I'm a singer trying to record and mix my own vocals at home, but I'm really struggling. My vocals always sound either too thin or too muddy, and I can't get them to sit right in the mix.
I've watched some vocal mixing tutorials beginners level content, but a lot of it goes over my head. They start talking about de-essing, compression ratios, and parallel processing without explaining the basics first.
Are there any YouTube channels that break down vocal mixing in a way that's actually understandable for someone with no engineering background? I need recording techniques for beginners that cover everything from microphone placement to final mixing.
Specifically, I'm looking for tutorials that show the process from start to finish with real examples, not just theory. Any recommendations would be amazing.
I struggle with vocal mixing too! For vocal mixing tutorials beginners can understand, Recording Revolution" is my go-to. Graham has a whole series called "Vocal Mixing Made Easy" that starts from the basics.
"Produce Like A Pro" also has great vocal mixing content. Warren often shows complete vocal mixing sessions which is really helpful to see the whole process.
What really helped me was learning about gain staging first. Getting the levels right before any processing makes everything else much easier.
Are you recording your own vocals or mixing other people's? The approach can be a bit different.
For vocal mixing, I learned a lot from Mix With The Masters" free content. They have sessions where top engineers break down vocal mixes, which is incredibly educational.
"Booth Junkie" has good content on recording techniques for beginners, which is half the battle with vocals. A well-recorded vocal is much easier to mix.
One concept that helped me: think of vocal processing in stages. Cleanup (EQ, de-essing), dynamics (compression), enhancement (saturation, reverb, delay).
What DAW are you using? Some have built-in tools that can simplify vocal mixing once you know how to use them.
Check out Musician on a Mission" for structured vocal mixing tutorials. They have a step-by-step approach that builds skills progressively.
For specific techniques, "Dan Worrall" has excellent videos on vocal processing plugins and how to use them effectively.
One thing that made a huge difference for me: using reference tracks. Find professionally mixed songs with vocals you like, and compare your mix to them.
Are you dealing with any specific vocal issues? Like sibilance, plosives, or room noise? Different problems require different solutions.
For R&B and pop vocal mixing, Internet Money" has some great content. They often show vocal processing chains for modern vocal styles.
"The House of Kush" has philosophical videos about vocal mixing that focus on listening and making musical decisions rather than just technical processing.
What helped me most was learning to use automation. Automating volume, EQ, and compression can make vocals sound much more natural than static processing.
Do you have issues with your vocals sounding thin or muddy in specific frequency ranges? That could point to specific EQ adjustments needed.