Comments on: Three tricks for better vocal overdubs http://songsandsonics.com/2008/12/20/three-tricks-for-better-vocal-overdubs/ The art and craft of writing and recording music. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:06:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Jeff Boller http://songsandsonics.com/2008/12/20/three-tricks-for-better-vocal-overdubs/comment-page-1/#comment-1210 Jeff Boller Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:39:37 +0000 http://songsandsonics.com/?p=61#comment-1210 Hmmm... Since pitch isn't as big of a deal for rappers, maybe don't worry about using reverb. (I mean, have you ever heard anybody complain that a rapper is out of tune?) For these tricks, reverb is basically meant to help discern pitch information and that's it. Panning things far right or left while doing overdubs might work well, though. Assuming you want doubled vocal parts to begin with, the panning tricks could help make sure you have two or three nearly identical vocal performances -- that they're rhythmically in sync with each other. Trick #3 might work well if someone can't do a good complete take for some reason. I don't know for sure, though. I've recorded a lot of R&B singers but not many rappers! :) So take all of this with a grain of salt. Hmmm… Since pitch isn’t as big of a deal for rappers, maybe don’t worry about using reverb. (I mean, have you ever heard anybody complain that a rapper is out of tune?) For these tricks, reverb is basically meant to help discern pitch information and that’s it.

Panning things far right or left while doing overdubs might work well, though. Assuming you want doubled vocal parts to begin with, the panning tricks could help make sure you have two or three nearly identical vocal performances — that they’re rhythmically in sync with each other. Trick #3 might work well if someone can’t do a good complete take for some reason.

I don’t know for sure, though. I’ve recorded a lot of R&B singers but not many rappers! :) So take all of this with a grain of salt.

]]> By: nofish http://songsandsonics.com/2008/12/20/three-tricks-for-better-vocal-overdubs/comment-page-1/#comment-1209 nofish Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:19:42 +0000 http://songsandsonics.com/?p=61#comment-1209 Hi, I'm the one from the Reaper forum asking you to write about this technique. So first, thanks a lot for putting it together. I think you clearly outlined the steps and it does make sense to me, will test it in my next recording session. However, as I often record rappers, I'm wondering a bit if a long reverb doesn't get too "washy" (muddy) for vocals, but that's a matter of fine-tuning I guess. Will report back how the next recording-session went using this technique. Cheers. Hi,
I’m the one from the Reaper forum asking you to write about this technique.
So first, thanks a lot for putting it together.
I think you clearly outlined the steps and it does make sense to me, will test it in my next recording session.
However, as I often record rappers, I’m wondering a bit if a long reverb doesn’t get too “washy” (muddy) for vocals, but that’s a matter of fine-tuning I guess.

Will report back how the next recording-session went using this technique.

Cheers.

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