How do you guys work with backup vocals?

jeronimo · 31st August 2004, 11:49 PM

I noticed that a lot of records have BU vocals stereo, w/ a little delay... am I right? How do you guys do your BU vocals mix?

thethrillfactor · 31st August 2004, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jeronimo
I noticed that a lot of records have BU vocals stereo, w/ a little delay... am I right? How do you guys do your BU vocals mix?

This could take a while.

Especially when you are asking about mixing songs with up to 48 background tracks alone.

I can tell you that its a little more intricate than just a little delay.

Exmun · 1st September 2004, 12:06 AM

Do a search on thethrillfactor. He posted something quite a while back on one way of doing RnB backup vocals. It was quite an extensive post and would give you some insights.

jeronimo · 1st September 2004, 01:16 AM

It's cool, I'll do a search, but my projects don't have 48 tracks for back vocals neither I'm doing RnB :)
But I'll search!

Stizz · 2nd September 2004, 11:33 PM

I am sort of out of the loop nowadays, but I worked on a lot of big R&B projects about 10 years ago - the way those guys would do it was usually 3 or 4 singers at a time on each harmony part - one one mic, stack each part maybe 3 or 4 times, then maybe do 2 or 3 passes with split harmonies. We would usually fill up 16 or 18 tracks on the 2" (told you it was back in the day). Panning depended on the track and they were generally left relatively dry, as all the stacks give the natural chorusing effect. Also, with all those stacks, you leave out the hard consonants on the later tracks so the "t"s and stuff don't kill you at the end of phrases.

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31st August 2004, 11:49 PM	#1
jeronimo Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Salvador, BA - Brazil Posts: 2,362	How do you guys work with backup vocals? I noticed that a lot of records have BU vocals stereo, w/ a little delay... am I right? How do you guys do your BU vocals mix? __________________ Think Diferente! www.verticeestudio.com http://www.myspace.com/jelmet

1st September 2004, 01:16 AM	#4
jeronimo Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Salvador, BA - Brazil Posts: 2,362	It's cool, I'll do a search, but my projects don't have 48 tracks for back vocals neither I'm doing RnB :) But I'll search! __________________ Think Diferente! www.verticeestudio.com http://www.myspace.com/jelmet

2nd September 2004, 11:33 PM	#5
Stizz Gear maniac Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 246	I am sort of out of the loop nowadays, but I worked on a lot of big R&B projects about 10 years ago - the way those guys would do it was usually 3 or 4 singers at a time on each harmony part - one one mic, stack each part maybe 3 or 4 times, then maybe do 2 or 3 passes with split harmonies. We would usually fill up 16 or 18 tracks on the 2" (told you it was back in the day). Panning depended on the track and they were generally left relatively dry, as all the stacks give the natural chorusing effect. Also, with all those stacks, you leave out the hard consonants on the later tracks so the "t"s and stuff don't kill you at the end of phrases. __________________ Steve Doppler Studios

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1st September 2004, 12:06 AM	#3
Exmun Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Fort Myers, FL via Columbus, OH Posts: 414	Do a search on thethrillfactor. He posted something quite a while back on one way of doing RnB backup vocals. It was quite an extensive post and would give you some insights.