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Is it normal to use more than one eq/compression treatment on different sections of a vocal?

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muzician21

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Dec 15, 2009, 9:48:58 AM12/15/09
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A particular track has a vocal that covers a wide range. What I'm
finding is that it's hard to come up with an EQ setting that works at
all points. I concoct one that works in one place but leaves problems
in others.

Here's an example of two short sections of a raw vocal before any eq -
full 44.1 .wav, about 2 megs The segments are very different in range
and dynamics. The goal is to smooth it out, get rid of the mud and
excessive low-range energy and any spikiness in the top but not have
it sound harsh, tinny, sibilant.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/3/11/1809238/varying_ranges.wav

What would you consider to be the typical, common practice? Is it
typical to spot-treat an entire track or is that not how it's normally
done?

Any suggestions as far as specifically what you'd do with these
particular sections?

Thanks.

Don Pearce

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Dec 15, 2009, 9:53:46 AM12/15/09
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You do what makes it sound good, that's pretty much all there is to
it.

d

muzician21

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Dec 15, 2009, 11:48:10 AM12/15/09
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On Dec 15, 9:53 am, s...@spam.com (Don Pearce) wrote:

> You do what makes it sound good, that's pretty much all there is to
> it.

I was hoping for more more specific input. I.e. is it typical to have
to give different treatment to different parts of a track?

Don Pearce

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Dec 15, 2009, 11:50:23 AM12/15/09
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Absolutely, unless you are really tight for time, or the artist
doesn't want to pay you for your time.

d

Mark

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Dec 15, 2009, 12:07:52 PM12/15/09
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On Dec 15, 11:50 am, s...@spam.com (Don Pearce) wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:48:10 -0800 (PST), muzician21
>
> <muzicia...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >On Dec 15, 9:53 am, s...@spam.com (Don Pearce) wrote:
>
> >> You do what makes it sound good, that's pretty much all there is to
> >> it.
>
> >I was hoping for more more specific input. I.e. is it typical to have
> >to give different treatment to different parts of a track?
>
> Absolutely, unless you are really tight for time, or the artist
> doesn't want to pay you for your time.
>
> d

suggestion to the o/p..

correct the large scale variations in level from one part of the track
to another by hand using volumne envelopes in your DAW... then take
the result and feed that through your compressor adjust to give you
the desired dynamics.... that way the compressor sound will be
consistent throughout because you have already removed the large scale
changes...

Mark

Ty Ford

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Dec 15, 2009, 1:24:54 PM12/15/09
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On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:48:58 -0500, muzician21 wrote
(in article
<cd4e89f2-58c8-4991...@g26g2000yqe.googlegroups.com>):

Pro Tools, even PTLE, allows automation of EQ and compressor, so you can
adjust the plugin dynamically with automation.

I'm guessing other software does this as well.

Regards,

Ty Ford


--Audio Equipment Reviews Audio Production Services
Acting and Voiceover Demos http://www.tyford.com
Guitar player?:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWaPRHMGhGA

Mike Rivers

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Dec 15, 2009, 1:27:06 PM12/15/09
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muzician21 wrote:

> I was hoping for more more specific input. I.e. is it typical to have
> to give different treatment to different parts of a track?

Normally, it's not normal to do that. If you really have to muck with
the singer's voice that much either you're trying to make it into something
artificial or you should find a better singer.

I can imagine that there are things where you might want him to sound
different in different parts of the production but you probably wouldn't be
asking if that was the case, you'd just do it. I'm sensing that there's
something
that you feel the need to "fix."

Laurence Payne

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Dec 15, 2009, 8:46:33 PM12/15/09
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On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:48:10 -0800 (PST), muzician21
<muzic...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>> You do what makes it sound good, that's pretty much all there is to
>> it.
>
>
>
>I was hoping for more more specific input. I.e. is it typical to have
>to give different treatment to different parts of a track?

Yes, you have our permission to use this technique :-)

muzician21

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Dec 16, 2009, 6:11:00 AM12/16/09
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On Dec 15, 12:07 pm, Mark <makol...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> correct the large scale variations in level from one part of the track
> to another by hand using volumne envelopes in your DAW...  then take
> the result and feed that through your compressor adjust to give you
> the desired dynamics.... that way the compressor sound will be
> consistent throughout because you have already removed the large scale
> changes...

The larger problem is with EQ. Get rid of the mud and enhance clarity
and presence but not cause spikiness. Though part of that problem is I
find applying compression can cause problems with EQ.

Cyberserf

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Dec 16, 2009, 7:59:58 AM12/16/09
to

IMHO, you can avoid this interaction by compressing first to even out
the performance (2:1 with fast attack and threshold set for about
-3Db), eq after to shape the sound, lf, dpop and ds...apply effects
last (verb,delay,etc.). Otherwise, automation is your
friend....levels, ratios, thresholds...whatever it takes...like Don
said, it's all about the sound...if it sounds good, do it...if it
doesn't, undo it.

HTH, CS

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