How To Fix Harsh Vocals In Your Mix (2023)

FAQs

How To Fix Harsh Vocals In Your Mix? ›

When working with a harsh vocal, you can typically tame it by attenuating frequencies above 2kHz and below 12kHz using a subtle bell filter via an EQ. Attenuating 3-5kHz will help significantly, as will using a de-esser on 5kHz to 12kHz to reduce harsh-sounding sibilance.

When trying to make your vocals smooth sounding, it's all about balancing high frequencies with low-mids. Attenuate your sibilance with a de-esser, equalizer, or with an analog emulation that dampens highs, then subtly increase low-mids to mask higher frequencies and add a warm, smooth quality.

Step One - Balance All Frequencies

The most effective way to solve harshness is to improve your overall tonal balance in your mix. You might find that the 1kHz-10kHz region is loud relative to your low-end and low-mids. A boost in these areas can alleviate the harshness.

The true problem with harsh vocals is that they are caused by specific frequency resonances within the high frequencies of the vocal track. These resonances often don't happen all the time but rather only when certain consonants, phrases and notes occur within the vocal performance.

The word harsh typically describes a shrill or cold sound and generally speaking, harshness exists in the range of 3kHz-5kHz. Usually, this is the problematic area bothering listeners when they claim “the vocal sounds too bright,” even though “bright” can also be a term to describe higher, airy bands.

Try inhaling deeply through your nose, bringing the air all the way in and as far down as possible; then, while exhaling slowly, say something. You should feel a vibration as you speak. This technique—popular among singers and actors—might be able to help you control the pitch of your voice.

This is usually a sign of terrible monitors being used at the mixing stage - great monitors let you hear the whole frequency range of your mix. A simple rule of thumb is to keep instruments of the same frequency apart, like naughty children, so you don't get them clashing and fighting with one another for attention.

A boxy mix has too much mid-range frequency, typically between 250 Hz and 900 Hz or so—these frequencies typically contribute to a sound's 'body'—but too much will result in the mix as a whole sounding boxy. A poor arrangement can be a big contributor to this, too.

Many male vocals rely on frequency content around 100 Hz, while lots of female vocals can be cut at 150-200 Hz. Some instruments like electric guitar may even rely on frequency content down to 60-80 Hz; it depends on what else is happening in your mix and how you're choosing to fill space within your stereo field.

Most commonly, dysphonia is caused by an abnormality with the vocal cords (also known as vocal folds) but there can be other causes from problems with airflow from the lungs or abnormalities with the structures of the throat near the vocal cords.

How do I EQ my vocals better? ›

Too much compression produces a flat, non-dynamic performance that doesn't have a “live” feel to it. An overly compressed vocal will feel unnatural and dull to the listener, so it's key to avoid this point if at all possible. Lead vocals should be consistent, but still, have a degree of dynamic fluctuation.

The important frequency range for speech intelligibility is in the 1,000 Hz to 4,000 Hz range. Often, a boost of 3 to 5 dB in this range will increase the clarity. Start around the 3,000 Hz point.

Boost presence and warmth with bell filters

These areas tend to be in the mid range, between 1–6 kHz. If a vocal is feeling thin, a boost between 200–300 Hz can work well. Be careful boosting around 4–9 kHz since that's where sibilance tends to hide out. Boosting too much here can cause your vocal to sound harsh.

Research confirms that deep voices give men an aura of power and sexual allure. Men with low, resonant voices are more likely to be perceived as attractive, masculine, respectable, and dominant.

Testosterone will cause a thickening of the vocal chords, which will result in a more male-sounding voice. Not all trans men will experience a full deepening of the pitch of their voice with testosterone, however.

As your larynx grows, your vocal cords grow longer and thicker. Also, your facial bones begin to grow. Cavities in the sinuses, the nose, and the back of the throat grow bigger, creating more space in the face that gives your voice more room to echo. All of these factors cause your voice to get deeper.

Your vocals should sound louder than the beat between -10dB and -15dB. A reliable method would be to set your lead vocal track to -12dB, then push back your instrumental tracks accordingly.

High frequency sound causes two types of health effects: on the one hand objective health effects such as hearing loss (in case of protracted exposure) and on the other hand subjective effects which may already occur after a few minutes: headache, tinnitus, fatigue, dizziness and nausea.

What is the 80 20 rule in audio mixing? ›

The 80/20 rule says that 80% of the results you get come from only 20% of the things you do. That means 80% of your effort is a waste of time. It's true for mixing too.

While 85dB is the mixing level suggested for larger pro control rooms, when I talked with Grammy-nominated Capitol Studios staff engineer, Steve Genewick, he mentioned that when mixing in a smaller room, stay closer to 75dB.

Using EQ to Reduce Harsh Frequencies

The easiest way to reduce harsh frequencies is with an EQ – all we need to do is reduce these areas and the vocal sound becomes less abrasive. That said, 3-5kHz also helps the vocal cut through a mix, so if we reduce it too much, it'll get buried.

A good rule of thumb is that your volume level should be low enough to allow for conversation without raising your voice. If you need to shout to be heard, your monitors are too loud.

Symptoms may include a raspy, hoarse, low, or breathy voice, or trouble swallowing or coughing. Any hoarseness or change in voice that lasts longer than 2 weeks should be brought to the attention of your healthcare provider. Vocal cord disorders caused by abuse or misuse are easily preventable.

As a rule, using EQ in front of your compressor produces a warmer, rounder tone, while using EQ after your compressor produces a cleaner, clearer sound.

The primary treatment for vocal cord strain is speech therapy. Therapy may be prescribed to strengthen naturally weak vocal cords — using special types of exercises — or to correct or perfect breathing techniques (as in the case of overuse injuries).

Wiggle the jaw from side to side while vocalizing. Singers can look at themselves in a mirror at home and move the jaw slowly up and down within a limited range. Remember to release the jaw in the back when opening it to get a sense of what it feels like to move the jaw without tension.

If you can't make it through to the end of the song you're mixing because it sounds so harsh, you have a serious problem. Often this has to do with overcompression—and if it doesn't, EQ is probably the culprit. You may have overworked your EQ.

Over-compression usually eliminates all (or most of) the dynamics. Loud and soft sections sound similar. The emotions embedded in the dynamic range of the music get destroyed. The average listener might not be able to hear over-compression, but that's not the point.

How do you know if your mix is good? ›

Vocal Cleaner puts your vocals through a rinse cycle, subtly taming harsh sibilance and removing intermittent noise. With simple threshold sliders and Amount dials for easy operation, this should be the first plugin in your vocal effects chain, taking the pain out of that initial stage of vocal processing.

Breathing from your diaphragm helps to release tension on the vocal cords. Breathe in with your stomach instead of your chest to help vocal cords open correctly. It helps to look in the mirror when breathing to make sure the diaphragm is filling up on inhale.

Your vocals should sound louder than the beat between -10dB and -15dB. A reliable method would be to set your lead vocal track to -12dB, then push back your instrumental tracks accordingly.