One of My Favorite Plug-Ins This Year

The plug in that I would like to talk about this month would be the Waves Vocal Rider. This plug in saves me so much time during the final stages of mixing vocals. Insert this plug in onto your final vocal track and it literally rides the fader for you during automation, maintaining a balance between your vocals and instruments. This really fine tunes your vocals in the mix and is definitely a must have in my book. Keep in mind that this doesn't, shrink or change any dynamic range in the vocals it simply preserves the dynamics while riding the track volume as it blends in with the instrumental. I work on countless sessions that involve mixing vocals whether its ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) for film, band recordings that involves a lead vocalist and I cant tell you how much time and extra work I've saved my self by owning this plug in. You can also run this plug in on a live set as well which I think is amazing. You can use this on a Mac or PC as long as you have the required operating system needed and can run with any DAW system that supports AAX native, RTAS, AudioSuite and AU. Want to see how its done? Watch a perfectly demonstrated video from Waves Audio right here.

            
      
                                                                       

Create a Fuller Sound on Your Lead Vocals in Your Mix

First, INSERT a 7 BAND EQ and pin point the sound DYNAMICS that you want out of the MAIN VOCAL TRACK. Then, apply some COMPRESSION (dynamic effects) to your main vocal.You can either insert that on the main vocal track, or use the SIDE CHAIN COMPRESSION TECHNIQUE. Next, DUPLICATE that track in order to keep the same settings on your EQ and compression. Now, insert a REVERB (TIME BASE EFFECT), adjust how you want it to sound and slightly PAN that to the right or left and bring the AMPLITUDE down at least by 6 dB. This is an actual reverb side chain compression technique. Next, go back to your main vocal track. Duplicate that track, bring the amplitude down by at least 6dB and Insert a MODULATION time base effect (Ex. Slap back delay). Put your cursor to the beginning of the verse and begin to WRITE your AUTOMATION onto the track with the modulation on it. While automating, RIDE the FADER in and out to create an effect that will make your thin vocal track into a more FULL, BEEFY LEAD vocal track. You can also slide this track a mili-second forward or backward to create an even fuller effect. Dont forget to ride that fader in and and Wa-La! What a difference that made.

                                      

© Victor Nguyen 2014