Mixing
How to Mix Vocals: A Simple Chain That Always Works
Vocal mixing intimidates because tutorials show twelve plugins. You need six moves, in this order:
1. Cleanup EQ
High-pass at 80–100 Hz (rumble), then sweep out obvious boxiness (200–500 Hz) and nasal honk (~1 kHz) with narrow cuts. Small moves — 2–4 dB.
2. Compression
3:1, medium attack, release timed to the phrase, 3–6 dB of reduction. Goal: every word audible without riding the fader. Two gentle compressors in series beat one working hard.
3. De-ess
Tame the S sounds (5–8 kHz) after compression made them louder. If you skip this, brightness later becomes painful.
4. Tone EQ
Now the sweetening: a wide shelf up top (+2–3 dB above 10 kHz) for air, a small presence lift ~3 kHz if the vocal sits behind the beat.
5. Saturation
Light tape or tube drive adds harmonics that keep vocals audible on phone speakers. Subtle — you should barely hear it switch off.
6. Spaces last
Plate reverb send (1–2s, pre-delay 30 ms) + dotted-1/8 delay, both high-passed, both quieter than you want (see reverb & delay basics). Sidechain the reverb to the vocal for clarity.
The real secret
A great vocal mix is 70% recording (get the take right) and 20% the volume fader. Ride the vocal level phrase by phrase before adding any plugin — that's what mixers actually do.
Want my ears on your mix? →Platinum members send tracks and get personal feedback.Frequently asked questions
What order should vocal plugins go in?
Cleanup EQ → compressor → de-esser → tone EQ → saturation → reverb/delay sends. Fix problems before enhancing, spaces last.
How much compression do vocals need?
Typically 3–6 dB of gain reduction at around 3:1 — enough that every word holds steady in the mix without audible pumping.
Why do my vocals sound harsh?
Compression raised the 3–8 kHz range; de-ess after compressing and cut narrow harsh spots before adding any high-shelf brightness.