I'm going for a rapping/singing style similar to Drake. I'm not trying to sound exactly like him, but he's just an example of what many mainstream artists in the genre sound like in terms of tonal quality and quality of their recordings.
To my amateur ears, it sounds like Drake's vocals have almost no low end, are very bright, but not too harsh or sibilant.
My vocals sound more muddy, have more lows, and aren't as bright. Overall, they just sound unprofessional.
If I cut the lows, it sounds thin; if I boost the highs, it sounds very harsh and sibilant. Compression only seems to exacerbate the issue - makes it sound even more muddy.
Here's an example of Drake (starts at 0:12):
https://youtu.be/HKH9p19PRLA?si=FyyqBYVFkRXaC1kS&t=12
And here's an example of me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJWSmV_enjM
And another example of me (raw, unprocessed vocals):
https://youtu.be/nOZPE-agSR0
Hardware:
I'm recording with a Rode NT1 5th gen with a pop filter. Tried XLR through a Scarlett Solo as well as USB-C with 32-bit; both sound similar.
Room Acoustics:
Untreated 10x12' room, 8' ceiling, hardwood floors. 4" fold up twin size memory foam mattress laying up against the wall in one corner of the room. Large leather recliner in the other corner. Sitting roughly center in the room facing the mattress corner while recording.
I've previously tried recording in a 3'x6' closet with moving blankets on the walls and ceiling, carpet on the floor - that basically eliminated all high reflections, but lows and mids were super muddy and it sounded like I was recording in a box, so I've moved away from that approach.
Software / Vocal Chain:
- Basic cleanup, some volume automation of loud/quiet parts, etc.
- Low cut around 100-130hz
- Cut some specific frequencies if anything stands out
- Maybe hi shelf around 8-10k
- 1176 compressor with 5-10db reduction
- 2A compressor with 1-3db reduction
- Desser with 6-8db reduction
- Maybe another EQ to cut or boost anything that stands out
- Maybe Soothe to try to tame some harshness
- Dynamic EQ or Soothe on instrumental tracks sidechained to vox to make some space for vox to sit
So, what are some things I can do to get my vocals sounding more professional like mainstream artists such as Drake?
To my amateur ears, it sounds like Drake's vocals have almost no low end, are very bright, but not too harsh or sibilant.
My vocals sound more muddy, have more lows, and aren't as bright. Overall, they just sound unprofessional.
If I cut the lows, it sounds thin; if I boost the highs, it sounds very harsh and sibilant. Compression only seems to exacerbate the issue - makes it sound even more muddy.
Here's an example of Drake (starts at 0:12):
https://youtu.be/HKH9p19PRLA?si=FyyqBYVFkRXaC1kS&t=12
And here's an example of me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJWSmV_enjM
And another example of me (raw, unprocessed vocals):
https://youtu.be/nOZPE-agSR0
Hardware:
I'm recording with a Rode NT1 5th gen with a pop filter. Tried XLR through a Scarlett Solo as well as USB-C with 32-bit; both sound similar.
Room Acoustics:
Untreated 10x12' room, 8' ceiling, hardwood floors. 4" fold up twin size memory foam mattress laying up against the wall in one corner of the room. Large leather recliner in the other corner. Sitting roughly center in the room facing the mattress corner while recording.
I've previously tried recording in a 3'x6' closet with moving blankets on the walls and ceiling, carpet on the floor - that basically eliminated all high reflections, but lows and mids were super muddy and it sounded like I was recording in a box, so I've moved away from that approach.
Software / Vocal Chain:
- Basic cleanup, some volume automation of loud/quiet parts, etc.
- Low cut around 100-130hz
- Cut some specific frequencies if anything stands out
- Maybe hi shelf around 8-10k
- 1176 compressor with 5-10db reduction
- 2A compressor with 1-3db reduction
- Desser with 6-8db reduction
- Maybe another EQ to cut or boost anything that stands out
- Maybe Soothe to try to tame some harshness
- Dynamic EQ or Soothe on instrumental tracks sidechained to vox to make some space for vox to sit
So, what are some things I can do to get my vocals sounding more professional like mainstream artists such as Drake?
Statistics: Posted by dogbig — Fri May 10, 2024 1:43 am — Replies 0 — Views 30