but shouldn't this be obvious to anyone who's ever engineered anything?

that's why some people post here ..to learn..those that have more experience like me "pass it on" and are here learning other exp peoples techniques also

open stuff like vocal quartets are some of the hardest to do correctly because the stuff stands naked and needs to take up the full audio spectrum to sound big and full

you have to eq voices like what instrument they would represent if it was an instrumental band and have a room and reverb sound that is impecable ..too me it's challenging as compared to many other recording dates

[gainstages]

did you only record individual tracks, or do you also have a mono or stereo room mic set up? is there a lot of bleed? in a traditional setting like this, bleed can be your friend, but then you also have to use a little more care with how you EQ and compress.

for reverb, a plate reverb might be a great place to start. don't be afraid to keep it a little on the dry side, that usually sounds great on traditional stuff.

also, if you want to add a bit of excitement and depth try a very short delay on the individual tracks, tap them in time with the music and if it is a 2 tap delay pan them so they are just slightly wider than the original track (very slightly!) and then push them back in the mix so that they are barely noticeable, but when you mute them you can hear the depth go away. then, when you add a little reverb to the group as a whole if you have it set up right, it will sound rich and full, with lots of depth and energy, but without drowning in reverb.

for the compression, i'd try a smooth "bus style" compression - if you have waves ren compressor or something similar that will work, as would any number of other things. Remember - less is more in these situations - you just want to create a nice blending and balance with the voices and then put them in a nice space. don't over do it.

[danielbest]

thanks man.. i think that was my mistake, because i record just the individual tracks, and then i tried some xtreme eq to fit every vocal in the spectrum field...now i will go for subtler settings... and i don't what would sound better, the delays or the light reverb with more early reflections... i will compare them... and yes.. i think its dificult to mix this kind of music because the vocals are so naked...