group vocals

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the13thstepstudio
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2005/09/08 18:28:52 (permalink)

group vocals

Does any one know what what type of effects would beef up a group backing vocal? thanks
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    glazfolk
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    RE: group vocals 2005/09/08 19:59:07 (permalink)
    Oooh! The way you pose the question is a bit general ... it depends I guess on things like how many b/vox tracks do you have (eg everybody recorded together with one mike onto one track, or say three mikes and three tracks)? And what you really mean by "beef up". But here are some tricks that I use.

    - I always use as many differnt mikes as practical - gives you many more mixing options
    - You can clone the b/vox track(s) and run the clones a few ms behind the original(s).
    - Pan the clones and the originals differently as well.
    - Use EQ and Compression differently on different tracks to create more body.
    - Use different Revrb FX on the different tracks (but with subtlety).
    - Maybe a touch of Chorus on some tracks

    There are also a number of special group vocal FX - Coyote Chorus is one - and Waves do one (though off teh top of my head I can't think what it's called). There are others. Personally I don't like them, and prefer to use the methods outlined above.

    Now you'll get somebody telling you the opposite. Different strokes. See what works for you.

    Best
    Geoff
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    the13thstepstudio
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    RE: group vocals 2005/09/08 21:30:17 (permalink)
    thanks for the great info..... I used one mic on the people and recorded it 2 times (on 2 different tracks of course) I guess im trying to make it sound oh .....chanty...i guessor maybe sound like there is a lot of people there
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    glazfolk
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    RE: group vocals 2005/09/08 21:46:34 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: the13thstepstudio
    thanks for the great info..... I used one mic on the people and recorded it 2 times (on 2 different tracks of course) I guess im trying to make it sound oh .....chanty...i guessor maybe sound like there is a lot of people there


    Well, as I say, there's all sorts of fancy plug-ins that you can use - trouble is (IMHO) that for me at least I never really seem to know what I'm doing with them - it all seems trial and error unless I can figure out the logic behind them.

    But with cloning tracks and playing with them you can experiment bit by bit and find out for yourself what works for you and what doesn't.

    Good luck, Geoff
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    chaz
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    RE: group vocals 2005/09/08 23:14:27 (permalink)
    Hmm.....

    Well..... You could reamp the tracks thru a nice tube pre.... a good one. Or..... You could try using a doubler and some light chorusing. You can also use a delay at around 15-20ms. Then, when the tracks sound fuller..... place a limiter on the tracks via a group buss at say, 15:1 or 20:1.

    I would have to actually hear the tracks to know whast to suggested, but these two come to mind first.

    Actually..... Goeff has some great ideas in his posts.
    post edited by chaz - 2005/09/08 23:24:20
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    calaverasgrandes
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    RE: group vocals 2005/09/12 20:07:16 (permalink)
    I used to use my old effectron II with a really short delay setting and a long feedback with a slow lfo. I would set this low and it gave kind of a crowded, chanting effect.
    #6
    codashome
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    RE: group vocals 2005/09/13 07:27:36 (permalink)
    Yes, what everybody else has mentioned. If you want a more acoustic option, you could also record the playback from your monitors with the mic in a hallway, stairway, or adjoining room. My live room is 30' long, so with the mic in a corner, I can get close to a 30ms delay.

    Next time track the group in stereo in a large space. This will really open up the sound of the performance. I'd try either M/S or Blumlein if you have a pair of figure 8's and a nice room. Then making the group larger will be easier with EFX, cloning, or whatever.
    #7
    dmassey
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    RE: group vocals 2005/09/14 21:25:18 (permalink)
    Just record more tracks, and have everyone sing in different registers or trade harmony parts. The best way to sound like a crowd is to be a crowd.
    #8
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