16 Quick Vocal Fixes

When you're about to lay down a vocal, one of these tips just might help save a take

By Craig Anderton

These 16 tips can be helpful while recording, but many are also suitable for live performance...check ‘em out.

TO POP FILTER OR NOT TO POP FILTER?

Some engineers feel pop filters detract from a vocal, but pops detract from a vocal even more. If the singer doesn’t need a pop filter, fine. Otherwise, use one (Fig, 1).

Fig. 1: Don’t automatically assume you need a pop filter, but have one ready in case you do.

NATURAL DYNAMICS PROCESSING

The most natural dynamics control is great mic technique—moving closer for more intimate sections, and further away when singing more forcefully. This can go a long way toward reducing the need for drastic electronic compression.

COMPRESSOR GAIN REDUCTION

When compressing vocals, pay close attention to the compressor’s gain reduction meter as this shows the amount by which the input signal level is being reduced. For a natural sound, you generally don’t want more than 6dB of reduction (Fig. 2) although of course, sometimes you want a more “squashed” effect.

Fig. 2: The less gain reduction, as illustrated here with Cakewalk’s PC2A Leveler, the less obvious the compression effect.

To lower the amount of peark or gain reduction, either raise the threshold parameter, or reduce the compression ratio.

NATURAL COMPRESSION EFFECTS

Lower compression ratios (1.2:1 to 3:1) give a more natural sound than higher ones.

USE COMPRESSION TO TAME PEAKS WHILE RETAINING DYNAMICS

To clamp down on peaks while leaving the rest of the vocal dynamics intact, choose a high ratio (10:1 or greater) and a relatively high threshold (around –1 to –6dB; see Fig. 3).

Fig. 3: A high compression ratio, coupled with a high threshold, provides an action that’s more like limiting than compression. This example shows Native Instruments’ VC160.

To compress a wider range of the vocal, use a lower ratio (e.g., 1.5 or 2:1) and a lower threshold, like –15dB.

COMPRESSOR ATTACK AND DECAY TIMES

An attack time of 0 clamps peaks instantly, producing the most drastic compression action; use this if it’s crucial that the signal not hit 0dB, yet you want high average levels. But consider using an attack time of 5 - 20ms to let through some peaks. The decay (release) setting is not as critical as attack; 100 - 250ms works well. Note: Some compressors can automatically adjust attack and decay times according to the signal passing through the system. This often gives the optimum effect, so try it first.

SOFT KNEE OR HARD KNEE?

A compressor’s knee parameter, if present, controls how rapidly the compression kicks in. With soft knee, when the input exceeds the threshold, the compression ratio is less at first, then increases up to the specified ratio as the input increases. With hard knee, once the input signal crosses the threshold, it’s subject to the full amount of compression. Use hard knee when controlling peaks is a priority, and soft knee for a less colored sound.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

Compression has other uses, like giving a vocal a more intimate feel by bringing up lower level sounds. However, be careful not to use too much compression, as excessive squeezing of dynamics can also squeeze the life out of the vocals.

NOISE GATING VOCALS

Because mics are sensitive and preamps are high-gain devices, there may be hiss or other noises when the singer isn’t singing. A noise gate can help tame this, but if the action is too abrupt the voice will sound unnatural. Use a fast attack and moderate decay (around 200ms). Also, instead of having the audio totally off when the gate is closed, try attenuating the gain by around 10dB or so instead. This will still cut most of the noise, but may sound more natural.

SHIFT PITCHES FOR RICHER VOCALS

One technique for creating thicker vocals is to double the vocal line by singing along with the original take, then mixing the doubled take at anywhere from –0 to –12dB behind the original. However, sometimes it isn’t always possible to cut a doubled line—like when you’re mixing, and the vocalist isn’t around. One workaround is to copy the original vocal, then apply a pitch shift plug-in (try a shift setting of –15 to –30 cents, with processed sound only—see Fig. 4).

Fig. 4: Studio One Pro’s Inspector allows for easy “de-tuning.”

Mix the doubled track so it doesn’t compete with, but instead complements, the lead vocal.

FIXING A DOUBLED VOCAL

Sometimes an occasional doubled word or phrase won’t gel properly with the original take. Rather than punch a section, copy the same section from the original (non-doubled) vocal. Paste it into the doubled track about 20 - 30ms late compared to the original. As long as the segment is short, it will sound fine (longer segments may sound echoed; this can work, but destroys the sense of two individual parts being played).

REVERB AND VOCALS

Low reverb diffusion settings work well with vocals, as the sparser number of reflections prevents the voice from being overwhelmed by a “lush” reverb sound. 50 - 100ms pre-delay works well with voice, as the first part of the vocal can punch through without reverb.

INCREASING INTELLIGIBILITY

A slight upper midrange EQ boost (around 3 - 4kHz) adds intelligibility and “snap” (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5: Sonar’s ProChannel EQ set for a slight upper midrange boost (circled in yellow). Note the extreme low frequency rolloff (circled in red) to get rid of sounds below the range of the vocal, like handling noise.

Be very sparing; the ear is highly sensitive in this frequency range. Sometimes a slight treble boost, using shelving EQ, will give equal or better results.

NUKE THE LOWS

A really steep, low-frequency rolloff (Fig. 5) that starts below the vocal range can help reduce hum, handling noise, pops, plosives, and other sounds you usually don’t want as part of the vocal.

“MOTION” FILTERING

For more “animation” than a static EQ boost, copy the vocal track and run it through an envelope follower plug-in (processed sound only, bandpass mode, little resonance). Sweep this over 2.5 to 4kHz; adjust the envelope to follow the voice. Mix the envelope-followed signal way behind the main vocal track; the shifting EQ frequency highlights the upper midrange in a dynamic, changing way. Note: If the effect is obvious, it’s mixed in too high.

RE-CUT, DON’T EDIT

Remember, the title was “16 Quick Vocal Fixes.” Many times, having a singer punch a problematic part will solve the issue a whole lot faster than spending time trying to edit it using a DAW’s editing tools.

Craig Anderton is Editor Emeritus of Harmony Central. He has played on, mixed, or produced over 20 major label releases (as well as mastered over a hundred tracks for various musicians), and written over a thousand articles for magazines like Guitar Player, Keyboard, Sound on Sound (UK), and Sound + Recording (Germany). He has also lectured on technology and the arts in 38 states, 10 countries, and three languages.