Hello

[earlwgreen]

Hi Ted,

I've spent a lot of time listening to your site and I'm just amazed at how many different styles of recording you've done. Sorry to say I have not really followed who's who in the producer/arranger/etc. world because my years in music have been opera, classical and Contempory Christian Music.

I will limit my questions now to just a few pertaining to lead vocals. Can you give an basic idea of how you track vocals?

1. What do you listen for in a good vocal track?

2. Once you get the track to that point, how do you decide what type of fx to use and what order do you use these effects?

Every song on your site really impressed me! These 2 I would liike to address and they prompted the above questions.

1. "Lonely Christmas in New York" - there seems to be very little fx on the vocal but it really sounds great. Maybe like that classic Nat King Cole sound?

2. "Mary Did You Know" - especially the fx treatment on the lead male vocal - I have sung this many times, but the Michael English version.

Oooouuuuu, got to go! Just found your article on your site about background vocals!!!!! :) :) I'm soooo pumped!

Thanks again for taking time to share your tips with me.

Earl Green

[Ted Perlman]

1. What do you listen for in a good vocal track?

A great singing performance. I can fix a lot of mistakes, but I can't put that special "thing" into a singer's performance. The biggest mistake I've seen producers make is to produce all the feeling out of a vocal track. Let the singer sing!

2. Once you get the track to that point, how do you decide what type of fx to use and what order do you use these effects?

It depends on what type of song and artist it is. The type of vocal and singer really are the most important determining factors in what type and how much of any FX that I use.

1. "Lonely Christmas in New York" - there seems to be very little fx on the vocal but it really sounds great. Maybe like that classic Nat King Cole sound?

There are a LOT of FX on Neil's vocal, but they are very subtle because I wanted his beautiful voice and performance to stand out. I must also point out that the Studio Projects C1 mic was used to record a lot of Neil's vocals on the two CD's I have produced on him so far. That mic just kicks ass on his voice.


2. "Mary Did You Know" - especially the fx treatment on the lead male vocal - I have sung this many times, but the Michael English version

Same thing - a lot of FX but not overdone. There are certain things I use on ALL vocals. I always use a great hardware compressor when tracking. I am currently in love with the Geoff Dakking Compressor 2. It is the most invisible compressor I have ever used. I'm also a huge fan of the Joe Meek compressors, but they have a definite "sound", which works on some things but not on others. In my opinion, you can't have too many compressors or preamps.

When mixing, I always use a compressor, eq, timed/sync'd delay, chorus, short slapback, long delay, reverb, and delayed reverb on the lead vocal. Whenit comes to reverb, I ABSOLUTELY am a total believer in Lexicon outboard reverb units. I have never heard a software reverb that sounds as good as the cheapest Lexicon reverb. The low end Alex sounds a zillion times better than any software verb I have ever used. Having said that, however, I must add that the Universal Audio Plate Reverb is excellent, but it's not exactly software.

[earlwgreen]

Thanks Ted!

Great info. I just ordered the TB1 and the ThreeQ but I think I will also add a C1 when the new models come out. I'm just starting to build a studio so I'm glad to know the C1 was used on Neil's vocals.

A few more questions, when you have the chance,

You said:

"When mixing, I always use a compressor, eq, timed/sync'd delay, chorus, short slapback, long delay, reverb, and delayed reverb on the lead vocal."

Do you use them in that order?

Why so many different delays?

What is short slapback?

Is the reverb and delayed reverb the same type?

You mentioned your favorite reverb to be Lexicon. I have Lexicon Pantheon in Sonar. Will that work?

Thanks again for all the info.

Earl

[Ted Perlman]

You mentioned your favorite reverb to be Lexicon. I have Lexicon Pantheon in Sonar. Will that work

Yes, but I hate Sonar :-)

Buy a used Lexicon hardware unit. Better than a Pantheon.

[earlwgreen]

Thanks Ted, I'll take a look at adding the Lexicon soon.

I've used Cakewalk for years as just a simple way to work with audio. I know some don't like it, but, one step at a time! :)

I did get my TB1 mic and the threeQ and will start working on treating my room in 2 weeks.

Thanks again for the info.