Mixing Vocals With Synth Boosters:: Don't be afraid to send effects to effects and just make sure they're all routed properly. That's how I handle most of my vocal treatment. Are you layering kind of verbs? Just experiment with stuff and just have fun with it.
Blending Two Reverbs:: I'm using two reverbs because it gives a different texture and different times. I like to achieve one verb by putting a few together. It's just like, over the years, just experiment, man. Try it and see what you like, what you don't like
How To Enhance Drum Beats With Side Chaining:: I do everything on the track individually most of the time. I don't rely on Master Faders and nothing for my mix. I just go through and just find stuff that feels rubbing with each other. And then I add my own little effects and flavors and things that I try to sneak in the mix.
How To Automate Your Lead Development:: I group this whole thing because once I got the balance right, I'm like, okay, cool. I find a balance, and then I like the blend. And then I can automate basically six of them at once. That's a way that I cut some corners with time.
How To Make A Mix With UAD:: I like to break down what I do in a mix and just show you a mix session. On all my lead vocals, I do them all individually. I try to enhance the vocals little bit by little bit and take away very little. Sometimes I want to less if the vocals seem kind of harsh.
How I Treat My Drum Lessons:: I do parallel compression on the vocals as well. I EQ. I do a lot more kind of crazy EQ. And then I use the Distressor. Every mix is different. I just go with the vibe.
Lead Vocal Dynamics:: After this, let's focus on the human dynamics. On the lead vocal bus, this is where I kind of just start adding things that I want to kind of bring some character to. I approach every mix differently, but these are mostly my go to.
Vocal Separation:: How do you create separation between vocals on different tracks

Mixing Techniques

In this detailed mixing session, the focus is on intricate vocal mixing techniques. The process starts with organizing and color-coding tracks for easy navigation, with a special emphasis on vocals. Vocal mixing includes applying Auto-Tune, dynamic EQ (Pro Q3), and compression (LA-2A), aiming to retain the natural vocal tone while subtly enhancing it. Compression is carefully used to control sibilance and maintain smoothness in the mix.

Each instrument and vocal track is treated individually, ensuring a distinct and rich sound. The mixer emphasizes the importance of EQ in shaping the sound, preferring dynamic EQ adjustments over static cuts or boosts. This approach helps maintain the integrity of the original sound while making necessary enhancements.

For vocal warmth and thickness, compression settings are carefully chosen, with a sweet spot between three and five on the LA-2A compressor. This is complemented by the use of plugins like the Avid Pole Tech for slight boosts and the SSL E Channel for further EQ adjustments. Additionally, saturation is occasionally used to add a bit of edge to the vocals.

Effect chains are thoughtfully constructed, with attention to the order of effects like EQ, compression, and filters. The mixer’s preference is to EQ before compression, allowing for any boosts to be controlled and smoothed out by subsequent compression.

De-essing is a critical part of the process, where a narrow band approach is used to tame harsh sibilance without losing the natural sibilant sounds. This is followed by more subtle adjustments to achieve the desired vocal quality.

The mixing philosophy here is to make small, precise adjustments rather than drastic changes, aiming for a more natural and dynamic end result. This meticulous approach extends to automation, where vocal dynamics are manually adjusted to match the emotional intensity of the performance. This results in a more lively and expressive vocal track that complements the overall mix.

In conclusion, the session showcases a detailed and nuanced approach to mixing, prioritizing the preservation of natural sound while employing a range of techniques to enhance and refine the audio. The mixer's emphasis on subtle adjustments, dynamic processing, and careful automation reflects a deep understanding of the art of mixing and a commitment to achieving a polished and dynamic final product.


Thomas Warren

Thomas Warren, acclaimed music recording/mixing engineer, Grammy nominee with multi-platinum hits.