Live, Mixing Tutorials
Vocal Arrangement
When it comes to recording songs, one of the hardest tasks is getting the vocal arrangement just right. Vocal arrangement plays a vital role in determining how successful a song is and whether it correctly emotionalizes what the song is trying to convey. Unfortunately, achieving the desired vocal arrangement can be quite a tricky task.
The good news is that there are some tips and tricks which can help with the vocal arrangement process and make it a bit easier to understand. This vocal arrangement tutorial will walk you through all the essential steps necessary to ensure that your vocal arrangement is professional-level and fits perfectly with the rest of your song.
The first step is identifying the genre of the song. This is important because it will help determine the type of vocal arrangement that will work best for the song. If the song is a pop ballad, then having a gentle and emotive progression between the vocal parts will be important. On the other hand, if the song is more upbeat, then having a more bouncy arrangement between the vocal parts would be more suitable.
The next step is deciding upon the arrangement of the song and sequencing the parts. When deciding on the arrangement, it’s important to take into account the length of the song, the type of vocal parts and the overall message of the song. For example, an intro and an outro with consistent vocal parts in between can add a lot of impact to a song.
Once the arrangement and sequencing have been finalized, the next step is to edit the vocal parts. Editing the vocal parts is something that a lot of people overlook, but it is essential to achieving quality vocal arrangements. This step involves fine-tuning the waveforms of the individual vocal parts so that they come together to form a harmonious whole. This can involve comping the best phrases, quantizing the timing and adjusting individual notes to ensure the vocal arrangement is of a professional level.
Finally, it’s important to ensure that each vocal part is balanced. Balance between the vocal parts is essential for the song to move swiftly and cohesively. The overall mix needs to take into account the dynamic range and levels of each vocal part and ensure that all the voice parts are well-presented in the mix. This is achieved by equalizing and compressing the individual vocal parts, as well as adjusting their levels in the mix.
By following this simple vocal arrangement tutorial, you can