Double-tracking vocals
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Posted on Dec 14, 2004 08:17 pm
thermocaster
Appenine
Member Since: Dec 13, 2004
What does everyone find to be the best method for double-tracking vocals? I've tried it a few times, being careful to keep my intonation and timing the same on both takes, but when I try to put them together, it just sounds kinda gross...like there's two of me singing, except like there's actually two separate people, instead of one vocal that's been bolstered.
Any thoughts? Help?
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Dec 14, 2004 08:47 pm hmm, as many will tell you, i am a pretty horrible vocalist so take this with several pounds of salt.
i like to use little ear buds (the in-ear ones) and stick one in my ear and put my finger in my other ear. I find I can get a pretty tight track with this (even if the track is off pitch, both tracks are off pitch together) if that makes any sence.
something to try.
Tom P.Hillbilly DeluxeMember
Since: Nov 25, 2004
Dec 14, 2004 09:24 pm i dont know what type of program you are using to record but if you want it to be the same just do one track, then hightlite that track copy, and insert it back into the song. at that point you will have to of the exact same track, but able to add any type of fx or anything else to each one seperately...tp
Dec 14, 2004 10:10 pm I'm using CoolEdit 2.0. I've tried just doubling the vocal by taking the same waveform and copying it to a different track - that's not really my problem.
What I wanted to do was figure out what the best panning dimensions were for the two vocals. Should they be on top of each other? Split evenly? Staggered to one side or another? And should their volumes be the same, or should one be louder than the other?
ciinxMember
Since: May 15, 2004
Dec 14, 2004 11:02 pm Try two takes. (2 vocal recordings)
1st track - I normally put the best track at the centre, add slight chorus;, reverb and delay.
2nd track - make another copy of this track and pan them hard left and hard right. Then, considering the timing of the first and second recording is the same; slide the left track -(negative) 4-16 ticks (the track should be earlier than the centre track); and slide the right track 4-16 ticks (later than the centre track)
volume= 15%-50% from the main centre track
effects= normally flanger, phaser and chorus -not too much! this will thicken the vocals.
Reverb and slight delay will add to the natural sounding of the L & R tracks.
Thermo; I'm still learning too, but that works for me.
Dec 14, 2004 11:24 pm thanks for the ideas, I'll definitely give that technique a try.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 15, 2004 12:37 am I generally keep both tracks at center possibly a very slight pan on the 2nd take and usually a bit different EQ'ing on the 2nd take. Volume wise I make the best take the the louder of the 2 and adjust the 2nd lower till I hit the spot I like which is usually about 1/2 the volume of the main take, sometimes a bit higher, some times lower.
Then it's just experimenting with effects on one or both till I get the sound I'm looking for.
While recording I lower the volume of the original take so that I hear mostly the new take, but enough of the original to help me stay in sync with it.
Dan
Dec 19, 2004 11:07 pm Recording the same performance again is the best way. Dont be troubled that you have to do several takes to get it right. George Martin encouraged John Lennon to double all his vocals until it was perfect. Later on they used the ADT system, which is little more than flanging. But if you compare early Lennon vocals with those done later, the true double tracking sounds better IMO.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Dec 19, 2004 11:20 pm I'm working on one where the singer uses a lot of vocal inflections. You know exagerated growling or grunting effects to indicate emotion. To me he sounds constipated, but I hear a lot of that recorded. I had to put a lot of compression on the track to get it under control in the mix. I lost a quite a few grunts and sighs. I left the main center and put a copy off to one side quite a bit. Put a lot less compression on it and deleyed it by 3 milliseconds. Also set it down quite a bit in the mix. Now the grunts are more apparent and not going over the top. The vocals are a little fuller as well. I am still not happy with the mess, but it is progressing.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Dec 20, 2004 12:34 pm any time I double a vocal, I try to keep the 2 tracks very seperate in the stereo field. If they're panned too close together, then I get what you experience: the subtle differences in the 2 takes conflict and sound gross. If I seperate them quite a bit by panning them in opposite directions, then the subtle differences add space and don't tend to conflict with each other. the net effect sounds like a centered vocal line, but in fact its 2 performances seperated equally from center.
ciinxMember
Since: May 15, 2004
Dec 21, 2004 07:45 am Quote: "the subtle differences in the 2 takes conflict and sound gross"
By trial and error, I got to eliminate this by sliding the tracks off from each other.
