which vst do you use for doubling vocals, or make them sound fatter? I recently downloaded izotope nectar, this is quite pricey, but the vocals doubling section is great. is there anything like that available as a solo vst, maybe cheap or for free? thanks!

I think the VX Vocal strip in Sonar has a good doubler section. Not sure if it's in Studio but is in Producer. The Waves Doubler is what I use most often but is a little pricey.

I don't use a VST. Take the time to learn how to do this the right way. 

It sounds better.  And... it costs nothing but the time needed to do it. 

My basic approach is to record the lead vocal into 3 tracks with 3 different takes. The idea is to get the 3 takes as close to perfect with each other as is possible.  Pay attention to the start and especially the ending of words with the "S" sound in them and at the end of the word.  vocal phrasing should be dead on. 

Listen to some of the Beatles material. It's said that Paul & John would spend days just working on the vocals to get them perfect. they used this method of doubling. 

Once the tracks are recorded..... pick one as the main track. Use Melodyne or VVocal if you have it to get that track on pitch. 

Now I take the other 2 tracks and lower their levels to -10db up to about -20db under the main track. I pan them off center..... one goes Right the other Left by 50% or more depending on taste. Usually between 50% to 80%. 

When the vox bus is solo, you can hear the lower panned tracks fairly well. BUT... when you add the music to the mix, the lower panned tracks tend to disappear to the ear, but the fatness and width they add to the main vox remains. 

I use this very technique on most of my songs now. On my site, "Missing Person (2012)" has, if I recall, 8 or 10 vocal tracks. Each main vox has 2 panned lower tracks and there are harmonies as well for each. 

I would experiment with learning the technique to do it the right way as opposed to using a short cut and trying to do this with a VST.   Some folks try to take a short cut on the tracks too, bu cloning them and nudging them slightly. I would only recommend that if it was impossible to get the singer back to retrack the 2 other tracks.  A clean and distinct original track is the best way to do the doubling. 

now.... have fun.... 

I agree with everything Herb has written.

There is NO substitute for the real thing.

Every time I've tried to fake it, it sounds just that - fakery, thin & robotic.

Guitarhacker’s suggestion is the best route to take if possible. His suggestion about nudging is a good one as he says if you can’t get the singer back. To add to the can’t get the singer back here are a couple of other suggestions that have worked for me:

Clone the vocal track twice, detune one down a couple of cents, detune the other up a couple of cents then pan them hard left and right.  You can also nudge these tracks if you want.

Another option is to add a chorus to the solo vocal track but add just a tad of chorus effect. You want to add just enough chorus to fatten the track.

Good luck.

Herb's right: sing it twice. It's not just a little better, it's a LOT better. 

Edit the doubled part if necessary to tighten it up with the main vocal, either by splitting and nudging clips or by using AudioSnap.

The industry standard for faking it with a VST is Waves' Doubler. Don't bother, it sucks. There are lots of other plugins with "doubling" features, including some freebies. They suck even worse.

Dear all, thanks for your suggestions! I am aware of the technique Herb was mentioned - I agree, it is the best IF the vocal tracks are pretty much identical sung. Still, any suggestions for a vst? Just to see how fake it sounds ;-) By the way, Studio does not have VX vocal strip...

Sorry bitflipper, I have overlooked your post...Waves Doubler? I will check that out, just for the fun of it...

The Vocal Strip is a good effect but it does not sound like two people.
 
I use an external TC Helicon VoiceWorks Plus if I don't record the vocal twice.  I have also copied the wave to another track and shifted it in time and pitche using V-Vocal or Melodyne--but you have to be careful with that so you don't comb filter. 
 
If someone made a great doubler VST, I would buy it instantly.
 
EZMIX 2 has a couple of widening presets but they are subtle.

I love using Melodyne for doubling vocals when you cannot record a double, tripling, quadrupling and Quintilian vocal tracks. I also use an outboard effect at times,  Digitech VL Pro

If someone made a great doubler VST

But it!!!! I'm sure there is a Memorial day sale for this somewhere.


Cj