Comments on: Mix Recipes: Clear and present vocals http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/ Make better recordings in your home studio. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:04:14 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Pram Maven http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/comment-page-1/#comment-40183 Pram Maven Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:57:58 +0000 http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/?p=528#comment-40183 Strange, to see a tutorial on bringing a vocal front and center when the object of mixing is usually to bring it down so it fits and doesn't float on top of everything. That's not a criticism, just kind of interesting as it's the opposite of the kind of tutorial I usually find. If anyone wants to know how to mix vocals so that they sound surgically implanted into the mix, I can help you with that. It's kind of opposite of this, but you need a unidirectional cardioid mic for it to work right and the mixing process actually happens one track at a time, as you record (and tweak hardware before the computer). Backwards, I know. I'm very backwards. But it works. Don Carlson singer/producer Strange, to see a tutorial on bringing a vocal front and center when the object of mixing is usually to bring it down so it fits and doesn’t float on top of everything. That’s not a criticism, just kind of interesting as it’s the opposite of the kind of tutorial I usually find.

If anyone wants to know how to mix vocals so that they sound surgically implanted into the mix, I can help you with that. It’s kind of opposite of this, but you need a unidirectional cardioid mic for it to work right and the mixing process actually happens one track at a time, as you record (and tweak hardware before the computer). Backwards, I know. I’m very backwards. But it works.

Don Carlson
singer/producer

]]> By: bvesco http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/comment-page-1/#comment-13765 bvesco Sat, 02 Jul 2011 07:00:15 +0000 http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/?p=528#comment-13765 Thank you for the awesome testimony! Glad the plugins are working out so well for you, that's what I love to hear. Thank you for the awesome testimony! Glad the plugins are working out so well for you, that’s what I love to hear.

]]> By: David East http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/comment-page-1/#comment-13590 David East Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:04:01 +0000 http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/?p=528#comment-13590 I just received the Provoker and starting using it right away. So easy to operate! And the quality of the sound is incredible. I was having trouble getting my vocals where I wanted them in the mix, and the Provoker fixed my issue. I've also used your other plugins, and they have improved my sound 100%!! Thanks for such affordable, easy to use applications. I just received the Provoker and starting using it right away. So easy to operate! And the quality of the sound is incredible. I was having trouble getting my vocals where I wanted them in the mix, and the Provoker fixed my issue. I’ve also used your other plugins, and they have improved my sound 100%!! Thanks for such affordable, easy to use applications.

]]> By: online mastering http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/comment-page-1/#comment-9361 online mastering Sat, 14 May 2011 11:10:02 +0000 http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/?p=528#comment-9361 What can be said, a vocal is incredibly important and to get a very good recording you must make sure that more than just the technical factors are in place, it's a lesson in psychology as well. What can be said, a vocal is incredibly important and to get a very good recording you must make sure that more than just the technical factors are in place, it’s a lesson in psychology as well.

]]> By: listen http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/comment-page-1/#comment-4583 listen Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:54:27 +0000 http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/?p=528#comment-4583 My music sounds like your final mixes, how do i get it to sound better My music sounds like your final mixes, how do i get it to sound better

]]> By: bvesco http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/comment-page-1/#comment-4031 bvesco Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:46:15 +0000 http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/?p=528#comment-4031 I am writing a response to the email address used in your sig. I'm sure we will be able to work it out. I am writing a response to the email address used in your sig. I’m sure we will be able to work it out.

]]> By: Gregg DellaRocca http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/comment-page-1/#comment-4029 Gregg DellaRocca Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:04:54 +0000 http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/?p=528#comment-4029 Hey Ben, I cant find a contact for email anywhere. I recently bought one of your plug-ins but failed to realize it was only for windows. After reading your vocal tutorial I was really hoping to use your provoker and even spent $100 on a vst to rtas convertor so I could run it on my Pro-Tools rig. Is there anyway to make it run on mac, and if not is it possible for a refund. I really enjoy your tutorials. Thanks a lot, Gregg Hey Ben, I cant find a contact for email anywhere. I recently bought one of your plug-ins but failed to realize it was only for windows. After reading your vocal tutorial I was really hoping to use your provoker and even spent $100 on a vst to rtas convertor so I could run it on my Pro-Tools rig. Is there anyway to make it run on mac, and if not is it possible for a refund. I really enjoy your tutorials. Thanks a lot, Gregg

]]> By: Mister Trent http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/comment-page-1/#comment-2726 Mister Trent Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:34:07 +0000 http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/?p=528#comment-2726 I cannot say enough how much I think Provoker is the best vocal processor for the abovementioned tasks. I have Waves Vox and although it does what it says it does, it is nowhere NEAR as effective as Provoker. I now use Provoker on every single vocal and bass track I record at home and it has vastly sped up my workflow and gotten me WAY closer to closing the gap against the big boys. I used to resort to every trick in the book- compression, fader riding, etc. to get a vocal track to "hang together" but the aural result sounded like utter crap done by a hack engineer (which sadly, it was! LOL.) But Provoker fixes all that (and here's the important part) in a very TRANSPARENT fashion..it sounds like NOTHING has been done to fix the vocals...yet suddenly, they are present and up front, with all nuances highlighted and detailed. I am sure there is some compression going on underneath the hood, but it doesn't SOUND like it. It sounds completely natural- if you later wanted to apply a tube sim or a certain comp for coloration you could, but that is at your discretion. So now, recording bass and vocals has become almost a JOKE it's so easy..I just tell vocalists to "have at it" and just be themselves. Before I would have to obsess over multiple takes and making sure they were the "right" distance from the mic instead of concentrating on what REALLY matters..their PERFORMANCE. Also, slap bass players, or indie bass guys that have dynamics all over the map...hard to tame a lot of that stuff but Provoker totally takes care of it in the mix...it is literally a "set it and forget it" affair. I can't believe how easy it is to use! Email me at trentofcourse@gmail.com if you would like to speak more about this, I think the examples above speak for themselves but I can certainly point to things I have done as well. Thanks Mr. Vesco and good luck with this product, Mister Trent I cannot say enough how much I think Provoker is the best vocal processor for the abovementioned tasks. I have Waves Vox and although it does what it says it does, it is nowhere NEAR as effective as Provoker.

I now use Provoker on every single vocal and bass track I record at home and it has vastly sped up my workflow and gotten me WAY closer to closing the gap against the big boys. I used to resort to every trick in the book- compression, fader riding, etc. to get a vocal track to “hang together” but the aural result sounded like utter crap done by a hack engineer (which sadly, it was! LOL.)

But Provoker fixes all that (and here’s the important part) in a very TRANSPARENT fashion..it sounds like NOTHING has been done to fix the vocals…yet suddenly, they are present and up front, with all nuances highlighted and detailed.

I am sure there is some compression going on underneath the hood, but it doesn’t SOUND like it. It sounds completely natural- if you later wanted to apply a tube sim or a certain comp for coloration you could, but that is at your discretion.

So now, recording bass and vocals has become almost a JOKE it’s so easy..I just tell vocalists to “have at it” and just be themselves. Before I would have to obsess over multiple takes and making sure they were the “right” distance from the mic instead of concentrating on what REALLY matters..their PERFORMANCE.

Also, slap bass players, or indie bass guys that have dynamics all over the map…hard to tame a lot of that stuff but Provoker totally takes care of it in the mix…it is literally a “set it and forget it” affair. I can’t believe how easy it is to use!

Email me at trentofcourse@gmail.com if you would like to speak more about this, I think the examples above speak for themselves but I can certainly point to things I have done as well.

Thanks Mr. Vesco and good luck with this product, Mister Trent

]]> By: bvesco http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/comment-page-1/#comment-2646 bvesco Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:44:34 +0000 http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/?p=528#comment-2646 Right now the best bet is to use the <a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2637204-10381297?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpro-audio.musiciansfriend.com%2Fproduct%2FWaves-Musicians-2-Native%3Fsku%3D701702&cjsku=701702" target="_top" rel="nofollow">Waves Renaissance Vox</a><img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-2637204-10381297" border="0" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> processor on Mac. RVox doesn't quite get the same sound as Provoker but it is the same type of plugin so will still help bring your vocals to the front. The problem is you've got a higher price for entry there. I do plan on getting a Mac AU version of Provoker out but that could be a while before that happens. Right now the best bet is to use the Waves Renaissance Vox processor on Mac. RVox doesn’t quite get the same sound as Provoker but it is the same type of plugin so will still help bring your vocals to the front. The problem is you’ve got a higher price for entry there. I do plan on getting a Mac AU version of Provoker out but that could be a while before that happens.

]]> By: Paul http://www.benvesco.com/blog/mixing/2009/mix-recipes-clear-and-present-vocals/comment-page-1/#comment-2645 Paul Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:47:26 +0000 http://benvesco.com/tonemonster/?p=528#comment-2645 Do you know of any equivalent mac based plugins like the Provoker. I love the sound it gets but i can't use it in logic. Do you know of any equivalent mac based plugins like the Provoker. I love the sound it gets but i can’t use it in logic.

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