Can one use EQ to make scratchy vocals less scratchy?

Posted on Dec 20, 2009 01:15 am
FatalFlaw
Member Since: Dec 20, 2009

I recorded a track of an alto singing. The performance is good and probably can't be perfectly replicated; however, the singer was just getting over a cold, and there's a certain mild scratchiness in the recording that I was hoping I could lessen or get rid of. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

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Dematrix
http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Dec 20, 2009 06:22 am

there's probably few things you could try but it'd be a whole lot easier to redo the take.

not sure what alto singing is, but you could do a frequency sweep till you find the majority of the scratchiness and take some of it out.

you could also do another vocal track and blend the 2.

vocals are tricky coz there's only so much you can do to em before they start sounding unatural.
i guess it also really depends on the song style too.

crux
Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002

Dec 20, 2009 06:28 am

when i read the topic i thought u meant maybe u had some scratchiness from the mic or a bad pre, but if the scratchiness was in the actual voice of the singer im sorry to say i doubt much can be done

but if u think the performance is otherwise good and the feel is coming through.. maybe just leave it for a while adn come back to listen. maybe when ur mind is not so "that singer was sick when this was recorded" u wont even notice and thus ur audience, who never has to know that fact wont either.

FatalFlaw
Member
Since: Dec 20, 2009

Dec 20, 2009 03:44 pm

Thanks, guys. Redoing the take isn't an option, but the stratchiness isn't so bad with all the other tracks going. I was just wondering if there was more I could do. (I tried the frequency sweep that Deon suggested, but the scratch noise was all over the mid and upper spectrum, much like cymbal noise). I may just end up cutting some of the most offending frequencies and just leave the rest alone.