Song arrangement is another influence. Anything’s possible, whether it’s a lead with backing vocals, multiple leads taking turns, guest vocalists, duets, and many other combinations, and this interplay is another factor in mix decisions.
Friday, November 02, 2018
Harmonic Pursuits
Song arrangement is another influence. Anything’s possible, whether it’s a lead with backing vocals, multiple leads taking turns, guest vocalists, duets, and many other combinations, and this interplay is another factor in mix decisions.
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This article does a great job of explaining the approach that an engineer must take when working with vocalists and sound systems as well as the challenge and prowess of skill that is required. I can attest to this as this summer I worked with one particular sound engineer who was absolutely phenomenal at her job. I have rarely heard a mix so beautiful and clear. It was even more stunning as it was in an venue which unfortunately was not built to be the best sounding. This really drove home to me how talented she was, but also how difficult the human voice can be and that having someone who really excels in this area makes all the difference in both the quality and ease of process. It also means recognizing the difficulty and being ok with the time that it might take those who are still learning or newer at this to figure it out.
I should really just start reading pro sound web.... it seems like a lot of their articles that I have read on the blog are both informative and practical, which is somewhat unique for articles about sound. Regarding this particular article, vocals are usually the most important part of a mix, especially considering that in many cases they are the vehicle of both the melody and the poetry. They are also especially difficult to perfect because we are all so well trained at recognizing voices; subtle distortions that wouldn’t matter on other sounds are noticeable and annoying on vocals. Making vocals stand out while maintaining clarity is challenging, especially when there are multiple vocal mixes interacting with one another. This article clearly and concisely details practical techniques to manage these challenges and improve mixes, even when working with a band or singers that make things difficult for you. Outside of pro sound web, that kind of knowledge is usually only found in expensive college classes and through mentors and experiential learning in actual shows.
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