vocal chain for rap vocals

It’s important that pop records have an assertive, but not overpowering vocal, so I usually use the high band for a subtle shelf boost around 5 kHz. It also features a built-in distortion generator (you know, like. With four bands of EQ and a variable high-pass filter, the SSL channel strip offers unparalleled tone-shaping capabilities. When I say clean, I don’t mean less distortion—I just mean less saturation from tubes, tapes, and transistors. Here’s a plugin chain that I commonly use and recommend to audio engineers when mixing Pop, Rock, EDM, or Hip-Hop, vocals. Use VocALign to align both takes in perfect synchronization. This FET compressor is known for its aggressive, punchy sound with subtle distortion that’s perfect for classic rock—especially when paired with the 1073 preamp. Remove annoying frequencies. Suggestion SSL E-Channel for a clean sound, or CLA-26, The analog option at the bottom of Waves plugins will often raise your noise floor by adding white noise. Ratio – 5:1; Threshold – -15dB; Attack – less than 10ms; Release – 170ms; Gain – Use makeup gain if your plugins support; Conclusion: Rap Vocals. One of my favorite parts of the CL 1B is the versatility of the attack and release times. 1 main take and a double for a total of 2 vocal tracks. In this article, I will tell you the industry secrets to get that aggressive and hard hitting vocal sound that many hip-hop and rappers seek, but fail to achieve!The best part is, you probably already have the tools to do it! Depending on the tempo of the track you may need to increase the release time a bit. save. It can be tough to dial in a powerful-sounding vocal around a massive 808, a booming kick drum, and fat bass guitar Short for Voice of God, the Little Labs VOG is actually just a low-shelf / high-pass filter combo with some analog vibe thrown in for good measure. I usually like to keep it simple though. As for compressors, the dbx 160 is one of the punchiest, most aggressive compressors known to humankind. Other powerful tools for improving rap vocals include stutter and reverse effect, vocal delay throws, saturation, submixes, and distortion. Another classic analog piece of gear that’s still frequently used today is the UA 1176 peak limiter. Definition of the Vocal Mixing Chain. While it may be simple, VOG makes vocals sound like… well, the Voice of God. Some compressors are punchy and aggressive, others are gentle and smooth. Rock and roll was born in the analog era, so we recommend a mic with some grit, like theFlea 47 NEXT. With a little practice, you can recreate the compression characteristics of 1176, LA-2A, dbx 160 and vari-mu designs. We’ll need a super-clean EQ with a subtle yet powerful compressor. Shouldn’t be more than 3 DB of gain reduction. 2: Remove Breaths (If Needed). We’re going for sheen and polish here, with lots of depth and clarity. What is the order of the plugins that you are using? Often times, recording engineers will record 4 or more takes to create a fuller sounding chorus or climax in a song. For pop music, it’s important to record with a high-quality microphone, so you shouldn’t have to do much work in the midrange. Mic’s have a direction characteristic where the closer you are to the mic, it will boost those lower mid frequencies around 200-300 Hz. Sometimes pair the two, 1176 and then into CL1B. , which lets me fine-tune frequencies using pristinely clean filters from 20 Hz up to 320 Hz and really lock in my low-end. Some EQs are deep and dark, others are bright and shiny. One of the most popular preamps of the 70s and 80s—and even still to this day—is the Neve 1073. He has been a featured performer at events hosted by MTV, Vans, Red Bull, United States Democratic Party, United States Armed Forces, and festivals including Fallas (Spain), Imaginarium (Spain), Warped Tour (U.S.), alongside U.S. tours with Big Sean’s Finally Famous, Machine Gun Kelly/ EST19XX, and Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang. It’s hard to get a professional, in your face rap vocals in your home studio. With a little practice, you can recreate the compression characteristics of 1176, LA-2A, dbx 160 and vari-mu designs. The only difference is that I’m running everything through separate auxes for each layer: all lead vocals go through a ‘lead vocal aux,’ all background vocals go through a ‘background vocal aux,’ all ad lib vocals go through an ‘ad lib vocal … With modern rock, I typically use the bottom band to roll off any addition low-end in the vocal, as I’m not looking to boost anything below 400 Hz. Attack Slow: (For Hip-Hip Slow to Medium attack) Keeps transients, more punchy, more percussive. The Proximity Effect: The closer you put a microphone to your mouth, you boost the mid and low frequencies. All Rights Reserved. Modern rock has a cleaner, tighter sound than classic rock. First up in the processing chain is the De-Esser. Ell co-hosts the longest running (“88”) North American Hip-Hop radio show “Prop Shop” on WCBN-FM, and can be heard on stations including Big City 101.3-FM Boston, WMBR Cambridge, MA, and KSHI, NM. In truth, we know that all songs, vocals, captures, and performances are different. ), which is perfect for fattening up your tone and helping vocals cut through the mix. When it comes to compressors, the Manley Vari-Mu is a favorite among mastering engineers for its super-smooth and dynamic sound. Vocal Comping: Take the best parts of each take and putting them into 1 track. Trap music and modern hip hop are known for their low-end. Allowing you to stand out from other producers when you send beats out. Thank you, Have a nice day. Good for hip-hop vocals, and rock vocals. Too often music is released with technical issues that degrade the quality. A vocal mixing chain is a dedicated series of plugins that serve to process a vocal signal. VOG is super easy to use. Unfortunately, VOG is rather limited and can’t be used for subtractive EQ, which means it needs to be paired with another plug-in. And depending on the singer, you may need to apply anywhere from 2-20 dB of gain reduction. When recording lead vocals, record through a second time for a total of 2 lead vocals. Use more heavily than the first compressor. Only moving on the loudest peaks, The first compressor is used to capture extreme peaks. Personally, I like to use BASSROOM, which lets me fine-tune frequencies using pristinely clean filters from 20 Hz up to 320 Hz and really lock in my low-end. Most 1073 plug-ins feature authentic analog clipping emulation as well, which lets you add extra distortion by cranking up the input gain and clipping the preamp. Classic rock is all about fat analog tones with thick, rich distortion. My Vocal Chain for Rap Vocals and Voiceovers in 2018 - YouTube ! Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. With EXPOSE, it only takes a few seconds to make sure you deliver the best listening experience every time. Unfortunately, VOG is rather limited and can’t be used for subtractive EQ, which means it needs to be paired with another plug-in. Nothing wrong with the CL1B for rap either, just difference flavors. Use this as a general guideline when adding plugins or analog gear onto your vocal chain. You don’t want to compress and make bad frequencies louder. Industry Standard Vocal Chain 1: Tune (AutoTune/ Melodyne). When it comes to hip hop, I like the fixed/manual setting, which uses an attack time of 1ms and a program dependent release time that varies depending on the vocal performance. Reverb (high pass 400-500 Hz, low pass 10,000Hz), Spread and detune plugin example Schwa CMX, Attack Fast: Kills transients, less punchy, less percussive. Classic rock is all about fat analog tones with thick, rich distortion. I usually stick with a hearty boost at 100 Hz. I have some issues, because I haven't made that since a lot time ago and that is about the plugin order, or after I've red, the "vocal mixing chain". Are you sure...? Hopefully just some subtle cuts in the boxy range around 300-400 Hz and the harsh range around 3-4 kHz. Featuring an EF12 tube and F7 capsule, the Flea 47 Next delivers a sonic signature nearly identical to th… It’s a rare condition where some people see colors when they hear sound. The signal chain back then was: UMT70 -> 1084 -> 1176 DE-ESSER. If you are actually looking to buy vocal effect plugins, we have a whole article talking about the best wave plugins for rappers too Using vocal effects in rap is both a science and an art. 3: De Esser (If Needed). Often called ‘the Swiss Army compressor’, this versatile signal processor can be programmed to sound like an array of classic compressors. A compressor may compress the sound but also increase the perceived volume. Once you have an awesome recording, it’s time to edit. With, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh, press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. This is by far the hardest part of the … Editing. For most other genres (and pretty much any time I can’t think of what to use), I would reach for something highly flexible, like the SSL Channel Strip. High pass around 100 Hz. Powered by. This can be a cool effect but make sure you don’t over-do it or the vocal becomes difficult to hear.