Vocals and Mixing

[BigTrey]

Hey Ro'ers, I have been producing hip hop music for the past year and I was wondering what is the best way to attempt to get the vocals to sit in the mix like a commercial Cd? I ask because I know that this is one of the most important parts of the mixing process. I am using Protools to do all of my mixing, I usually record with a bit of compression and EQ on each vocal track, once all of the vocals are laid I then mix them down to where I can hear the lead, the dubs, and the adlibs pretty good in the mix. What techniques would you guys(and gals) recommend to get the vocal to sit in the mix better, before sending the tracks off to get mastered? I have one of the latest songs from one of the artists that I am working with on our label's website if anyone would like to check it out. The website link is http://www.battlegroundrecordz.com/music.html, and the name of the song is "Make The Paper" at the bottom of the webpage. Thanks for any input that you all are able to provide.

Please Note: All of the other music on the webpage are tracks that we did early on when I was learning about the recording and mixing processes, I am mainly looking for some feedback on the song mentioned above since it is the most recent song that we have done and it's the song that I have applied what I have learned over the past year. If you want to leave any suggestions on any of the other songs please do. All feedback is really appreciated. Whatever I can do to get better at what I am trying to do is what I am trying to achieve.

BigTrey

 

[Mr-Nice]

Well the main thing is experience in tracking and mixing, next would be using a good mic and a better pre-amp. I am listening to the track "make the paper" now and your not too far off. I dont know the vocal chain you are using but those commercial CD's of mainstream artists use good SSL and AMS neve boards to track their vocals and that alone makes a huge difference!

I dont know if it was mastered but a good mastering engineer who uses great mastering equipment can get that to sound up to commercial specs.

Great mastering is the key to giving your track that commercial polished sound!

 

[BigTrey]

Thanks for the input Nice. Right now I am just using a MXL 990 condenser going into the inputs on the Mbox. No the track isn't mastered(yet), I just wanted an honest opinion on the overall sound on the mix. so thanks. Right now I am jsut getting started with this, as I said I've only been doing this for about a year and I am just experimenting and soaking up all of the knowledge that I can. I figure the more that I play with things and the more that I can remember than the better I will be. How do you go about recording your vocals? What types of inserts do you use to make them stand out? and If you wanted to get adlibs to be have presence yet have a subtleness to them what tools would you use to accomplish this?