How do you mix your vocals step by step?

Let’s go through the basic steps you need to know when you come to mix your music and nail that all-important vocal track….

Table of Contents

Remove silence and noise.
Volume automation.
Auto-Tune (optional)
Subtractive EQ.
De-essing.
Compression.
Additive EQing.
Reverb & Delay.

How do you EQ vocals perfectly?

Best EQ Settings for Vocals

Roll off the low-end starting around 90 Hz.
Reduce the mud around 250 Hz.
Add a high shelf around 9 kHz & a high roll off around 18 kHz.
Add a presence boost around 5 kHz.
Boost the core around 1 kHz to 2 kHz.
Reduce sibilance around 5 kHz to 8 kHz.

What order do you mix vocals in?

But if you just want to learn about vocals specifically, keep reading.

Step 1: Get A Great Recording.
Step 2: Editing.
Step 3: Gain Automation (The Secret Sauce)
Step 4: Prepare the Session.
Step 7: Gain Staging.
Step 5: Surgical EQ.
Step 6: De-Essing (Optional)
Step 7: The First Compressor.

Why are my vocals not sitting in the mix?

The smallest change can sometimes make a huge difference. It’s always worth spending more time on balancing than heavy effects such as EQ and compression. If the vocal isn’t sitting right, it might be because another part is too loud. Or perhaps the vocal is a touch too loud. Experiment and trust your ears.

Do you mix vocals first or last?

Start mixing the instruments first, then move on to the vocals. By saving the vocals for last and starting with the instrumentation, you help ensure that your vocals (the most important part of any song) sit on top of the mix.

What level should vocals be in mix?

Here’s how loud your vocals should be in a mix: Your vocal level should be lower than the drums, but louder than the instrumentation.

Should vocals be louder than beat?

Some say no, and that louder vocals will take away from the fullness of a track. The main point is that there is no exact wrong or right answer, so if you want to mimic something that you heard was a good idea or think is an industry-standard for your style, go for it.

Why are my mixes so harsh?

A mix can sound harsh when there is an excess of energy in the 1kHz to 10kHz frequency range in the context of the whole mix. Often, the root cause of harshness is poor sonic and EQ choices, such as pushing for an overly bright mix or selecting harsh synth sounds.