29-10-2014, 03:21 PM
Thanks for feedback guys! You are fine gentlemen, but you know this.
Dave, I think you're right about the shelf.... but I think I'd probably place that after the de-esser in the chain? Usually I like the de-esser very last, but this is a tricky case. Automation is going to be necessary to really clear it up... I had a similar issue on my recent mix of Celebrate, and it's a female vocal with a beautiful breathiness. Couldn't get the sibilants right without sacrificing everything I loved about her performance.
Funny thing is, a couple of the vocals already have a little distortion similar to what you've described. It's tube distortion at the mo because that usually helps a vocal cut, but I'm wondering if something smoother like saturation might iron the sibilants out a little more evenly/less distractingly? Even a little white noise layered beneath and properly EQ'd might help.
Niells, thanks for kind words. It's really a trick to keep the vocal levels consistent! There are so many tracks of them. I need to be a bit more aggressive with automation.. I don't use much at all with the exception of multing and sometimes ducking background stuff in the verses.
Thanks again guys... I'd encourage you to give this one a try if for nothing else that the lyrics made me blush and laugh. "Have a little chat about the way I'm hung" makes me giggle every time, even though I know it's coming.
Dave, I think you're right about the shelf.... but I think I'd probably place that after the de-esser in the chain? Usually I like the de-esser very last, but this is a tricky case. Automation is going to be necessary to really clear it up... I had a similar issue on my recent mix of Celebrate, and it's a female vocal with a beautiful breathiness. Couldn't get the sibilants right without sacrificing everything I loved about her performance.
Funny thing is, a couple of the vocals already have a little distortion similar to what you've described. It's tube distortion at the mo because that usually helps a vocal cut, but I'm wondering if something smoother like saturation might iron the sibilants out a little more evenly/less distractingly? Even a little white noise layered beneath and properly EQ'd might help.
Niells, thanks for kind words. It's really a trick to keep the vocal levels consistent! There are so many tracks of them. I need to be a bit more aggressive with automation.. I don't use much at all with the exception of multing and sometimes ducking background stuff in the verses.
Thanks again guys... I'd encourage you to give this one a try if for nothing else that the lyrics made me blush and laugh. "Have a little chat about the way I'm hung" makes me giggle every time, even though I know it's coming.
I'm grateful for comments and suggestions. Thank you for listening!