Discussing Vocals in a Metal Mix!

[Abentleymusic]

Hey guys!

If anyone is interested, I made a video upon request to discuss ways to get vocals to sound good in a professional mix! Let me know what ya'll think! And if people have specific things they like to do for vocals i'd love to hear them!

 

[MrBongo]

these days everyone seems to be just slamming vocals through LA2A and 1176, usually so hard that you can just use a brickwall limiter as well. To my ears that sounds like shit though, very unnatural and without any dynamics, or even release of amplitude at the end of phrases.
I prefer to put (a lot) more work into vocals and automate Pre-FX, Post-FX and the FX itself a lot, and make the compressors (usually 3 of them) work a lot less. Takes a few hours instead of five minutes, but sounds really different

De-Esser: yes, absolutely necessary 99% of the time!
However, I use a much broader frequency range (sometimes 5 - 15k instead of 7.5k - 11k), that sounds much smoother and more natural. Got Pro-DS as well.

Your EQ usage seems really extreme, I never found myself doing 12dB notches or such a strong mid-scoop. Is that a requirement for xyz-core? I

 

[nezvers]

Your EQ usage seems really extreme, I never found myself doing 12dB notches or such a strong mid-scoop. Is that a requirement for xyz-core? I

It didn't appear to be damaging. If it sounds good it's good.

 

[MrBongo]

that´s the point: why does it? I can´t do that on any vocal source I got here. But I don´t record vocals with midrange-heavy stage mics, that is.
Maybe there should be more emphasis on the point that this is not typical, it´s kinda mentioned in a subclause only