Vocal Chain - Katy Perry?

[ILPro]

Hello everybody! I'm wondering here, what plugins can be used so that vocals could sound as in Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl song? I can't hear any reverb there, recorded voice is centered and a lots of compression. Sound like an easy job to do the same but when i've tried to mix some other person vocals over that instrumental... just doesn't seat right, sound separate!

[tiny333]

she had a better mic i guess

god i hate that song

[SCDBM]

distressor HP dist2
1/4
att3
rel2
hit towards -20db reduction and you pretty much have the same effect.

[buddy]

There was a thread about this album a while back. She was singing into a U47, that much I remember, but I can't remember the pre or the compressor; probably an 1176 or LA2A or similar.

Anyway that sound is coming from the mic and compressor. There's no magic plugin that's going to give you that sound.

[SCDBM]

as ITB processing oyu could try PSP vintage warmer for the 2nd order harmonics and and SSL compressor emulation (Duende/Waves/Glue) for the squashing

[ILPro]

Thank you for advices! Hardware is always better than plugins but i've only Neumann 103 and Avalon m5 for rec vocals...

BTW: very interesting article!

[mdoelger]

try saturation plug together with brickwall limiter. Go deep with it.

Then follow the thing with eq into compressor deep threshold, low ratio. fast release attack to taste.

[mixboy bob]

Your vocal chain is perfectly fine for a pop vocal.

Just don't forget...

A: a PERFECT Autotune job and...

B: using elastic audio to completely shape and pocket every phrase perfectly within the groove.

DO NOT underestimate what the editing of pitch and pocket can do in pop music - no compressor or eq will ever get you what you get out of a great pair of scissors!!

peace

Rob Burrell
aka mixboy

[ILPro]

I've tried a lot of what you've recommended and it worked like a charm! Getting closer! Very thankful!

[Dean Roddey]

Originally Posted by mixboy bob

Your vocal chain is perfectly fine for a pop vocal.

Just don't forget...

A: a PERFECT Autotune job and...

B: using elastic audio to completely shape and pocket every phrase perfectly within the groove.

DO NOT underestimate what the editing of pitch and pocket can do in pop music - no compressor or eq will ever get you what you get out of a great pair of scissors!!

peace

Rob Burrell
aka mixboy

Of course you could just sing it right to begin with as well. I know that's a radical suggestion, but sometimes you just have to reject the obvious and try anything that works.

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by Dean Roddey

Of course you could just sing it right to begin with as well. I know that's a radical suggestion, but sometimes you just have to reject the obvious and try anything that works.

well sometimes - but actually in a lot of pop and RnB productions the manipulation is part of the process.....

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by mixboy bob

Your vocal chain is perfectly fine for a pop vocal.

Just don't forget...

A: a PERFECT Autotune job and...

B: using elastic audio to completely shape and pocket every phrase perfectly within the groove.

DO NOT underestimate what the editing of pitch and pocket can do in pop music - no compressor or eq will ever get you what you get out of a great pair of scissors!!

peace

Rob Burrell
aka mixboy

You cut your tape with scissors?

I'll stick with a razorblade thank you

[mixboy bob]

Originally Posted by narcoman

well sometimes - but actually in a lot of pop and RnB productions the manipulation is part of the process.....

Exactly.

To Dean Roddy (and anyone else who cares!!LOL!): I'm not talking purist music here. I'm not talking "vibe/performance" music here. Nobody mentioned Ani DiFranco or Shawn Colvin or Fiona Apple. We're talking about Katie Perry which is radio, top 40, surreal-as-all-get-out music where nothing is natural or what it seems. And the ability to edit and create the surreal out of "just plain real" is an artform in and of itself. Without the kind of precision that is achieved with the edit, it won't stand up to Katie Perry, et al. No matter what compressor, eq, SSL 4k, etc. that you throw at it.

peace

Rob Burrell
aka mixboy