...wicked
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Whisper takes: tips for singers?
I've done this trick before where I have the singer double their take with a whispered version and it adds a nice ethereal layer with some interesting transients to the mix. Most singers I've worked with it seem to just "get it" and bang it out spot on. I have a singer currently who seems to be struggling with the concept. Her takes come out either too "speakey" or too strong melodically. Does anyone have any coaching tips for how to draw the performance out?
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Beagle
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/07/28 18:24:11
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tell her to make her throat feel like it's singing falsetto, but just use the same pitch.
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yorolpal
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/07/28 19:06:33
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Singing a falsetto octave up and mixing it way back is another great studio trick. Listen to Donald Fagen's "Brite Nitegown" off the Morph The Cat CD.
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...wicked
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/07/28 19:09:45
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Beagle
tell her to make her throat feel like it's singing falsetto, but just use the same pitch.
Ahhhhh, good tip, thx! @yorolpal: yeah, I've already used that trick on this same track actually. I call it the "poor man's harmony". 
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...wicked
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/07/29 01:04:18
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MUTHERFRAK I've been moved. *sigh* oh well, at least I got 8 hours on the main list.
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soundtweaker
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/07/29 01:30:31
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guitardog247
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/07/29 14:02:40
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I don't get it??
So you're supposed to literally whisper, like talking very breathy and quiet, but keep it in time of course. So you don't pay attention to melody and just talk?
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Alegria
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/07/29 14:58:36
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Hey Soundtweaker, I did. And although this is not my favorite genre, I had to take a moment to let you know that you did a great job. You managed to entertain and scare me at the same time. Pretty potent mix. I don't remember you posting in the songs forum, but if you haven't, you should. Regards, jc
@ ...wicked Sorry about the OT post.
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feedback50
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/07/29 15:46:37
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OK, at the risk of giving away one of the mixing tricks I've developed in the last few years, there are other ways to do this. There are a few vocoder plugins (Waves has one) that include a white noise generator as the signal source. I have taken copies of the vocal track and used it to modulate white noise in the vocoder plugin. the resulting track is a perfectly in-sync whisper (I sometimes apply a bit of hi-pass EQ as needed). I used this effect on the Lowenbad CD at the end of the song Bricks. I intentionally pulled the whisper track ahead in time so it would precede the backwards vocal that followed it. It achieved sort of a horror-movie effect which I quite liked. (I sent a print of the manufactured whisper track to the mix engineer along with the project). I have also used this trick on jazz sax parts to get a breathier tone than was originally recorded.
RC
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hairyjamie
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/08/02 04:18:01
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Interesting technique feedback50!
I've never tried using a whisper track yet, I always had intentions to do so though. I may try this technique on some already recorded parts and see if it makes a difference.
I'll just have to work out what VSTs I have that fit the bill (I'm far too poor for the Waves suite!).
Cheers :)
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guitardog247
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/08/02 13:31:44
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So how is the whisper take performed? Does one whisper as speaking? Or do you sing the tune really soft?
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Beagle
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/08/02 14:59:36
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guitardog247
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/08/02 16:23:53
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GMGM
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/08/06 13:00:44
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"Riders on the Storm" by the Doors is the track I always reference whenever I try to explain this little trick.
To my ears, it works best when it's super quiet. Almost the kind of thing where if you can hear it, you've gone too far.
The Doors tune is classic, because I listened to the song as a fan for years before I ever noticed it was going on.
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GMGM
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Re:Whisper takes: tips for singers?
2010/08/06 13:02:09
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It's also useful to add a whisper track (or 12) into those gang backing vocals like the 80's hair band seemed to love back in the day.
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