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How to Make Vocals Sound Full

When mixing vocals, one of the biggest challenges is getting them to sound full. While home studios offer convenience and a cost-effective approach to recording, they have limitations. Because your home is unlikely to have the same acoustic properties as a pro recording studio, you can’t achieve the same quality of sound. Recording studios typically have higher-spec microphones and preamps as well, which create a naturally fuller sound. However, you can use the tools and effects in a typical digital audio workstation -- such as GarageBand, Acid or Cubase -- to manipulate the vocal recordings to create the illusion of fullness.

Things You'll Need

  • Digital audio workstation software
  • Computer with minimum 2GB RAM
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Instructions

    • 1

      Double-click the desktop icon for your preferred digital audio workstation, or "DAW." This launches the program.

    • 2

      Turn the “Pan” dial of the main vocal fully right. This sends the vocal to the right side of the stereo image. If listening through headphones, you’ll hear this vocal only in your right ear.

    • 3

      Create a new audio track. The method for doing so varies slightly depending on which DAW you use, but you typically click “File, “New” and select “Audio." Name the track “Lead Vocal Left.”

    • 4

      Click on the main vocal to highlight it. Right-click and select “Copy.”

    • 5

      Turn the “Pan” dial on “Lead Vocal Left” fully left. This effectively spreads the vocal across the entire stereo image, making for a fuller sound.

    • 6

      Click on a vocal track to highlight it. Select a reverb effect from the “Effects” menu. Reverb is an ambient effect that adds space and width to a sound, by elongating its decay. Adjust the “Depth” and “Time” parameters to find a reverb configuration you like. Repeat this process for each vocal track.

    • 7

      Click on the lead vocal track. Select an overdrive effect from the “Effects” menu. Overdrive is typically used to make guitars sound heavier. However, by adding a very light overdrive to a vocal, you can approximate the sound of a vintage, tube microphone -- which have a fuller sound. Set the “Drive” parameter to around 5 percent.

    • 8

      Boost the “Gain” setting for the two lead vocal tracks. Gain controls the strength of the signal as it arrives at the output stage. It governs “loudness” -- relative to the other sounds. By boosting the gain so the vocal signals are stronger, you place them higher in the mix -- reducing the chance they'll be drowned out by naturally fuller-sounding instruments such as guitars.

    • 9

      If the red warning light on the channel strip flashes, the signal is too strong and will distort. Aim for the highest gain setting that doesn’t trigger the warning light.

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