Breathing noise and vocal editing

[Ronixis]

I feel that leaving the breathing sound makes the vocal track more realistic, but I fear that it might also add unwanted noise to the mix making it less punchy. Do you guys edit your breathing noises or leave them as they are?

 

[Fbarre]

I usually let it in since it sounds strange to me if I cut it out. If a breath is too loud you can still automate it. But really it depends on the genre or song you're working on.

 

[FrenchFrog]

I personally let these noises unless they sound weird (two breathes that cross themselves for example or the guy has breathed like a pig) but I really like to feel/listen to the guy that spit his rage ahah!

 

[MindMunch]

I used to cut every breath just because, but I was listening to some stuff like Taylor Swift and realized that they don´t bother me at all. Nowadays I leave them unless it´s something distracting.

 

[Skinny Viking]

I'll leave them on the main vocal track but mostly either if it's in a quiet section or right before something gets blasted out as was previously said

Doubles, harmonies, extra backing tracks I cut them out but as was also said it really depends a lot on the style of song/genre

 

[Nimvi]

I usually cut out all breath noises, because I often edit with headphones, and having a guy beathing closely into my ears makes me nervous. For this reason I do the exact opposite on female vocals: cut out the performance and just listen to the inhaling gasps on loop.

The first part is actually true Depends on the music style though ofcourse.

 

[~BURNY~]

Sometimes it adds attitude. Sometimes it sucks.

 

[Habsburgs]

For this reason I do the exact opposite on female vocals: cut out the performance and just listen to the inhaling gasps on loop.

HAHA! fuckin hawt dawg

 

[Sloan]

I always felt like hearing the breath just before saying/singing something subconsciously triggers the listener's mind to ready itself for the information that is about to be conveyed.

 

[dale_a_smith]

Its really exaggerated in the case of Muse. With all that distortion the breathing just adds to the drama of the vocal I guess..

 

[JeffTD]

I used to cut every breath just because, but I was listening to some stuff like Taylor Swift and realized that they don´t bother me at all. Nowadays I leave them unless it´s something distracting.

This, I actually love hearing it with good vocalists, T-Swift in particular.

 

[egan.]

The problem is that lots of us smash the vocals which brings the breaths out. As with everything, automation often offers the best compromise.

 

[Morgan C]

I'll leave them on the main vocal track but mostly either if it's in a quiet section or right before something gets blasted out as was previously said

Doubles, harmonies, extra backing tracks I cut them out but as was also said it really depends a lot on the style of song/genre

This.

 

[scorpio01169]

lol

 

[Sloan]

^lol

 

[SoundSpiral]

The problem is that lots of us smash the vocals which brings the breaths out. As with everything, automation often offers the best compromise.

+1

 

[Kita]

I almost always cut them out when comping, depending on the material of course.

 

[Arsenu,]

as said above, depends on the material.
when doing acoustic songs it can add a lot assuming the breath sounds "good"
on other occasions just play by ear man...

but if what you're asking is "is it an industry MUST to edit breaths" than fuck NO!