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I don't understand how Joker (and other artists) can get their vocals so up front in the mix during the drop. It doesn't seem like the bassline has to much highend, but even if i low pass around 1khz i am still unable to get the clarity in my vocals that Joker achieves.



I process my vocals more like adventure club i think, where they have reverbed effects, delayed effects, and vocal cuts in certain sections, while other sections will be left alone. Adventure Club is still able to get the vocals very up front even during the mid range bass sections..
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I will EQ the vocals, generally with a cut 800hz and below and -3 to -6 db dip around 15k+. Maybe a reverb with a short tail, Then use chorus sparingly, compress slightly, ect. Ten i would have returns with reverb/delay/heavy compression eq... I would have my vocals hit around -15 to -12db... And my bass line would sit around 12-db as well.

I purchased my vocal samples from loopmasters as well so its not a question of sample clarity, i am just not able to make the vocals up front in the mix.

Any tips or tricks for sitting vocals correctly in the mix.

turn the vocals up
turn the bassline down
cut frequencies from the bassline, not the vocal

regarding the second video... do people really still listen to that kinda stuff?

I'm not an expert when it comes to processing vocals, haven't done it much, but try sweeping some notches around in your bass while you're playing it with the vocals, and keep them where they seem to not take away too much from the bass but still pushes the vocals forward. I hope that made sense...

hasezwei wrote: regarding the second video... do people really still listen to that kinda stuff?

I do, dunno if it's popular though

blinkesko wrote:I'm not an expert when it comes to processing vocals, haven't done it much, but try sweeping some notches around in your bass while you're playing it with the vocals, and keep them where they seem to not take away too much from the bass but still pushes the vocals forward. I hope that made sense...

hasezwei wrote: regarding the second video... do people really still listen to that kinda stuff?

I do, dunno if it's popular though

Exactly This.
Try checking where is the fundamental key of the vocal.
Let's say the fundamental it's a G = 800hz so try boosting there and in other places where there is a scale correlation.
For every little boost you make on vocals you need to make a dip in the bassline eq.

Good idea, havent thought of notching out space in the bassline. I would generally dip 3-6 db in the bassline to make room in the general area of the vocals..... Lets say 800-hz/1.2k-4khz..... Depending of coarse.. But i never thought of placing strategic notches in a close band of fq's to bring out the vocals.

^^^^ I love the mood set by artists' like adventure club/flinch/gemini/blackmill.. The complexity of the chord progressions is insane... And the fullness and clarity of each element is insane, you cant lie..

Compress stuff, espescially multiband compression on the vocals?

EDIT: Haas effect stereo widening. Delay a signal a few milliseconds and pan it against the original. There's something like that on bass higher frequencies as well.

I don't know if this could completely fuck up your basses but would sidechaining the vocal to the basses be a bad idea, I've always wondered that :/

^^^ Try it.

#1, get the vocal sounding as powerful as possible w/ EQ. one of the rare times you should really sculpt a sound in solo-- go in and notch out the ugly resonances in the vocal. it's different for every singer and every song based on anatomy, mic selection, etc. and if the vocal's not in tune, get it in tune. For stuff like this, an out of tune vocal can really kill the power. for something more live sounding, you've got more leeway.

#2, de-ess if the vox have too much sibilance. extra 6-8k can really kill the power of a vocal.

#3, compress the shit out of them.

finally mix your lead vox dead-center, and work on stereo width w/ your synths. pretty much nothing in the center of the joker track other than kick, sub, snare, and vox.

also keep in mind that loads of verb and delay will tend to wash away a lead vocal.

also keep in mind that loads of verb and delay will tend to wash away a lead vocal.

some sidehcaining on reverb and delay could work?

Sharmaji wrote:#1, get the vocal sounding as powerful as possible w/ EQ. one of the rare times you should really sculpt a sound in solo-- go in and notch out the ugly resonances in the vocal. it's different for every singer and every song based on anatomy, mic selection, etc. and if the vocal's not in tune, get it in tune. For stuff like this, an out of tune vocal can really kill the power. for something more live sounding, you've got more leeway.

#2, de-ess if the vox have too much sibilance. extra 6-8k can really kill the power of a vocal.

#3, compress the shit out of them.

finally mix your lead vox dead-center, and work on stereo width w/ your synths. pretty much nothing in the center of the joker track other than kick, sub, snare, and vox.

also keep in mind that loads of verb and delay will tend to wash away a lead vocal.

That is actually pretty solid advice!

More good stuff to try out,

Talking about sculpting the stereo image... I was reading an article about this in last months CM mag.

I dont solo the stereo image. I just go in with my effects and shape to the point of sounding good.. Like ill take chorus, turn dry/wet all the way up to 100% and try and get the modulation/delay/ect to a point that almost syncs with the track
and then i would turn the dry/wet to a more reasonable level. Recently i have EQ'd L/R separately, gonna try m/s separately today when i get home from work... I have been doing this on my synths so that one synth has more high end on L then right and the total opposite on the next synth.. So it blends together better.

You guys have an recommendations on how to go about shaping the stereo image?

In regards to reverb/delay/ect, i use sends so it should not effect the original signal.

I might try to sidechain compress 800hz-1200hz for fun, couldn't hurt..

@Sharmaji - Right now i am working with some of the vocals in Killer acapellas from loopmaster... I dont think its an issue with out of key/ bad quality

But for #2, de-ess if the vox have too much sibilance. extra 6-8k can really kill the power of a vocal..... I know there are plugins for this. Would you suggest a small cut in the 6-8k area?

outdropt wrote: But for #2, de-ess if the vox have too much sibilance. extra 6-8k can really kill the power of a vocal..... I know there are plugins for this. Would you suggest a small cut in the 6-8k area?

nope. actually i'd suggest boosting 6-8k, or using a nice shelf eq, to brighten up the vocal overall after you've de-essed it. i think the waves RDesser is the best one out there right now, but i've also used logic's multiband comp and regular comp (w/ the internal sidechain engaged) to good effect as well.

Okay, Appreciate the info thanks. If anyone else has some knowledge on shaping mid/side I would love to hear it.