The Secret to Mixing PRO VOCALS is Not What You Think
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Published 2023-01-03
☛ Learn the go-to starting points for EQ and compression in heavy mixes with my FREE Mixing Cheatsheet: mixcheatsheet.com/
Music by Jevani Sanders - open.spotify.com/artist/5o8eN3FQ3dkcGmj76Z9vNW?si=…
Watch This Next: How to Understand and Use Compression - In Depth Tutorial • How to understand and use compression...
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Website: hardcoremusicstudio.com/
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All Comments (21)
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The trick I found that helped a lot is compressor chaining. Use 2-3 compressors on vocals, each of them not too high on the ratio, no more than 4:1 usually, with a soft distortion on the last compressor. Also, do your EQ cutting before Compressors, do EQ boosts after compressors.
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you literally just leveled up like 30 of my tracks. i cant explain to you how greatful i am
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I've heard Jordan repeat this a thousand times...so I knew it was comp!
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Wow that's a lot of compression! Too many gurus mindlessly say stuff like "mixing is all about subtlety, never compress more than -3db" but sometimes you gotta smash it.
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This is such a topic that I used to honestly be like "oh only 3-5dB compression to not overdo it" and now... I just don't care as long as it sounds great... just did a vocal session last week and was hitting almost 20dB of compression on my WA-2A (analog) at the loudest parts and it sounded just insanely good. And that wasn't even the post-processing - that's just as we tracked it!
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Well, I guess if you never told us we'd never knooow. So, thanks for telling us! I've been going hard on vocal compression for a while now cause of you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
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This way of showing how you worked and your thought process is something that more people need to do. Good stuff, Jordan
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To be fair: once you've wrapped your head around compression which is definitely the basis for a great sounding vocal, EQ, Layering and Reverb/Delay are equally important!
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Right said! When I started back in 2002 everybody told not to overcompress blabla - and i believed it and wondered why my vocals never sounded right. One day I really accidently had the insert active in on my console with my 1176 on where the GR Hit constantly between -12-20# db - that was the day I realized not to listen to otheres but to the music! Great video and thanks for not telling the boring automation fairy tale. Yes automations is imoportant, but for me clearly at the end of the process.
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I love it when a video comes out on exactly what I'm struggling with. I just couldn't get vocals to sit right. Now I'm gonna compress them much more! Thanks!
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when you mentioned how the compressor was emphasizing the attack/annunciation of the vocal, it all finally began to make sense to me. thank you !
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I learned this after 2 years of my mixing journey. Thank you for just straight up putting it up there!
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Excellent video - you continue to build my confidence in the studio & I'm extremely thankful for that!
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SUCH a good example on why compression is so important on vocals. Especially hit records like you were saying! Awesome job man!
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Watching so many videos on compression and listening to all the warnings of over compression so I was almost afraid to use it. Thanks for making things a lot "clearer"
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I have struggled rigorously with this for months and finally you have saved my sanity and passion for this. Thank you.
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You are always so inspiring in the choice of topics that concern a large majority...Thank you for everything you do to help musicians!🥰
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Thankyou Jordan, this is such a good video!...one of the best and most helpful mixing insights Ive seen, and very well explained! I've heard alot about compression on vocals being used to shape the sound, but this has really helped me understand what theyre talking about...it is certainly a surprise!
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Love the straight forward and showing each step fast and Efficient non wasting time content. 10 out of 10
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I knew the effect I was after years ago when I first started to work with a singer. I just didn't know how to achieve it. I even tried making her sing behind bubblewrap! I then discover compression and it all fell into place. Now I have discovered side chaining with reverb and delay my life is complete.
