I think "bitcrusher" from the kvraudio.com forums worked on the last APC album. You might want to send him a PM there.

APC: I can kind of see where you're coming from.

A mix engineer on one of Tool's tours, "Nobby", has this to say: "There are some basic delays on the vocal and bit of modulation and Harmonizers and some distortion effects." (article: http://mixonline.com/livesound/tours/audio_tool/)

A mix engineer for APC's tour, Chris Gilpin, adds this: "effects include two Lexicon PCM 880s and Yamaha SPX 990 units for reverb and chorus on the vocal channels, an Aphex Exciter across the toms and a BSS 901 on the lead vocal. “On Maynard's vocal, I've got a BSS 901 in-line with an EQ on the insert point,” he notes. “I use some frequency-conscious compression. Maynard doesn't like compression, but there are certain times when you have to have some control over particular frequencies. So, basically, it's an active EQ." (article: http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_perfect_circle/index.html) - This article also notes the rack of 6 Distressors and an Eventide H3000 D/SE.

No real secrets revealed, except perhaps that there aren't any real secrets in this case...?

Good luck honing your OWN vocal sound!

The "Lexicon PCM 880" referred to is probably a PCM 80 (http://www.lexiconpro.com/pcm81/index.asp), an industry-standard 'verb with other high-quality pitch and delay FX. The Yamaha box (link) is a regular ol' multi-FX unit (compression, verb, delay, pitch, and so forth). The "BSS 901" is presumably a DPR-901 by BSS (http://www.bssaudio.com/includes/product_sheet_include.aspx?product_id=23), which I take to be an EQ used in live PA rigs. The Empirical Labs Distressor (http://www.empiricallabs.com/distdes.html) is basically a limiter - I don't think it's known for distorting signals, despite its name. The Eventide is a nice harmonizer (http://www.eventide.com/profaud/harm.htm). I have used the excellent Lexicon box and goofed with an Eventide but none of the others. Rest assured that none of them (save perhaps the Eventide) do much that cannot be approximated with inexpensive tools.

So Sonic, you were in his band before THIS?

Man...what was going on there...?

Hey, it's related!

Thanks for all the input everyone. But to agree with APC3, I don't think either of us are trying to dup or re-create Maynard's style. Just curious as to some of the thing he does to get the sound he does.

Someone mentioned something about his vox sounding burried. From what I'm reading bout the new album, people will be complaining about just that, so...

(The new single is being played!!!!)


grady

ORIGINAL: jjgjr75

No help for the topic but Eulogy is a great song! I am sure he uses some effects though in his vocals, even if it's just some doubling of takes.

hah sorry bout that! all i saw was "distorted" and thought that's what you meant.

still pretty interesting though i thought

Yo APC3!? I assume you've heard the single. Do you have it downloaded yet? I can hook you if you don't. Absolutely outta control!


grady

Actually...I now have the whole cd! OH MY GOD! (I also am still buying it. already have it pre ordered through Amazon) I'm hoping my new site will be up today. As soon as it is, I'll get you a link to a song or two. Or let me know if you have AIM, I can transfer it to ya.

I used to be really into tool, about the aemina/lateralus stage, I've grown away from them, but they are dang unique. They did some cool stuff with the fibonacci sequence. I remember a big page with all what they did with it, with the phrasing and everything....yeah that was cool..

ORIGINAL: Chuck_P

That said, the sooner you abandon chasing high-end gear to ape someone's signature sound the better. I could run out and buy a 5-gain-stage Peavey 5150, and could even buy a limited-edition EVH guitar that Eddie himself painted the stripes on (http://www.evh-guitars.com/) and when I got it all rigged up, I would be out $x0,000 and I would sound like...me. And if Eddie came over and ran my ES-335 into my Dual Rectifier, he would sound like vintage EVH from note 1. Robert Plant allegedly tracks with an SM57 into a standard Lexicon 'verb in the studio. It ain't the gear, it's the dude. You want crunchy, cutting vocals that sit in a mix even at low levels? Start goofing around running vocal tracks into whatever guitar amps or guitar amp simulators you already have and squash 'em. You vocals that sound just like some dude's? You're gonna have to convince him to lay down some parts for you!

My thoughts exactly.

ORIGINAL: Bonzos Ghost

ORIGINAL: Chuck_P
That said, the sooner you abandon chasing high-end gear to ape someone's signature sound the better. I could run out and buy a 5-gain-stage Peavey 5150, and could even buy a limited-edition EVH guitar that Eddie himself painted the stripes on (http://www.evh-guitars.com/) and when I got it all rigged up, I would be out $x0,000 and I would sound like...me. And if Eddie came over and ran my ES-335 into my Dual Rectifier, he would sound like vintage EVH from note 1. Robert Plant allegedly tracks with an SM57 into a standard Lexicon 'verb in the studio. It ain't the gear, it's the dude. You want crunchy, cutting vocals that sit in a mix even at low levels? Start goofing around running vocal tracks into whatever guitar amps or guitar amp simulators you already have and squash 'em. You vocals that sound just like some dude's? You're gonna have to convince him to lay down some parts for you!

My thoughts exactly.

Whatever dude. The classic question "how'd they do that?" has fueled innovation since the dawn of time. Someone thinking something sounds good and researching how they did it is not a cop-out, it's evolution.