Great video. I like getting my vocals as best as I can with my vocals chain then add NYC parallel compression with high end and your low pitch down trick for body. Good stuff Warren!
I hated multiband compressor on vocal before, but now I have really good results with it by "riding" low mids using moderate attack, slow release. I also boost the highs with it and set the HF band to act like a custom deesser. I'm trying to avoid setting cuttof points from 800hz to like 4000hz because they tend to sound unnatural in this area. Thanks for video Warren!
I also do limiter -> compressor -> eq -> compressor -> eq -> compressor -> multiband -> Parallel compression. I always watch Marc episodes cause sometimes you catch is what you've never thought before. And a very nice presentation. Very polite
@Produce Like A Pro Warren any chance of a video discussing differences in production of male and female vocals? Do you treat them differently? If so could you maybe discuss it during FAQ Friday, please?
Every mixing engineer have their own way of giving life to vocals, for many mixers that wanna have a bright vocal that sits on top of the track Marc's way of mixing was beautiful and we can use some his techniques 👌🏻 Thanks for sharing 👍🏻
Always like Marcs relaxed and clear delivery. The song is great and he clearly explains how he approaches everything in less than 10 minutes. #Respect. Thanks to Produce Like A Pro for this outstanding content.
I’ve seen a lot of Vocal Chains over the Internet but this probably the best video. Video is cleanly put, the chain is well explained and tells how different this chain is different from other chains. Put this guy on the channel more.
I love Marc ability to explain what he does. And how to interact with each plugin to make a difference. I've learn so much from his videos. Keep it going man. Sounds beautiful.
Here's how you do the same chain with free plugins: - FabFilter Pro Q3: TDR Nova - Klanghelm MUC: Analog Obsession Varimoon or Klanghelm Muc Jr - Waves MV2 - Sonic Anomally's VOLA2 - Waves Multiband: Cockos ReaXComp - Soundtoys Echoboy: Valhalla FreqEcho, Valhalla SuperMassive, Stone Voices Ambient Reverb, Sonic Anomally's Leet Delay, GSi Varispeed...Depends on the type of delay wanted. - De-Essers: Either use another multiband compressor or something like SleepyTime DSP Lisp or Airwindows DeBess - Soundtoys Decapitator: Depends on the type of saturation you want. Analog Obsession's PreBox, SGA1155 and so on. - SoftTube Tube Tech Classic Channel Strip: Analog Obsession's Rare SE + I'd say Analog Obsession's Kolin - Acustica Audio El Rey: Don't believe there's any free RCA AVC compressor emulations on the market.
@@BrunodeSouzaLino My DAW, Ableton doesn't support 32bit vst. Anyways what i am trying to say is that I don't like AO stuff. I find them buggy and they come with analog looking UI but not the same characteristics as near as analog
Sounds like the vocal was tracked pretty amazing in the first place. Would love to see an episode on tracking including mic choice and the use of outboard vs itb processing. The vocals in this video have a presence not too many engineers seem to nail. It's that balanced thick forward vocal sound engineers like Serban Ghenea are famous for. Another great episode from Marc. He's definitely one of my favorite guest presenters on this channel!
@@BobbyLouxMusic will never happen bro. All these RUclips channels have vocals that are already processed very well. Then they add some plugins on them and do a few moves and be like “that’s all I did!” There’s not 1 channel where a big time channel shows the the tracking and processing from beginning to end. Not 1.
This was a fantastic reminder of how layering compressors can achieve smooth in front vocals. Gonna try something similiar right away! And I'm gonna have a marvelous time doing so! ;)
I like it! Simple, lean, and open. I like workflows where you can assess each step instead of a “magical black box” solution. Tks and please keep simple good capsules like this coming!
I’ve watched a lot of tutorials .. but with you i see more details . It’s like a new mixing class . In depth with more elaborations .. thank you very much .. love from Africa 🇹🇿..
Sounds great! I appreciate a pop vocal that hasn’t been destroyed with compression. I thought Mark did a tasteful job molding this vocal. Using multiple compressors on a single track is still a little over my head as an engineer. This video was helpful.
Marc has a great demeanor and even more importantly gets right into giving useful information. Another point I’d like to make is it’s like Christmas all year long with Warren and everyone at Produce Like a Pro. Thank you
used wave's equivalent pis for marc's chain and the vocal sits in its spot, doesn't move, doesn;t fade or surge, stays on point...perfect. now on to the verbs...thank you so much marc. i put a L1 first with barely any limiting and the rest fell into place. yippity do daw day
Super helpful video, thanks Marc and PLAP. Didn't notice the sleeping hound until right at the end. I actually like having my animals in the room with me despite the inherent hair and fluff problems they can create.
First of all, what a beautiful song! This is a great video thanks for sharing this! I love the clean yet upfront treatment he has here, it really brings out the beauty of her vocal. While I havn't looked at his master buss, Its wonderful how well he has achieved depth, verb and all sorts of clarity without "hyper" compressing. Im a fan!
Having a great vocalist and having the vibe for a killer take, then Add salt and pepper before serving ;-) cool video and superb presentation .. thank you more of these please Warren
Amazing video. I really enjoy Marc’s videos - I like how he explains why he makes certain decisions and then let’s you hear the different elements at work. I’ve learned a lot from all the videos of Marc you’ve shared. Cheers. This was a really good one.
Nice! I was recommended MV2 in the academy only yesterday. When I demo'ed immediately knew it will be great on vocals. Today I've been going back through my mixes and inserting it on all of them along with CLA Epic and Puigchild. You're costing me money Warren 😂 Only kidding. Well worth it. Another great video by Marc!
I track with an AKG The Tube (414 with a tube), usually, if it works for the voice. Into a Gains MP2 (discrete transformer balanced pre) and a Tube Tech CL1A and hit it hard. The Tube Tech CL1A can squash the crap out of anything and you only hear a beautiful sound coming out, never any audible side effects. The CL1A is amazing. I rarely compress during the mix if it was tracked with the CL1A. I used to have a Tube Tech MP1A mic pre at my previous studio with a former partner. It was hands down the best piece of gear I've ever used. Everything that went through it sounded great and sat in the mix with no effort. I'm only doing music on the side now but still want a Tube Tech pre, it's god like.
Thanks Marc for another great video, and Warren for bringing it to us. I love the focus on subtleties that really make the whole work, as opposed to the brute force "hammer" techniques that see every problem as a nail to be smashed. Kudos and salutations, fellas!
Hey Marc, I really enjoy how you share your tips, templates and FX Chains with us, learned a lot already! ✌ Will try this or similar chain on the next vocal track! I got one question out of curiosity: Regarding the Dynamic EQ between 1 - 2K, did you listened it out or did you found it by sweep through the vocal track? Thanks in advance!!!
i would love to hear the dry take on this prior to all processing including volume leveling just to mentally calibrate expectations with the tracks that i usually receive.
For some reason, I have a feeling that if your suggestion was the case, he would explain how the sound changes instead of just demonstrating, defeating the purpose.
@@marcdanielnelson317 COVID has enabled me to have my dog "work" with me, too. Nice tutorial. I'm a big fan of the MV2 as well. I'm a postproduction audio guy but your vocal chain approach is useful for me, especially the implementation of serial compression.
Love the video, and love the content from Marc! I went to Spotify to check out this tune and the choruses are full of some major errors. They sound digital to me, perhaps from some transfer or upload process, but someone involved with the artist might want to let her or mgmt know. All the best!
MV2 inside the serial compression on vocals -- wow, never tried that with MV2. And I like the dynamic EQ use at 1k (been starting to shift to dynamic eq more and more). Thanks Marc for clear explanations on how much each plugin was working. I am curious which matters more...which plugins you use here vs. the order you place them? Do you A/B the order while you mix or do you just have your chain that works? Do you switch up the order on different material?
I paused this video and went and listened to the song, and my first impression was the vocals were a little weak, they didn't jump out at me enough-like she was singing on the train after work (and it's clear she has power in her voice). And watching this, it's clear why. The compressors are literally doing nothing but quietening the vocal. Each compressor is reducing the power of the vocal each time with that 0-attack philosophy. Seeing compression as a tool to quieten music is mental. It's a way to give vocals more life not decapitate their energy through some kind of fear of peaks. A vocal has to jump out of the speakers. Even in a pop track. Personally, I like to compress at the start of the chain 8:1 with a slow attack on a Black 76, this lets sibilants through and gives beef to the decay, a de-esser grabs the top end later in the chain, and I use a slightly faster attack near the end of the chain to catch any crazy peaks using maybe a master bus plugin or similar. But I never try flatten the vocal using tight attacks like this, always sounds weak to me when you do that even if it looks like vary little is being compressed (3 is just overkill). Once it's mastered you're going to get more rounding off of that vocal and it's going to sound like it does in this song, meh. Slow attack all the way.
What are your favorite vocal mixing tricks?
Great video. I like getting my vocals as best as I can with my vocals chain then add NYC parallel compression with high end and your low pitch down trick for body. Good stuff Warren!
I hated multiband compressor on vocal before, but now I have really good results with it by "riding" low mids using moderate attack, slow release. I also boost the highs with it and set the HF band to act like a custom deesser. I'm trying to avoid setting cuttof points from 800hz to like 4000hz because they tend to sound unnatural in this area.
Thanks for video Warren!
I also do limiter -> compressor -> eq -> compressor -> eq -> compressor -> multiband -> Parallel compression. I always watch Marc episodes cause sometimes you catch is what you've never thought before. And a very nice presentation. Very polite
@Produce Like A Pro Warren any chance of a video discussing differences in production of male and female vocals? Do you treat them differently? If so could you maybe discuss it during FAQ Friday, please?
I just learned about the Scheps vocal trick and have been using that.
I have really been diggin this guys vibe. Great choice of a producer, and a great educator to boot. Thanks Warren
Me too
Never seen a masterclass pulled off in 10 min before. Truly impressive!
Super speed Don
Agreed! Thanks ever so much Don!
we are blessed that such a great mixer decided to open a RUclips channel and share his amazing knowledge (or his amazing friends).
Every mixing engineer have their own way of giving life to vocals, for many mixers that wanna have a bright vocal that sits on top of the track Marc's way of mixing was beautiful and we can use some his techniques 👌🏻 Thanks for sharing 👍🏻
Always like Marcs relaxed and clear delivery. The song is great and he clearly explains how he approaches everything in less than 10 minutes. #Respect.
Thanks to Produce Like A Pro for this outstanding content.
Thank you, EB. Have a great weekend my dude
I’ve seen a lot of Vocal Chains over the Internet but this probably the best video. Video is cleanly put, the chain is well explained and tells how different this chain is different from other chains. Put this guy on the channel more.
Guests on the Channel. Production. Editing. Fonts! This is amazing. Seeing this channel growing and expanding in front of our eyes !
Fonts 😎
Wow! Thanks ever so much musicfreak21!
@@marcdanielnelson317 haha fonts!
Never seen anyone using multiple compressors in this way. Unique... And makes total sense.
MV2 is a great plug in. Serial light compression really is the key to a great vocal sound, as you demonstrated effectively. Top tips!
Sonic Anomally's VOLA2 is a free alternative that can do everything MV2 does.
Thanks ever so much Tony!!
I love Marc ability to explain what he does. And how to interact with each plugin to make a difference. I've learn so much from his videos. Keep it going man. Sounds beautiful.
I really appreciate this teacher. One of the most generous engineers on RUclips. Great philosophy.
Here's how you do the same chain with free plugins:
- FabFilter Pro Q3: TDR Nova
- Klanghelm MUC: Analog Obsession Varimoon or Klanghelm Muc Jr
- Waves MV2 - Sonic Anomally's VOLA2
- Waves Multiband: Cockos ReaXComp
- Soundtoys Echoboy: Valhalla FreqEcho, Valhalla SuperMassive, Stone Voices Ambient Reverb, Sonic Anomally's Leet Delay, GSi Varispeed...Depends on the type of delay wanted.
- De-Essers: Either use another multiband compressor or something like SleepyTime DSP Lisp or Airwindows DeBess
- Soundtoys Decapitator: Depends on the type of saturation you want. Analog Obsession's PreBox, SGA1155 and so on.
- SoftTube Tube Tech Classic Channel Strip: Analog Obsession's Rare SE + I'd say Analog Obsession's Kolin
- Acustica Audio El Rey: Don't believe there's any free RCA AVC compressor emulations on the market.
You could even make the same chain with stock plug-ins. It depends what you are after :)
Very nice dude, thank you!
You are really into analog obsession.
@@jayjain3821 You can replace some of the AO plugins with Variety of Sound or similar.
@@BrunodeSouzaLino My DAW, Ableton doesn't support 32bit vst. Anyways what i am trying to say is that I don't like AO stuff. I find them buggy and they come with analog looking UI but not the same characteristics as near as analog
MDN is always straight to the facts, the amount of knowledge this guy can impart in 10 minutes is astounding.
I’ve had the MV2 on vocals after compression for the last couple of years. Brilliant for bringing back low level information
Yes, truly wonderful!!
@@Producelikeapro Quick question here, could it be replaced by a Vocal Rider ?
The vocal harmonies with distortion adds a lot of life to the track. Simple and awesome track. Very soothingly mixed.
Marc is rad. I appreciate his dry, to the point delivery.
Thanks ever so much!
@@Producelikeapro to be clear Warren, i am NOT implying your humorous, cheerful delivery is not appreciated.
@@saladdaze7375 x
That's one beautiful song. Again, Marc is a pleasure to watch, on your channel Warren. Thank you.
You’re very welcome!
Sounds like the vocal was tracked pretty amazing in the first place. Would love to see an episode on tracking including mic choice and the use of outboard vs itb processing. The vocals in this video have a presence not too many engineers seem to nail. It's that balanced thick forward vocal sound engineers like Serban Ghenea are famous for. Another great episode from Marc. He's definitely one of my favorite guest presenters on this channel!
That would be ideal! I’d like to know the tracking process as well to complete the lesson..
@@BobbyLouxMusic will never happen bro. All these RUclips channels have vocals that are already processed very well. Then they add some plugins on them and do a few moves and be like “that’s all I did!” There’s not 1 channel where a big time channel shows the the tracking and processing from beginning to end. Not 1.
@@Lexbannister cla does one for Mix with the Masters but it’ll cost $300
1 video with Marc better than 2 days 24/7 searching in youtube
While I have yet to try these tricks by myself, I am impressed by the rendering and the reasoning involved.
This was a fantastic reminder of how layering compressors can achieve smooth in front vocals. Gonna try something similiar right away!
And I'm gonna have a marvelous time doing so! ;)
I like it! Simple, lean, and open. I like workflows where you can assess each step instead of a “magical black box” solution. Tks and please keep simple good capsules like this coming!
I’ve watched a lot of tutorials .. but with you i see more details . It’s like a new mixing class . In depth with more elaborations .. thank you very much .. love from Africa 🇹🇿..
These videos are some of my favourite mixing tutorials... it's got the perfect blend of direction and understanding
Sounds great! I appreciate a pop vocal that hasn’t been destroyed with compression. I thought Mark did a tasteful job molding this vocal. Using multiple compressors on a single track is still a little over my head as an engineer. This video was helpful.
Beautiful vocal and with Marc's magic too. what more could one want.
Marvellous!
Marc has a great demeanor and even more importantly gets right into giving useful information.
Another point I’d like to make is it’s like Christmas all year long with Warren and everyone at Produce Like a Pro. Thank you
Thank you Buddy. Nice of you to say.
Marc is my favorite mixer hes got so much clarity in his mixes, hes an absolute beast
Thanks ever so much! Yes, Marc is a wonderful talent!!
Super thank you
Clean, classy and concise. I’m loving this series with Marc! great communicator.
used wave's equivalent pis for marc's chain and the vocal sits in its spot, doesn't move, doesn;t fade or surge, stays on point...perfect. now on to the verbs...thank you so much marc. i put a L1 first with barely any limiting and the rest fell into place. yippity do daw day
Super helpful video, thanks Marc and PLAP. Didn't notice the sleeping hound until right at the end. I actually like having my animals in the room with me despite the inherent hair and fluff problems they can create.
That MC2 Compressor is magic!
M D Nelson - you are one of the best teachers! Your every move make sense - thanks!
Marvellous!!
Very cool Mika. Thank you
Love Marc's taste and subtlety. Great stuff. Thanks, guys!
Even with all that gear, he has that awesome SSL 2+ sitting on his desk. Nice :)
this guys is killing it in the box, eh?
very smooth
This guy is cool, learning from him makes it feel like a breeze of information. Feels nice and not too heavy
Truly great tutorial and insights here. It felt like a real privilege to have this man explain his process. Thanks so much!
Wow, I love this guy. I may have to re-watch this a few times to fully grok what he's doing.
First of all, what a beautiful song! This is a great video thanks for sharing this! I love the clean yet upfront treatment he has here, it really brings out the beauty of her vocal. While I havn't looked at his master buss, Its wonderful how well he has achieved depth, verb and all sorts of clarity without "hyper" compressing. Im a fan!
Nice approach, it's indeed pretty unique and it's really interesting to watch him make it work that good. Super instructive.
Thanks ever so much
This guy is schooling us on “flavor,” a little here and there, small changes add up. Well done and for free to boot 🥾
Having a great vocalist and having the vibe for a killer take, then Add salt and pepper before serving ;-)
cool video and superb presentation .. thank you more of these please Warren
Fabulously insightful as usual, so much to learn from this video. Thanks a bundle Marc & Warren!
Thanks ever so much
Yeah this before and after can be heard well even on iPhone X speakers! Sounds really good 🤘🏻
There is always something to learn! Great work guys!
I literally have my first pop client tomorrow! Perfect timing
Really Insightful stuff! I have just got into mixing and have learned so much from this channel already. Thank you
Amazing video. I really enjoy Marc’s videos - I like how he explains why he makes certain decisions and then let’s you hear the different elements at work. I’ve learned a lot from all the videos of Marc you’ve shared. Cheers. This was a really good one.
His setup is so cool and classy
Marc Daniel Nelson , all kill no fill . You kick ass man WOW ! !!!!
Awesome, thanks Warren and Marc! Love the El Rey compressor, so good on vocals!
That 2k-3k can really be Painfully frequencies... especially on high pitch vocals... smart move to dip it out with the fab filter q3....
Nice! I was recommended MV2 in the academy only yesterday. When I demo'ed immediately knew it will be great on vocals. Today I've been going back through my mixes and inserting it on all of them along with CLA Epic and Puigchild. You're costing me money Warren 😂 Only kidding. Well worth it. Another great video by Marc!
haha yes, Lukasz! Great plug in!
I've watched this video so many times,... This guy is amazing, I wish I could give the video more like.
Sir , you are adding Deasser on almost everything , like guitar, Synth, brass ,, great ❤️😀
This "series" with MDN is really great content! Please keep it going. Cheers!
I track with an AKG The Tube (414 with a tube), usually, if it works for the voice. Into a Gains MP2 (discrete transformer balanced pre) and a Tube Tech CL1A and hit it hard. The Tube Tech CL1A can squash the crap out of anything and you only hear a beautiful sound coming out, never any audible side effects. The CL1A is amazing. I rarely compress during the mix if it was tracked with the CL1A. I used to have a Tube Tech MP1A mic pre at my previous studio with a former partner. It was hands down the best piece of gear I've ever used. Everything that went through it sounded great and sat in the mix with no effort. I'm only doing music on the side now but still want a Tube Tech pre, it's god like.
More of these please. Marc is awesome.
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Awesome video Marc!!!! You’re amazing at what you do. So inspiring!!
Wow, One of the best tutorials I've seen on Mixing. Thank You. Subbed.
Thanks ever so much
Vocal inserts and their settings were awesome.
Just when i have to record my lead singer! Perfect! 😃🤘
Thanks Marc for another great video, and Warren for bringing it to us. I love the focus on subtleties that really make the whole work, as opposed to the brute force "hammer" techniques that see every problem as a nail to be smashed. Kudos and salutations, fellas!
Thanks, Brandon. My dudes
this guy puts out the best content on YT
Really awesome and knowledgable video Thank you so much Warren for making collabs with great sound producers like Marc!
Great voice and great minded engineering to take it to the roof!
Thank you man, literally used this in my session today!!!
That's amazing to hear!
Hey Marc, I really enjoy how you share your tips, templates and FX Chains with us, learned a lot already! ✌
Will try this or similar chain on the next vocal track! I got one question out of curiosity:
Regarding the Dynamic EQ between 1 - 2K, did you listened it out or did you found it by sweep through the vocal track?
Thanks in advance!!!
You can do the multi-compression trick on other things too, like acoustic guitar, which sometimes gets buried in the mix.
I treat my acoustic guitars very much like vocals.
Great Vid! Always something to learn here! Thanks!
Thanks ever so much
Marc is honestly brilliant
Hey! Wonderful video again! Do you think i could swap the tubetech compressor with an la2a? Or do they work completely different. Thank you!
Quite sophisticated isn’t it 👍🤯
Am now a fan! Great work!!!!
More than pro tools we were seeing Marc Daniel nelson 😅😂 in video !
i would love to hear the dry take on this prior to all processing including volume leveling just to mentally calibrate expectations with the tracks that i usually receive.
For some reason, I have a feeling that if your suggestion was the case, he would explain how the sound changes instead of just demonstrating, defeating the purpose.
@@BrunodeSouzaLino i can understand that.
Beautiful mix. Great tutorial!
We are waiting for Marc's predelay trick to learn perfect Reverb 😊 , I send my mixes to Marc sir, and he also replies
The secret sauce in the mix is the dog snoozing on the couch.
Haha yes, indeed!
AMEN
You know it duder
@@marcdanielnelson317 COVID has enabled me to have my dog "work" with me, too. Nice tutorial. I'm a big fan of the MV2 as well. I'm a postproduction audio guy but your vocal chain approach is useful for me, especially the implementation of serial compression.
The dog has gotten so much free game over the years 😅
Thank you so much! This video really helped me turn the corner in mixing.
You can really be the greatest mixer, if you "only" watch this channel.
Great mixing
Thanks Joel! Glad you like it! Marc Rules!
absolute killer vocal sound!
Wow, lead voc send to AUX loaded with bunch of plugins, pretty good result
Marc is awesome!
Love the video, and love the content from Marc!
I went to Spotify to check out this tune and the choruses are full of some major errors. They sound digital to me, perhaps from some transfer or upload process, but someone involved with the artist might want to let her or mgmt know. All the best!
KUL! Cant wait to try
Marvellous
Thanks again guys my fav mixer
Thanks, Jason. Nice of you to share and say
MV2 inside the serial compression on vocals -- wow, never tried that with MV2. And I like the dynamic EQ use at 1k (been starting to shift to dynamic eq more and more). Thanks Marc for clear explanations on how much each plugin was working. I am curious which matters more...which plugins you use here vs. the order you place them? Do you A/B the order while you mix or do you just have your chain that works? Do you switch up the order on different material?
It´s insane such valuable information! :) And positive vibe!
Thank you. Working real hard to get my game up 💥
That’s a killer mix!
Producing like a pro is making me not wanna go to full sail university for audio production.. these videos are life changing
Wow! Thanks ever so much
I paused this video and went and listened to the song, and my first impression was the vocals were a little weak, they didn't jump out at me enough-like she was singing on the train after work (and it's clear she has power in her voice). And watching this, it's clear why. The compressors are literally doing nothing but quietening the vocal. Each compressor is reducing the power of the vocal each time with that 0-attack philosophy. Seeing compression as a tool to quieten music is mental. It's a way to give vocals more life not decapitate their energy through some kind of fear of peaks. A vocal has to jump out of the speakers. Even in a pop track. Personally, I like to compress at the start of the chain 8:1 with a slow attack on a Black 76, this lets sibilants through and gives beef to the decay, a de-esser grabs the top end later in the chain, and I use a slightly faster attack near the end of the chain to catch any crazy peaks using maybe a master bus plugin or similar. But I never try flatten the vocal using tight attacks like this, always sounds weak to me when you do that even if it looks like vary little is being compressed (3 is just overkill). Once it's mastered you're going to get more rounding off of that vocal and it's going to sound like it does in this song, meh. Slow attack all the way.
You know best my dudes 🙋🏼♂️
Great tips. And this is the first tutorial video I've seen in which the example is actual a well produced song and not from some terrible rock band 😅
Hell of a chain here
Marc Daniel Nelson for me is the best mixer ,producer , I really enjoy his videos
Just a small move of each plugin. Small moves go a long way. I found I’m missing this part, :):)