80s vocal processing

Recording David · 11th November 2005

I'm looking to do a fun project with a singer friend - some 80s synth pop covers - Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys etc.

What signal chain/processing is used to get that 'signature' 80s processed vocal sound? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

aevan · 11th November 2005

Hey,
I don't know specifics about the artists you mentioned, but we had a lot of international producers in the place I started at, and there was a lot of
ssl compression - while there were 1176's available, everyone was peaking on the idea of having dynamics on every channel. Mind you we only had ssl, no neve consoles.
AMS Reverb - the room sound
AMS delay - the pitch shift, where you set a really short stereo delay (one side 7ms, the other 10ms) and pitch one side down 3 cents and one side up 3 cents. A similar thing was done with eventide harmonisers, the old black one with the push buttons.
Lexicon 224 or even pcm60/80 - that tiled room sound on drums - woah.
Korg delays - ooh yeah sde2000 from memory, someone correct me....
Oh my god, I almost forgot - Dimension D on bass. A bit like a stereo chorus, but wider with a lot more hiss.

Gate the crap out of everything. I swear I saw people gatin hi hats.
Oh yeah, and if you can find an old akai 8 bit sampler, you are set.
Cheers,

AE

Fletcher · 11th November 2005

AMS DMX-1580S... side "A" harmonizer set to 1.007 with no delay, side "B" set to 11ms of delay with no harmonizer... bring back in mono, do a couple lines of coke, and gate the reverb returns [then do a couple more lines of coke] and it's instant 80's!!

Mark Warren · 11th November 2005

Contrary to the audio, make sure to remove the compression from the coke before you apply....

thethrillfactor · 11th November 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by aevan

Hey,
I don't know specifics about the artists you mentioned, but we had a lot of international producers in the place I started at, and there was a lot of
ssl compression - while there were 1176's available, everyone was peaking on the idea of having dynamics on every channel. Mind you we only had ssl, no neve consoles.
AMS Reverb - the room sound
AMS delay - the pitch shift, where you set a really short stereo delay (one side 7ms, the other 10ms) and pitch one side down 3 cents and one side up 3 cents. A similar thing was done with eventide harmonisers, the old black one with the push buttons.
Lexicon 224 or even pcm60/80 - that tiled room sound on drums - woah.
Korg delays - ooh yeah sde2000 from memory, someone correct me....
Oh my god, I almost forgot - Dimension D on bass. A bit like a stereo chorus, but wider with a lot more hiss.

Gate the crap out of everything. I swear I saw people gatin hi hats.
Oh yeah, and if you can find an old akai 8 bit sampler, you are set.
Cheers,

AE

I must still be in the 80's because i still do all of the above.

paultools · 11th November 2005

MCI 636 mic pre.
dbx 165 compressor.
dbx desser.
Eventide 949 set to Random pitch shift.
Aphex Aural Exciter.

Recording David · 11th November 2005

Cheers guys - keep 'em coming if there's more I should know!

thumbsup

JTR · 12th November 2005

analog tape
same old mics,
same old mic pre's
LA2 or 3, or 1176, maybe a vocal stressor - generally not as aggressive as of late
manual gain riding
tape slap in some cases
Harmonizer or AMS
live doubles

jerri-curl
spandex
eyeliner
hairspray
biker jacket

11th November 2005	#1
Recording David Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 946 Thread Starter	80s vocal processing I'm looking to do a fun project with a singer friend - some 80s synth pop covers - Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys etc. What signal chain/processing is used to get that 'signature' 80s processed vocal sound? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

11th November 2005	#3
Fletcher member no 666 Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 10,110	AMS DMX-1580S... side "A" harmonizer set to 1.007 with no delay, side "B" set to 11ms of delay with no harmonizer... bring back in mono, do a couple lines of coke, and gate the reverb returns [then do a couple more lines of coke] and it's instant 80's!! __________________ CN Fletcher Professional Affiliations: R/E/P Professional Recording Engineer and Producer forums - serious hobbyists welcome SoundPure.com mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33 We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid Roscoe Ambel once said: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light

11th November 2005	#6
paultools Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,238	MCI 636 mic pre. dbx 165 compressor. dbx desser. Eventide 949 set to Random pitch shift. Aphex Aural Exciter. __________________ We are creating enemies faster than we can kill them.

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11th November 2005	#2
aevan Gear maniac Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 217	Hey, I don't know specifics about the artists you mentioned, but we had a lot of international producers in the place I started at, and there was a lot of ssl compression - while there were 1176's available, everyone was peaking on the idea of having dynamics on every channel. Mind you we only had ssl, no neve consoles. AMS Reverb - the room sound AMS delay - the pitch shift, where you set a really short stereo delay (one side 7ms, the other 10ms) and pitch one side down 3 cents and one side up 3 cents. A similar thing was done with eventide harmonisers, the old black one with the push buttons. Lexicon 224 or even pcm60/80 - that tiled room sound on drums - woah. Korg delays - ooh yeah sde2000 from memory, someone correct me.... Oh my god, I almost forgot - Dimension D on bass. A bit like a stereo chorus, but wider with a lot more hiss. Gate the crap out of everything. I swear I saw people gatin hi hats. Oh yeah, and if you can find an old akai 8 bit sampler, you are set. Cheers, AE

11th November 2005	#4
Mark Warren Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Location: USA Posts: 661	Contrary to the audio, make sure to remove the compression from the coke before you apply....

12th November 2005	#8
JTR Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 810	analog tape same old mics, same old mic pre's LA2 or 3, or 1176, maybe a vocal stressor - generally not as aggressive as of late manual gain riding tape slap in some cases Harmonizer or AMS live doubles jerri-curl spandex eyeliner hairspray biker jacket