- Pensado's Place - ITL #28 - Lead Vocal Processing

TL;DR

Discover the Herbert Effect, a technique of rolling off high-end frequencies in effects to create a more intimate and focused vocal sound.

Transcript

hey guys what's up this might sound like a boring idea but I wanted to bring this one to you today because I was in the middle of a mix last few days and I realized that I was doing some things that might not intuitively come to you guys and I started so I started questioning myself while I was doing it and I realized that listen I did accident for... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔊 Rolling off high-end frequencies in effects can create a more intimate and focused vocal sound.
• 👄 Mick Guizhou ski, a famous producer, used a similar technique with the Eventide 2016 reverb.
• 👻 The Herbert Effect allows more room for sparkle and shine in vocals by reducing high-end frequencies.
• ❤️‍🩹 The Herbert Effect works well with the abundance of high-end frequencies in modern recordings.
• 👣 The speaker used a combination of delay effects, a reverb effect, a plugin, and adjustments to the guitar track to enhance the vocals.
• 🍰 Additional plugins like a vocal rider, de-esser, and channel strip were used to further enhance the vocal sound.
• 🛢️ The speaker recommends using side-chain routing from drums and music to the vocal rider plugin.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the speaker come up with the idea of the Herbert Effect?

The speaker accidentally discovered the Herbert Effect while using delay units like the Lexicon PCM 42 and the TC Electronics 2290. He noticed a difference in high-end frequencies and subconsciously started rolling off top-end in some of his effects.

Q: Why does rolling off high-end frequencies in effects work?

During the analog days, high-end frequencies and analog technology didn't always mix well. Rolling off high-end frequencies today allows more room for the sparkle and shine in vocals, especially with the abundance of high-end frequencies in modern recordings.

Q: What effects did the speaker use to demonstrate the Herbert Effect?

The speaker used a combination of delay effects, a reverb effect (Bruh Caste), an Echo Farm plugin, a doubler, and a harmonizer setting to showcase the Herbert Effect on the vocal track.

Q: What other techniques did the speaker use to enhance the vocals?

Besides the Herbert Effect, the speaker used a vocal rider plugin, a de-esser, a channel strip plugin, and made adjustments to the guitar track to support the intimate vocal sound.

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the importance of EQing effects and highlights a technique called the "Herbert effect," where high-end frequencies are rolled off of effects to create a more intimate sound. He demonstrates this technique using several examples and explains how it can make a vocal sit better in a mix. The speaker also shares some of his favorite plugins for vocal processing and provides tips for using them effectively.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the speaker EQ effects differently than others at his level?

The speaker believes in EQing effects in a way that may not be intuitive to others. He rolls off high-end frequencies on effects to create a more intimate feel. This technique, known as the "Herbert effect," allows for more room for sparkle and shine in the mix.

Q: Who is Mick Guizhouski and what is he known for?

Mick Guizhouski is a well-known figure in the music industry and is famous for his use of the Eventide 2016 reverb. The speaker speculates that Mick may have rolled off a lot of the high-end frequencies when using this reverb. This observation influenced the speaker's own approach to EQing effects.

Q: Why does the speaker roll off high-end frequencies on delay units?

The speaker noticed that when comparing the sound of delay units like the Lexicon PCM 42 and the TC Electronics 2290 to the original signal, there was a difference in high-end frequencies. Subconsciously, the speaker started rolling off high-end frequencies on some of his effects to match this sound. This could be due to the fact that analog gear, which was commonly used in the past, didn't handle high-end frequencies as well as digital gear does now.

Q: How does rolling off high-end frequencies on effects impact the overall mix?

Rolling off high-end frequencies on effects creates more space in the mix for the sparkle and shine of the high-end frequencies present in the original signal. In today's music, recordings tend to have a lot more super ultra high-end frequencies, so EQing the effects in this way helps to prevent high-end frequencies from competing with each other and allows for a more balanced and polished sound.

Q: What is the goal of the vocal processing in the speaker's example?

The speaker aims to create a vocal that has a very intimate feel. He demonstrates this by playing a vocal track with effects and then without effects. By using the "Herbert effect" technique and carefully EQing each effect, the speaker achieves a result that enhances the intimacy of the vocal performance.

Q: What is the "Herbert effect"?

The "Herbert effect" is a technique where high-end frequencies are rolled off of effects. This technique helps to create a more intimate sound by leaving more room for the sparkle and shine of the high-end frequencies present in the original signal.

Q: What effects does the speaker demonstrate in the video?

The speaker demonstrates two quarter note delays, a reverb, a doubler, and a harmonizer effect. He shows how he EQs each effect to roll off high-end frequencies and create a more intimate sound.

Q: What plugin does the speaker use for vocal level control?

The speaker uses a vocal rider plugin to control the level of the vocal. He mentions that he is about to give Waves a quote for this plugin and speaks highly of its effectiveness. He also recommends sending the side chain from drums and music to the plugin to achieve optimal results.

Q: What other plugins does the speaker use for vocal processing?

The speaker mentions using a de-esser plugin, a channel strip plugin, and a plugin for reducing 2500 Hz frequencies. He praises the Brainworx de-esser and expresses satisfaction with the results achieved by these plugins.

Q: How does the speaker create a more intimate sound in the mix?

To create a more intimate sound, the speaker applies a bit of extra high-end to the vocal. However, he notes that it didn't sit well in the mix at first. To address this, he uses a plugin to add support to the vocal by enhancing the guitar track. This additional support makes the vocal backbone of the mix feel more intimate and cohesive.

Takeaways

In this video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of EQing effects and introduces the concept of the "Herbert effect" where high-end frequencies are rolled off to create a more intimate sound. By demonstrating examples and sharing his favorite vocal processing plugins, the speaker provides valuable insights and techniques for achieving professional-sounding mixes. It's important to consider how high-end frequencies can compete with each other and to create space in the mix for sparkle and shine. Additionally, applying subtle enhancements and support to the vocal backbone can enhance the overall intimacy and cohesiveness of the mix.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video discusses the Herbert Effect, named after the speaker, which involves rolling off high-end frequencies in effects to allow room for sparkle and shine in vocals.

• Mick Guizhou ski, a famous producer, used a similar technique with the Eventide 2016 reverb by rolling off high-end frequencies.

• The speaker demonstrates the effect by playing a vocal track with and without the Herbert Effect, showcasing the difference in sound.