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  • Your "GO-TO" lead vocal EFX chain
2013/08/03 16:16:32
caminitic
So...the same (funny thing) happens all the time I'm about ready to mix a lead vocal...and it can be summarized as follows:
 
On my EFX bin, I grab a dozen different compressors, 100 different reverbs, 200 different delay settings, warmers, limiters, subtractive EQing, etc., tweak tweak tweak, send to bus, try some other things, clone the track, try again...A/B the results...try blending them, parallel compression, etc., etc., to find a sound I'm happy with...and that takes about a week...and I still second guess myself the entire time...ha!
 
I was just wondering if y'all had your GO TO starting point with lead vocals.  I know it's VERY subjective, but I really wanna get a good template going so I can save time, headaches, and more importantly, achieve decent results.  My small home studio consists of a Miktek C7 going into my UA Solo 610.
 
What specific EFX can you NOT LIVE WITHOUT on your lead vox?  Thanks in advance!
 
Rizzo
2013/08/03 16:32:50
benjaminfrog
I try to use as few plugs as possible: a compressor and an EQ with a send to a reverb and a send to a delay. Usually the following:
 
UAD Fairchild
UAD 1081
Voxengo Pristine Space
Waves SuperTap
2013/08/03 16:47:36
jb101
My standard chain tends to be PC76, Quad EQ, CA-2A, VX-64, Sat Knob, Breverb.
2013/08/03 17:18:38
Jeff M.
I pretty much do the same as Mr. Frog, but I often use:
 
Waves Q10 for EQ (maybe a few instances of Q1 if needed) on the channel
Waves C4 for multiband comp on the channel
(sometimes replace eq & comp with DNR Mix Control Pro or the PC ones)
 
Valhalla Room or VVV on a send (send level somewhere around -24 give or take)
Fabfilter Timeless 2 on a either a send or a bus
 
Then Waves CLA-3A on a the final Vox bus
2013/08/03 17:24:05
The Maillard Reaction
I call this the dream channel:
 
Wave Arts Hum Removal
Slate VCC
IK T-Racks Custom Shop British Channel for Lo-Cut at 93.5Hz.
Sonnox SuprEsser
Melodyne
Softtube CL-1B
Fab Filter Pro Q
Antress Modern Compressor
UAD Pultec Passive EQ
NuGen Visualizer
Camel Crusher
 
*output to vocal bus
 
*send to Exponential Audio Phoenix Reverb bus
 
*send to Kjaerhaus Chorus Classic bus
 
 
2013/08/03 19:29:26
konradh
Melodyne for pitch and timing correction, 1176 (PC76), Pro Channel EQ, send to a reverb bus.  (I usually have three reverb buses: drum, instrument, and vocal.)  I often double the lead (by singing it twice or sometimes by using a TC Helicon VoiceWorks Plus) and I pan the two leads at 40% L and 40% R (if they are both sung).
 
I like Lexicon reverb and I prefer medium hall presets used sparingly.  I fell out of love with plate reverb on vocals a few years ago and I don't know why.
 
If you use Melodyne, be sure to go to the Track Inspector and click POST so the ProChannel comes after the FX Bin; otherwise, the signal in Melodyne will not go through ProChannel and you will just be compressing and EQing the original copy of the vocal which you can't hear when Melodyne is running.
 
Because of the singers I work with and the way I sing, the PC76 is usually set to the fastest attack, a release of about half a second (e.g., 510ms), a 4:1 or 8:1 ratio, and enough Output so that the volume does not change obviously when you turn the compressor off and on.  The input depends on the source signal, but my goal is to get the needle moving around between 0 and -4.  If it moves farther, things start to sound less natural (which may be what you want).  Sometimes I turn the Wet/Dry to 50% and sometimes I leave it on full.  Usually, the farther the needle is moving, the more dry signal I want so things don't sound weird.
 
The EQ is usually to roll off low frequencies and sometimes to boost or cut around 2.5-3K Hz depending on whether the vocal is indistinct or harsh.  A HPF set at about 100hz will get rid of rumble, but it depends on the singer.  If you move the frequency too high, the singer will sound thin.
 
I sometimes use EZMix 2 (like the Wide Vocals setting, or example), but I find the effects too obvious for the style of music I do.  They would probably be fine for Rock or Electronica.
 
My advice: don't do too much to the vocal, although getting it on key and in time is essential.
2013/08/04 14:41:51
speedtom
does anyone of you use Izotope Nectar? I am still wondering if I should buy it...
2013/08/04 15:04:18
sethmopod
My Go-To chain starts with the best mic I can find for that voice.  Given the people I usually record - TLM 102 for tenor; C-414 B-ULS for baritone <-- both reasonably priced used.  A friend/bandmate just got a Manley Cardioid Reference that I've used once and it looks like that may become the new standard, though.
 
Next is compressor - depending on the voice, the Pro Channel 1176 or CA-2A, or Waves RComp.  I like that the prochannel modules have the mix control.  I use this a lot.  When I go with the RComp, I usually have to set up a parallel track to leave uncompressed.
 
Next EQ - usually prefer Waves Req over the pro channel
 
Multiband compressor if needed for taming or bringing out a certain part of the voice.
 
Delay - I actually really like the Sonitus delay.  I'll set it very short - 15ms or so - for a thickening effect.  I always put it on the track rather than as a send
 
Reverb send - generally a medium plate setting
 
Seth
 
2013/08/04 16:04:11
bitman
LDC --> La2a --> DeEsser --> EQ.
 
Verb and or echo to taste via sends.
2013/08/04 16:06:28
konradh
Seth (or anyone), I have mentioned a few times that I just cannot get happy with Plate on vocals anymore (although I used to use plate and oil cylinders all the time in the days of tape).  I don't know if my tastes have changed, or if it's the lame plug-ins I have.
 
What brand of reverb do you use for your vocal plate?  I am not thrilled with Lexicon Pantheon for that. 
 
I am seriously considering Lexicon's 224 plug-in (emulation): http://www.uaudio.com/store/reverbs/lexicon-224.html
 
I think that sound is still valid.
 
By the way, I have an old hardware ART reverb in the rack that I would gladly use on electronica or synth pop.  Its 80s digital algorithm sound is cool for some things, but it is way too grainy for the stuff I normally write.
 
PS to Bitman.  I would love to have a real hardware LA2A if I could justify the cost!
 
 
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