Create room for vocals

[Raifer]

I always hear people saying leave room for the vocals or create room through EQing for the vocals. But I really don't know what that means or how to do that . . . or if I already am doing that. Can you help!

[Naagzh]

Examine your vocal track with a spectrum analyzer. There's a free one from elemental audio. Then you'll see which frequencies are most prominent in your vocal track. Using an EQ, make cuts at the corresponding frequencies in the other instruments (guitar, bass, keys) and hear how the vocal sticks out more, now that you've "created room" for it.

If "creating room" in this way messes with the tone of the other instruments too much, then don't forget about panning. Pan the other instruments out to the sides (soft or hard, depending on your tastes), so that the vocal can come through the mix in the middle. In most mixes, the only things panned to the center are lead vox, bass, kick, and snare.

[polf]

as a rough guide - the frequencies for the vocals are around

240Hz (boomy)
120Hz (fullness)
5KHz (presence)
10-15KHz (air)


think of the eq as a volume control for each frequency, so cut (turn down) or boost (turn up) where applicable....but they say its best to cut out frequencies rather than boost (boosting can alter the sound). So if you want more top end try cutting out the lower end (mixing is what you take away).

also, its not always the best idea to leave the vocals until the end, get them up early in the mix and work around them because they are the most important (usually).....anyone fancy a cup of tea?

[Ryan Young]

Is there a website that shows "proper" EQs, like the one you just showed for vox, but for each instrument? Something that recommends EQs like that for Kick Drum, Snare, Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar... etc... I usually just go with what sounds right, but it'd be nice to compare it with a nice reference. What sounds right could also lead to EQs tripping over each other, and making a muddy mix. Thanks for your help.

[ilcapo]

Here's an article I find very good.

Also, check this one out.

[Ryan Young]

Perfect! Thanks so much!

[skycraft]

When having trouble placing something in a mix, one trick I learned is to monitor in mono and then pan that track around left to right and adjust the volume to where it sounds like it sitting nice. Then switch back to stereo and tweak it if necessary. I know it doesn't seem like this would help but sometimes it does. For vocals though you might not wanna go too far to the left or right. But if you do it on guitars or other instruments, it may create some room for the vocals.

Your mileage may vary.