Full video available exclusively on mwtm.org/cla-itw In this interview, step inside the world of CLA as he explains how he prepares vocals for every mix.
Amazing how in less than 4 minutes I've learned something I never noticed: Lower the volume of breathing when compressing with automation Pre-EQ if you anticipate what's going to happen with the sound after compression. Better yet, EQ after compressing to eliminate any frequencies the compressor brought in Those things could sound like very trivial things, but for me it's something I never thought about
That has to be one of the most overlooked things about mixing. All that manual labour about level matching and gain staging is crucial. Sure, slapping a few plugins on is easier, but it will never sound as homogeneous and even.
I agree. I am so glad he talked about that in this video. It seems like a lot of people either skip or don't speak about the necessary process of cleaning up and leveling a comped vocal track.
Great tips, and thanks for mentioning the breaths! I've done commercial prod for 10 years now, and these relatively simple steps of EQ, compression, and "de-gasping" (I'm stealing that one) go such a long way towards making your VO sound polished and professional no matter the project. CLA, we're not worthy!
I can’t tell you how it transformed my vocal and bass parts when I started manually “clip gaining” them. The earlier you get a workable sound, the better…even serial compressors don’t like a 10db swing. Just even things out, that’s all…
Classic material!!! For you mixers of hip hop/trap out there, remember this is a foundational tip but doesn't completely apply to you. Now, mixes aren't as important or rigid as they used to be. Now what sells is what sells. I've seen music that is poorly mixed sell high numbers from indie artist as well as not mastered. Hip Hop/Trap defies the conventional mixing methods often. Essentially do what makes your records sell. I've been mixing for years and I used to be extremely strict after I would hear mixes deviate from what I was taught. Now what sells, sells.
just because , what sells ,sells doesnt mean you shouldnt try to give the best when it comes to your art , if you really care about your art , then you must give your best , it might be poorly mixed /mastered due to lack of funds , if u have the funds , always go for something good my 2 cents though
Engineers need to be honest with the singers who breathe into the mic too much rather than staying silent and just fixing their issues later. Live or studio, a singer should always be intimately familiar with how they're approaching the mic and how that affects their sound
In a perfect world sure, but is hounding them in a session worth possibly killing the vibe and the energy they have going? I think not. You could kill the session before it starts because now they're self conscious about breaths. That's something the vocal coach/vocal producer goes over. Only way you're getting away with that is if you have a long good working relationship with an artist. Some can't take and don't want that feedback.
Gotta clean up Vox before they hit the compressor, otherwise you'll just have a bigger mess on your hands. Something tells me, the tracks he receives don't need to be cleaned up much.
You'll notice when he mentions cleaning up the breaths, he says 'we'. That means his assistant, who may also be tuning, trimming, aligning, etc. That lets him focus on the mixing part.
I'm with you on this one. On rock esq tracks I wanna hear the breaths. Maybe they're cut on dubs and on the main turned down just so they keep that energy but aren't obnoxious. On RnB outside of Marvin Gaye type stuff. Ie: modern stuff it's the opposite for me
for breath remove silence on logic pro, fade out and in at the regions. But is a work of handcraft. He doesn’t mention an essential part most mixes fail: the end of the words, and some attacks. I guess this is still the preparation? Here is my 2 attempt mixing vocals, and some of these mistakes (since i gave me not more than 2 days for all the project, from learning the music til upload ) th-cam.com/video/5VCeE2OCy-Y/w-d-xo.html. I used a normal recorder, lavalier mic. Compression can help with end of words, but only when the audio is really clean and without breath i guess, so i had to do everything manually. But i guess there is some good plugins for these common issues ;) The mix and master uses EW Espaces and Waves Abbey Roads th-cam.com/video/5VCeE2OCy-Y/w-d-xo.html
What gets me with vocals (often broadcast vocals) is when the compressors amplify the saliva sounds from the corner of their lips or how their tongue is touching their teeth. I don’t want to hear how your mouth is moving.
Full video available exclusively on mwtm.org/cla-preparing-vocals
Should be titled "How CLA's assistant prepares vocals for him to mix" LOL
this man is aging like a fine wine, looking healthier everytime i see him
Probably due to the fact he stopped using cocaine 😊
Amazing how in less than 4 minutes I've learned something I never noticed:
Lower the volume of breathing when compressing with automation
Pre-EQ if you anticipate what's going to happen with the sound after compression. Better yet, EQ after compressing to eliminate any frequencies the compressor brought in
Those things could sound like very trivial things, but for me it's something I never thought about
I'm going to be the biggest artist on earth by the end of the year 🌊🚀🚀🚀🚀🌊🚀
For breaths I just use debreather by waves, it’s really useful!
How do you get rid of the peaks like he said in the beginning?
I actually do little snips between phrases and use a fade tool if it’s really noticeable.
@@nhaxydz fader automation/clip gain
That has to be one of the most overlooked things about mixing.
All that manual labour about level matching and gain staging is crucial. Sure, slapping a few plugins on is easier, but it will never sound as homogeneous and even.
I agree. I am so glad he talked about that in this video. It seems like a lot of people either skip or don't speak about the necessary process of cleaning up and leveling a comped vocal track.
Good use of the word homogeneous
Is he talking about clip gain?
How do you get rid of the peaks like he said in the beginning?
Great tips, and thanks for mentioning the breaths! I've done commercial prod for 10 years now, and these relatively simple steps of EQ, compression, and "de-gasping" (I'm stealing that one) go such a long way towards making your VO sound polished and professional no matter the project. CLA, we're not worthy!
I'm going to be the biggest artist on earth by the end of the year 🌊🚀🚀🚀🚀🌊🚀
@@SOUNDWAVE8000 you'r funny :)
@@kailo1619 oh thanks bud :)
Hell yeah CLA looking good, glad to see the mans looking after himself these days!
this is an old video
@@V0ID_beats Hahaha, oh well... CLA still on the donuts then 😂
The legend says CLA changed his t-shirt last time he used some other compressor on vocals.
super insightful! this man is an open book of knowledge 💫
he is legend man
‘which i have 4 of’
cool thanks chris 😂
Great advise, Chris!!! Thanks!!!!!!!
I love music, always wanted to be a music producer\mixer This guy sounds like he knows this profession.
He and his brother have been around a very long time
I can’t tell you how it transformed my vocal and bass parts when I started manually “clip gaining” them. The earlier you get a workable sound, the better…even serial compressors don’t like a 10db swing. Just even things out, that’s all…
Great advice CLA, you rock!
Chris Lord Algae's voice always reminds me of, your partners voice in the PS2 game: Extermination
Waves de-breather is really amazing, try it on your own!
How much does it cost? And does it take breathes out so you don’t have to edit them out anymore?
@@buggieb9971 buy it on sales😁 as for me, I don't need to edit it manually anymore)
@@valik-stu thank you so much guy!
It's ok but can be choppy. RX has a debreath module too.
How do you get rid of the peaks like he said in the beginning?
Looks younger than he did 5 10 years ago... I guess that SSL console is also anti aging too...
This video is from about 10 years ago. Seen it many times
Classic material!!!
For you mixers of hip hop/trap out there, remember this is a foundational tip but doesn't completely apply to you.
Now, mixes aren't as important or rigid as they used to be. Now what sells is what sells. I've seen music that is poorly mixed sell high numbers from indie artist as well as not mastered.
Hip Hop/Trap defies the conventional mixing methods often. Essentially do what makes your records sell.
I've been mixing for years and I used to be extremely strict after I would hear mixes deviate from what I was taught. Now what sells, sells.
just because , what sells ,sells doesnt mean you shouldnt try to give the best when it comes to your art , if you really care about your art , then you must give your best , it might be poorly mixed /mastered due to lack of funds , if u have the funds , always go for something good my 2 cents though
Depends on your goals
Engineers need to be honest with the singers who breathe into the mic too much rather than staying silent and just fixing their issues later. Live or studio, a singer should always be intimately familiar with how they're approaching the mic and how that affects their sound
In a perfect world sure, but is hounding them in a session worth possibly killing the vibe and the energy they have going? I think not. You could kill the session before it starts because now they're self conscious about breaths. That's something the vocal coach/vocal producer goes over. Only way you're getting away with that is if you have a long good working relationship with an artist. Some can't take and don't want that feedback.
Do you have to Pre eq the plug in or just analog?
This was recorded 20 kg ago...
wow my CLA vocals talking about vocals :)
I'm going to be the biggest artist on earth by the end of the year 🌊🚀🚀🚀🚀🌊🚀
Gotta clean up Vox before they hit the compressor, otherwise you'll just have a bigger mess on your hands. Something tells me, the tracks he receives don't need to be cleaned up much.
You'll notice when he mentions cleaning up the breaths, he says 'we'. That means his assistant, who may also be tuning, trimming, aligning, etc. That lets him focus on the mixing part.
I’ve noticed an anti de-gasp attitude for mixing Muse / Matt Bellamy’s vocals. I like the gasps on Muse records, they add character
I'm with you on this one. On rock esq tracks I wanna hear the breaths. Maybe they're cut on dubs and on the main turned down just so they keep that energy but aren't obnoxious. On RnB outside of Marvin Gaye type stuff. Ie: modern stuff it's the opposite for me
"then use a limiter to L1 it" hahahaha love this guy..
Master
When was this video taken F-ing 10 years ago!
Who cares??
Oui
The four 1176 alone are worth 80.000 $ :)))) the PlugIn around 30$ with Almost unlimited Instances... my brain cant get that together ...
for breath remove silence on logic pro, fade out and in at the regions. But is a work of handcraft. He doesn’t mention an essential part most mixes fail: the end of the words, and some attacks. I guess this is still the preparation? Here is my 2 attempt mixing vocals, and some of these mistakes (since i gave me not more than 2 days for all the project, from learning the music til upload ) th-cam.com/video/5VCeE2OCy-Y/w-d-xo.html. I used a normal recorder, lavalier mic. Compression can help with end of words, but only when the audio is really clean and without breath i guess, so i had to do everything manually. But i guess there is some good plugins for these common issues ;) The mix and master uses EW Espaces and Waves Abbey Roads th-cam.com/video/5VCeE2OCy-Y/w-d-xo.html
True
Yeah🤟🤟
Gainriding is so underrated
It's more than just underrated. It's easily the biggest mixing 'secret', especially for vocals....
I'm doing exactly the same lol
Is it me or he looks younger and thiner?
That's because he is, ffs
Le saca buen sonido el cheronca
Thank you Nicholas cage!
Image thinking that many 1176's is a good use of space......
Not a bad place to park your money!
What gets me with vocals (often broadcast vocals) is when the compressors amplify the saliva sounds from the corner of their lips or how their tongue is touching their teeth. I don’t want to hear how your mouth is moving.
you mean use a l L1to limit it! not a limiter to L1 it....lol
Noice!
Why he mad tho lol
Great mixer....shitty hair cut.
If that's you in your profile pic, I don't think you are in a place to comment
Why waste time with old junk, the plug in is soo much better then that old blue face 1176.
Ok Buddy. Maybe, maybe not. What works works.
And you are not the one sitting in the video 🤷🏻♂️
@@jo_johanns hahahaha
It's not sooo
He still uses CLA76 if he needs more than 4 of the unit.