Vocal Compression & EQ
Let’s switch over now to take a look at her vocal compressor. Select the plugin and let’s get our initial compression settings going before we start to tweak.
MPM011 - Untouched compressor.
The compressor settings I like to start with are pretty simple, and it works as a great starting point for many things. I set a 4:1 Ratio, with a slower 31 ms attack time and a medium 51 ms release time. Then lets start with our Threshold high, up near -5 dB, and the output gain down a dB or so. Get your compressor to some settings like this to start.
MPM012 - My default compression settings.
As you listen now, you’ll notice that this compression setting does a pretty good job of catching the loud peaks, but without smashing her vocal.
Now that we have the compressor on, we start to hear how it interacts with our EQ plugin on her voice, and just to prove that mixing is a very fluid process, let’s jump back over and make a few minor tweaks now that the compressor is acting on her EQ’d vocal.
To my ears, I think we can take all of our EQ’s and just make them slightly more aggressive. Use your ears and your particular EQ, but here it sounds like the Low Cut could come up to 140 hz to thin out the bottom of her vocal just a bit more. In addition, lets tighten up the bandwidth or Q on the low mid to 1.9. Also, I really like that top end we added to the Hi Mids, but lets add just a bit more sizzle with a Hi Shelf. How about a nice 1.5 dB bump at 9.2 khz to add some sparkle.
MPM013 - Tweaked EQ settings
DeEssing
There’s not a lot of complexity with a DeEsser. The key is just to find the right frequency and adjust it down until it sounds better. Simple, right? Of course, how does one figure out what the right frequency is? Start this way: First, Pull down the threshold a good amount, 15-20 dB. Next, tell the plugin to monitor the Sidechain instead of the Audio itself. This will allow you to just hear what is being deessificated (that’s 2 new words in 10 pages...Guiness, here I come).
Now as you sweep the Frequency around in the plugin while playing back, you can target the problem areas that need compressed. You’ll notice the Attenuation meter expanding downwards as the target frequencies get compressed.