Hello guys, i do own a home studio and I do my own mixes.

My typical vocal chain is:
PROQ3
1176
LA-2A
Pultec emulation as an additive EQ.
Saturation
Dess

I was thinking about replacing the pultec with an SSL emulation as it does have more knobs to work with, Also the sound of SSL is amazing.

Also i've saw alot of good reviews about the MAAG-EQ to add air to vocals.

What do u guys think about this?

And if anyone is using pultecs type of EQs on vocals to add clarity?

 

For SSL emulations, I personally use the brainworx SSL J because it has E and G series options. Fast workflow.

For Pultec I always run to my Gem EQP/Noiseash but I use Bettermaker if I need a cleaner version.

Maag EQ is nice. But honestly, if you just want to replicate the curves Kirchoff already has a ton of them, even the maag. I sometimes use Dopamine and Fresh Air if I ever need that crispy air. I've been trying out Ozone Clarity recently and that's also been sweet.

But I really like the pultec-style eq, especially for vocals - I use it pretty consistently.

Feel free to figure out what plugins you like, just don't fall into the trap of needing this or that for vocals though. You have more or less all you need in your chain.

 

If you love the EQ4, you can try the Mäag Magnum-K on the Vocal Bus, it includes an Air Band and a second compressor focused around 3kHz to control harshness (K Comp, right in the middle)

 

Thanks for the information, can you please tell me what ur typical vocal chain looks like?

 

Appreciated

 

Seems like a decent chain to me, it even looks like my standard go to only I'd get my high frequency's on the spot with the first eq and put a Desser directly after that.

currently I'm venturing away from emulation plugins and use Tdr Molot as a replacement for a 1176 emulation and Ca-2a (wich I can't call a la-2a emulation with a straight face), saturation/clipping maybe some flanging/phasing/chorus and a finally maybe some reverb if needed.

I do work with a group channel to melt everything together so I usually start with something like this:
on separate channels: Tune->Eq->Dess->Comp->reverb
and they all buss directly into a group channel with:
Eq->Comp->Saturation/Clipping->Flanger/Phaser/Chorus->Reverb
But I might switch it all up while I advance.

For vocals clarity, I would start with pushing the high frequency unexpectedly high with a high shelf. Maybe 5 dB but 10 dB or something in between is not out of this world!
dip a nice 4dB bell on the fundamental frequency. next take out the harshest sibilance out of it before it goes into the 1176 and the la-2a combination and then 'refit' the mid-low/mid frequency's with an final eq. counterintuitively a soft-clipper at the and can add to clarity too.

 

Do you guys use the same vocal chain trough a project (album) to make the vocal consistent?

 

I don't work with vocal chain. The way I do it is 30+ tracks that includes SENDS for FXs and Compressors etc with complicated routing. The old way. For my mix, vocal is the money, so I throw the kitchen sink at it. Never manage to simplify it to one vocal chain and even if I do, I wont be able to sleep at night. If I need something quick Waves CLA Vocal is my go-to temporarily. I try my best to stay away from doing it the youtube way, whatever that means.

Yes, but for album project, I try to use pretty much the same settings for everything when processing vocals, if the recording is done with the same microphone+preamp etc of course. Most of the time I spread all songs in one project, which is pretty common way to do it to get consistency. They usually come that way too.

 

Find the perfect frequency curve and push

 

These days...

Gefell umt70s > Daking Mic Pre One > Audioscape Opto Comp > Klanghelm DC8C > John V FirComp2. If I need or want to eq I just use the channel eq in FL Studio which is a broad stroke thing and which I cannot distinguish between it any other eq. Maybe some low cut and a bit of air and I'm there.

 

i haven't figured out a vocal chain yet, every time i do a new one is a little different from the one before.

but i usually use the scheps 73 for a high pass and some saturation, mjuc jr and a 1176 as compressors and maag eq4 as an additive EQ.

 

no i don't

 

Antares vocal EQ > ProQ3 > ProMB > Soothe2 > Another track after "leveling" automation. After that it changes everytime, but as a default it's CL-1B > ProQ3 > Weiss Dees > More automation.

Everything is bypassed until needed.