When it comes to making vocals sound professional, there are several techniques and tools that can help you achieve a modern and polished sound. Here are 10 ways to make your vocals sound professional:
1. Top-End Boost: One common characteristic of modern vocals is a prominent presence in the higher frequencies. Adding a gentle boost in the top-end range (around 10kHz) can bring clarity and sparkle to your vocals, making them sound more professional.
2. Use a De’Esser: Sibilance, or excessive “s” and “sh” sounds, can be distracting and take away from the overall quality of vocals. A de’esser is a tool that specifically targets and reduces these harsh consonant sounds, resulting in a smoother and more controlled vocal performance.
3. Remove Resonances: Every room and microphone setup has its unique resonant frequencies that can cause certain frequencies to ring out or sound boomy. Using an equalizer or a dynamic EQ, you can identify and reduce these resonances, ensuring a more balanced and professional vocal sound.
4. Control the Dynamics with Automation: Dynamics play a crucial role in vocal performances, and automation can help you achieve a more controlled and consistent vocal sound. Use volume automation to even out the levels of different sections, ensuring a smooth and polished vocal performance.
5. Catch the Peaks with a Limiter: To prevent any sudden spikes or clipping in your vocal recording, it’s important to use a limiter. Set the threshold to catch any excessive peaks and apply a gentle amount of limiting to maintain a professional and controlled vocal sound.
6. Use Multiband Compression: Multiband compression allows you to compress different frequency bands separately, giving you more control over the dynamics of your vocals. By compressing specific frequency ranges, you can achieve a more balanced and professional vocal sound.
7. Enhance the Highs with Saturation: Adding a touch of saturation to the higher frequencies of your vocals can add warmth and depth, making them sound more professional. Experiment with different saturation plugins or tape emulations to find the right amount of warmth for your vocals.
8. Use Delays Instead of Reverb: Instead of drowning your vocals in reverb, try using subtle delays to create a sense of space and depth. Delays can add a modern touch to vocals and make them stand out in the mix without sounding overly washed out.
9. Pay Attention to Vocal Editing: Clean and precise vocal editing is crucial for a professional sound. Make sure to edit out any unwanted breaths, pops, or background noise. Use crossfades to smooth out any edits and ensure seamless transitions between vocal phrases.
10. Experiment with Vocal Effects: Adding creative vocal effects can give your vocals a modern and unique touch. Try experimenting with subtle pitch shifting, harmonization, or modulation effects to add depth and interest to your vocals while still maintaining a professional sound.
Remember, these techniques are just starting points, and it’s important to trust your ears and experiment to find the right combination of tools and techniques that work best for your vocals. Practice, patience, and attention to detail are key in achieving a professional vocal sound. Good luck!