In this post, we’ll examine the basic vocal chain processors and discover how they operate. We’ll go through each stage in the sequence that I’ve found to be most effective for voice production, but keep in mind that you could wish to alter things around or skip some processes completely based on your style, genre, and tastes.
The dry vocals pass through a vocal chain, which is just a collection of processors, before being added to your final mix. Your vocals are considered dry if no effects or processing have been used. Your vocal will pass through each processor, which functions like a link in a chain, in order to emerge from the other end sounding smooth.
I primarily use FL Studio’s default plugins in this post so that anyone can attempt it. Remember that there are numerous plugins available for each step. Test things out to find out!
1. EQ
Each voice has distinctive traits and attributes that translate into varying quantities of material across the frequency band. Some folks have breathy, shimmery voices with a lot of high-end air.
Some intermediate frequencies have an uneven distribution of energy at a specific location. We employ an EQ to create tonal balance across the frequency spectrum in order to maximize the tonal contents of a vocal. We boost vocals in regions that require additional love and reduce in areas where things need to be muted. While different genres necessitate different EQ choices, the general objective of EQing is to eliminate any excessively vibrational frequencies in order to make the vocal seem crisp and clear.
For this, I’m using FL Studio’s stock plugin Fruity Parametric EQ 2.
2. Compression
In order to provide the listener with a more balanced presentation of the vocal, a compressor evens out the dynamic range of your audio, making the loud sections softer and the softer parts louder. There are several reasons why we compress audio, but in this situation you want your audience to be able to hear everything well without needing to change the volume up or down every time. When you speak more quickly, the delicately soft ends of some syllables become apparent, and the louder passages don’t allow us to casually listen to the song.
As seen by the meter in the module’s display, it’s generally a good idea to strive for an average of roughly 3 dB of compression on your primary voice.
For this, I’m using FL Studio’s stock plugin Fruity Compressor.
3. De-esser
So what exactly does a De-Esser do? The De-Esser combats the piercing sibilance noises that are gained in voice. It’s crucial to resolve this.
It’s simple to mess up with a vocal that is quite sibilant if you increased the highs in the EQ to improve the brightness. Sibilance is the sharp sound produced by several consonants, including s, sh, ch, and z. They often fill the higher middle and the softer areas of words. The next link in the chain is often a de-esser, which reduces sibilance. A de-esser is an equalizer and compressor that also targets sibilant frequencies, muzzling them when they get excessively loud.
For this, I’m using FL Studio’s stock plugin Maximus.
4. Delay & Reverb
To create room and breathe around the vocal, we can now add reverb and ping pong delay. Before, the vocal sounded a little too lifeless, but with a reverb and ping pong delay, we can give the vocals more depth and vitality!
Depending on the frequency and volume of feedback, delay may be applied in a variety of ways. A little delay, commonly referred to as a slapback, may provide texture and subtly shake things up. On the other hand, automatic lengthier delays timed to a subdivision can elegantly fill up space and highlight certain phrases.
I prefer to use delay before reverbs so that the reverb is also applied when I utilize them.
For this, I’m using FL Studio’s stock plugins Fruity Delay 3 & Fruity Reverb 2.
5. Vocal Doubler
The free plug-in iZotope Vocal Doubler was created to give your voice a richer, deeper sound by adding a natural doubling effect. With a brand-new interactive user interface (UI) designed to assist you in getting a fantastic double faster than before, our renowned doubling technology has been completely reinvented.
Vocal Doubler is the simplest method to give your vocal recordings life thanks to its intuitive interface and a limited number of parameter options. Drag left and right for human variation or up and down for stereo separation.
Although I prefer to manually record double vocals, the plugin does reduce work time and boost productivity when necessary. Additionally, trying it on your voice is a beautiful idea because you never know if it will fit perfectly or not.
For this, I’m using iZotope’s Vocal Doubler. It is a free plugin you can download here.
Conclusion
I’ve just covered one method in this post for, in my view, improving the sound of your voice chain.
Recently, I reviewed my new Universal Audio Volt 476, which has built in pre-amplifier and compressor. It truly simplifies things!
To discover the perfect choice for your preferences, be sure to experiment.
