Will this make vocals thicker??
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Posted on Aug 10, 2003 10:04 pm
AK Redline
Seconds From The End
Member Since: Jun 16, 2003
If i duplicate a vocal track... and pan each of them accordingly... will this thicken things up? i know it works well for guitar
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 10, 2003 10:12 pm Yes it will. Remember to try a little differant EQ or something to make each track a bit differant sounding. That will aid in the thickening effect. You can even alter the pitch of on track slightly to create a bit of harmony or off pitch, so it sound like two differant voices. You can also move it ahead or back in time just a bit to thicken it up as well, dont go to far though as this will cause a chorus effect, unless you want that.
Aug 10, 2003 10:28 pm And how far left and right you pan it affects it also. Same as guitar.
Aug 10, 2003 10:46 pm And use it sparingly. It's usually best to keep the vocals in the center of the stereo field. I recommend trying double tracking certain parts and keeping the main vocal part centered while panning the second about 15-25% to either side. Of course harmonies can be even better in some places, or just singing an octave lower or higher and blending that. Or a combination. Experiment! It takes forever, but it's the only way.
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Aug 10, 2003 10:46 pm If you mearly duplicate the vocal track it will just make things louder. The best way to thicken the vocals is to "double" them up - this involves re-recording the vocal line any layering, not simply duplicating the first take.
You may also want to try a multi-tap delay, some reverb, compression and harmonising - all these will help greatly.
Aug 10, 2003 10:56 pm We're thinking alike here, Jues :-)
Aug 11, 2003 12:00 am ...that was wierd
AK RedlineSeconds From The EndMember
Since: Jun 16, 2003
Aug 11, 2003 01:24 am cool! thanks alot i gots lots to look forward to tomorrow
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Aug 11, 2003 06:10 am mmm, that was wierd :D
Aug 12, 2003 08:21 am I agree, recording the track then just simply duplicating the first gives it far more warmth and naturalness. It's definatly harder to sing the exact phrases, but this is an old trick used extensivly by John Lennon and the Beatles to add a decisive "sharpness" to his tracks. And lead vocals do sound out of place to me when panned hard left and right, but then again Eleanor Rigby is recorded this way and look how well it was percieved. Remember rules are sometimes meant to be broken.
Aug 12, 2003 11:37 am speaking of Eleanor Rigby, the subject has come up before about how some Beatles records were recorded wierd like that before engineers really knew what to do with this new concept called "stereo". I came across another record from a lesser know band who recorded in 1968 were this was done with different instruments panned hard left and right. they really just didn't know how to use stereo to it's fullest back then.
Aug 12, 2003 09:00 pm I've heard whispering a second track is cool also.
Aug 13, 2003 04:13 am has anyone heard what they did with the vocals on Venetian Snares - Dad??? Those sound awesome, part whispered and kinda gasping like a death rattle. The guy must have woke up that day with phlem in his throat and tracked out a backing vocal real quick before he cleared it.
Aug 13, 2003 04:54 am Quote:
I've heard whispering a second track is cool also.
Listen to the Doors "Rider's on the Storm", for example, it's super cool...and kinda errie
Aug 13, 2003 06:17 am excellent example dB!
Aug 14, 2003 03:02 pm Your'e right, I hadn't noticed on the Doors tune. I heard Madonna does it from time to time.
Aug 14, 2003 03:04 pm I wouldn't use the fact Madonna does it as a good reason to do it...otherwise you'd have sex books out on the market too...then, maybe you do...
AK RedlineSeconds From The EndMember
Since: Jun 16, 2003
Aug 14, 2003 10:24 pm i duplicated the track.. panned a little... and changed the eq on the duplicate... it helped a lot! thanks again
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Aug 14, 2003 10:55 pm Very slightly detuning one of the tracks makes a big difference as well. Got that tip off of an GP article.
Aug 15, 2003 09:20 am That will give you a slick chorus effect, if that's what you're after.