You are here
do you use automation for vocals?
13 posts
• Page 1 of 1
do you use automation for vocals?
hey guys) i have a question. When you are ready with the mix and you are happy do you use automation for the vocals? Or you just set the fader to a level and leavy it?
- dennisgamalej
- Regular
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:42 pm
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
I don't do a lot of vocal work, but now and again, when I do, if automation is available I'll use it if necessary. Vocals are part of the mix, and as such are fair game for automation as is everything else. Automation is just another arrow in the quiver, as I see it and can be overdone or used appropriately.
In the past I have worked with some talented vocalists and I've found that they tend to 'build in' a certain amount of sympathy to the mix during recording, but your mileage (as will the mix you feed them) may vary.
That said, I tend to use automation as sparingly as I can, if only because I find it a little fiddly and I'm more of a muso than an engineer.
In the past I have worked with some talented vocalists and I've found that they tend to 'build in' a certain amount of sympathy to the mix during recording, but your mileage (as will the mix you feed them) may vary.
That said, I tend to use automation as sparingly as I can, if only because I find it a little fiddly and I'm more of a muso than an engineer.
-
Eddy Deegan - Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1433
- Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 12:00 am
- Location: Brighton & Hove, UK
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
Typically I automate vocal levels three times.
Firstly, to avoid the vocal hitting its compression too hard at any point. This is just a question of seeing if anything is bending the compressor over in a way I don’t like, and reducing that. I might bring quieter sections up too, if needs be.
Secondly, to control any essing. Again this is pre compression.
Finally, for level. It might be as simple as a section or line up a dB, or as complicated as every syllable and breath, automated for dynamics and intelligibility.
There is never none at all. But how much is required really varies.
J
Firstly, to avoid the vocal hitting its compression too hard at any point. This is just a question of seeing if anything is bending the compressor over in a way I don’t like, and reducing that. I might bring quieter sections up too, if needs be.
Secondly, to control any essing. Again this is pre compression.
Finally, for level. It might be as simple as a section or line up a dB, or as complicated as every syllable and breath, automated for dynamics and intelligibility.
There is never none at all. But how much is required really varies.
J
- Jack Ruston
- Frequent Poster (Level2)
- Posts: 3704
- Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:00 am
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
I approach it pretty much the same as Jack. I will firstly mult the vocal track where sections require a different overall level, then I will automate to tame hotspots and sibilance. 'P's, 'B's and 'K's can often require a bit of work too. Later I will automate (often using a Group Track) for clarity and coherence.
-
The Elf - Jedi Poster
- Posts: 11826
- Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2001 12:00 am
- Location: Sheffield, UK
An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
First off, where did you learn this fallacy of "being set" and "happy" with a mix?! 
Seriously, though, I don't even consider the mixing process started until I have the vocal track smoothed out. This usually requires a lot of automation for me. When I am mixing, I use additional automation to bring out the emotional impact or create an effect.
75% of my mix time is working on vocals, typically. Then EQ where needed, some compression, reverb, or delay. Pan out of mono. Mix down. Only thing left after that is crying lol.

Seriously, though, I don't even consider the mixing process started until I have the vocal track smoothed out. This usually requires a lot of automation for me. When I am mixing, I use additional automation to bring out the emotional impact or create an effect.
75% of my mix time is working on vocals, typically. Then EQ where needed, some compression, reverb, or delay. Pan out of mono. Mix down. Only thing left after that is crying lol.
- Ben Asaro
- Regular
- Posts: 496
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:00 am
- Location: NYC
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
dennisgamalej wrote:hey guys) i have a question. When you are ready with the mix and you are happy do you use automation for the vocals? Or you just set the fader to a level and leavy it?
Always. It's almost impossible to get a commercially-competitive mix without doing so.
Perhaps the only exception is that you have only vocals and one other instrument, but even then..
-
CS70 - Frequent Poster (Level2)
- Posts: 3242
- Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 1:00 am
- Location: Oslo, Norway
Silver Spoon - Check out our latest video and the FB page
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
For vocals, absolutely automate anywhere and everywhere you need to! You want to smooth things out with compression a bit, but when things jump out, or get buried, just make the changes. And I believe this goes for every track, including the entire mix. I'll sometimes drop the overall volume just before a big drop, or automate the panning on a group of background vocals, to even things out as one track or another might pop out.
And I agree with Ben Asaro totally about it being a fallacy with "being set" with a mix. Everything and anything is up for grabs to automate if you feel it will create more emotion and drama for the listener.
And I agree with Ben Asaro totally about it being a fallacy with "being set" with a mix. Everything and anything is up for grabs to automate if you feel it will create more emotion and drama for the listener.
-
Arty Skye - Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2018 10:02 pm
- Location: New York
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
Reading the comments from the more experienced contributors above, I have learned something from this thread - and my original comment would now differ as a result.
Thank you guys, it's always good to obtain a new insight into things. Fiddly as vocal automation may be to me it's obvious that the attention to detail is worth the effort (and really, I should have known better because I put that level of detail into things like MIDI velocity on instrumental tracks).
Thank you guys, it's always good to obtain a new insight into things. Fiddly as vocal automation may be to me it's obvious that the attention to detail is worth the effort (and really, I should have known better because I put that level of detail into things like MIDI velocity on instrumental tracks).
-
Eddy Deegan - Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1433
- Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2004 12:00 am
- Location: Brighton & Hove, UK
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
sometimes yes..and sometimes no....
my goto thing is to mult the vocal tracks over 3-5 differant tracks and rate the volume from 1-5 in order of power ..
so loud sections stay on track 1..breathy vocals goto track 5 and everything in between goes on 2, 3 and 4...even when im doing it this way there are still times i still put little automation nudges just to keep the clarity
the reason i do it this way is im not a fan of hearing big fader movements in a mix unless im going for that effect
my goto thing is to mult the vocal tracks over 3-5 differant tracks and rate the volume from 1-5 in order of power ..
so loud sections stay on track 1..breathy vocals goto track 5 and everything in between goes on 2, 3 and 4...even when im doing it this way there are still times i still put little automation nudges just to keep the clarity
the reason i do it this way is im not a fan of hearing big fader movements in a mix unless im going for that effect
- paul tha other
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 572
- Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:00 am
- Location: scotland
http://www.myspace.com/onemanandalaptop
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
paul tha other wrote:the reason i do it this way is im not a fan of hearing big fadeis r movements in a mix unless im going for that effect
Just a side point: most vocal automation, at least how I do it, it's made by a myriad short fader movements. You generally won't hear them, because the point is to make the vocal line more exciting, not unnatural

-
CS70 - Frequent Poster (Level2)
- Posts: 3242
- Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 1:00 am
- Location: Oslo, Norway
Silver Spoon - Check out our latest video and the FB page
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
For mixing, totally this.CS70 wrote:paul tha other wrote:the reason i do it this way is im not a fan of hearing big fadeis r movements in a mix unless im going for that effect
Just a side point: most vocal automation, at least how I do it, it's made by a myriad short fader movements. You generally won't hear them, because the point is to make the vocal line more exciting, not unnatural. For example get a vowel clear, or reducing a short noise mid-word etc.
- Ben Asaro
- Regular
- Posts: 496
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:00 am
- Location: NYC
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
In a digital environment it doesn’t make any difference if there’s a fader move or a mult with a different fader level. It’s a gain change, or it isn’t. Either you need to ride the level, or you don’t. For me too it’s just what sounds right. Sometimes you compress for effect, but you then need to recreate some of the performance dynamics, for example.
- Jack Ruston
- Frequent Poster (Level2)
- Posts: 3704
- Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:00 am
Re: do you use automation for vocals?
If i would use automation for vocal tracks, i would go with Waves Vocal Rider. But in my opinion the best way to get the levels right is 1. proper recording technique 2. compression. 3. EQ.
- fxsoundscapes
- New here
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2018 7:29 pm
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: 940nm