Vocal Placement / Ear Fatigue

minipoodle · 2nd March 2008

All arguments about digital versus analog aside, I have a theory that a big part of the ear fatigue that many people experience listening to new recordings stems from the fact that vocals are most often tucked into the mix as almost just another instrument. I believe that a big part of the ear fatigue is listeners struggling to separate and better hear the vocals. Opinions?

minipoodle · 2nd March 2008

No takers?

chrysb93065 · 2nd March 2008

I'll jump in. What style of music? Country-Western is notoriously mixed with the vocals in your face, while some harder rock and metal exhibits the characteristics you speak of. Sometimes the better mix engineer can get a wall of sound out of distorted guitars without losing the vocal, especially in chick pop stuff. Put up some examples so we can check it out.

tarnationsauce · 2nd March 2008

I think it's quite the opposite. Really loud / over compressed vocals give me ear fatigue very quickly.

My ears don't "struggle" to hear low mixed vocals. Fatigue (for me) comes when my ears are inundated with high-rms audio in the vocal range.

But a loud and dynamic voice isn't as bad. It's the constant compressed vocals that get me.

deve · 2nd March 2008

The reasons for ear fatigue are loudness, overexcited harmonics, lack of dynamics and bad taste. I don't agree with your vocals are not loud enough theory. I get earfatigue listening to instrumental music too.

Unclenny · 2nd March 2008

[QUOTE=deve;1878984]The reasons for ear fatigue are loudness, overexcited harmonics, lack of dynamics and bad taste[QUOTE]

For me it tends to be electric guits with an overabundance of 1.5K.

I kind of like listening for the vox as long as I'm not being bludgeoned by the rest of the instruments.

SoundClick artist: Lenny and the Scapers - Ballad Rock

2nd March 2008	#1
minipoodle Gear nut Joined: Oct 2006 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 127 Thread Starter	Vocal Placement / Ear Fatigue All arguments about digital versus analog aside, I have a theory that a big part of the ear fatigue that many people experience listening to new recordings stems from the fact that vocals are most often tucked into the mix as almost just another instrument. I believe that a big part of the ear fatigue is listeners struggling to separate and better hear the vocals. Opinions? __________________

2nd March 2008	#6
Unclenny Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Terra Firma Posts: 6,366	[QUOTE=deve;1878984]The reasons for ear fatigue are loudness, overexcited harmonics, lack of dynamics and bad taste[QUOTE] For me it tends to be electric guits with an overabundance of 1.5K. I kind of like listening for the vox as long as I'm not being bludgeoned by the rest of the instruments. SoundClick artist: Lenny and the Scapers - Ballad Rock __________________ "The main thing is to have a gutsy approach....but use your head." Julia Child "Stop talking about it, get your hands dirty" guitarboy94 "Sometimes invisible are these glistening threads........" Janni Littlepage "Special thanks to STEVE GLEASON......for making me who I am today" Leonard Scaper Leonard Scaper

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2nd March 2008	#3
chrysb93065 Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 523 1 Review written	I'll jump in. What style of music? Country-Western is notoriously mixed with the vocals in your face, while some harder rock and metal exhibits the characteristics you speak of. Sometimes the better mix engineer can get a wall of sound out of distorted guitars without losing the vocal, especially in chick pop stuff. Put up some examples so we can check it out.

2nd March 2008	#4
tarnationsauce Gear addict Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 328	I think it's quite the opposite. Really loud / over compressed vocals give me ear fatigue very quickly. My ears don't "struggle" to hear low mixed vocals. Fatigue (for me) comes when my ears are inundated with high-rms audio in the vocal range. But a loud and dynamic voice isn't as bad. It's the constant compressed vocals that get me.

2nd March 2008	#5
deve Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2006 Location: istanbul TR Posts: 766	The reasons for ear fatigue are loudness, overexcited harmonics, lack of dynamics and bad taste. I don't agree with your vocals are not loud enough theory. I get earfatigue listening to instrumental music too.