Hi,
Any suggestion on how make vocals, sung in lower ranges, cut through more in the mix? Re-recording not an option at this stage. This is lead vocals.

side-chained ducking compression on other tracks within the same frequency range?
add some harmonics/subtle distortion to the vocal track?
double track the vocal, but whisper the 2nd track?

Mid cuts to the instrument bus? These can be automated to overlap the vocal and removed when the singer isn't singing.

There are sidechain compressors which will compress based vocal frequency, but these compress less when the vocal is quiet, which is sometimes not enough.

If you really care, try EQ automation.

Remember exciters too. They can help make vocals more intelligible. I believe one ships free with sonar... Sonitus.

low cut on the voice with a filter.  It is fairly easy to find where you are cutting into the meat of the vocal, but the rest can go and get rid of some mud and make what's left clearer.

Thanks to all

pwalpwal
add some harmonics/subtle distortion to the vocal track?

 
That sounds like an interesting approach.  Do you have any particular plugin recommendations for this? (ideally free or bundled with Platinum).
 
AMB
 

AntManB

pwalpwal
add some harmonics/subtle distortion to the vocal track?

 
That sounds like an interesting approach.  Do you have any particular plugin recommendations for this? (ideally free or bundled with Platinum).
 
AMB

you could use anything really, from subtle tape distortion to full on noise... you can also clone the track, and apply it to the clone, then mix the clone in to taste... i reckon the saturation knob would work, or even something from the th3 plugin?
have fun!

pwalpwal
 
you could use anything really, from subtle tape distortion to full on noise... you can also clone the track, and apply it to the clone, then mix the clone in to taste... i reckon the saturation knob would work, or even something from the th3 plugin?
have fun!

Thanks for that.  I'll do some experimenting tonight.
 
AMB
 

pwalpwal's suggestion of parallel processing is a good one here.  You might look at some of the anderton FX chains.  There may be a couple of things that would work on vocals in there.

Another one I tried and found good: clone the vocal track and use melodyne on that one. Make it an octave higher. Align the notes so they hit "perfectly", almost robotic. Blend it with the original track, but place it in the background (barely audible).