Vocal delay setting in Cool Edit Pro.

[Skiday]

Hi folks

I use Cool Edit Pro2, which is now Adobe Auditions, for my mastering. I even bought an unofficial big thick book on cool Edit, but it didn’t answer the one thing I want to know. What is the best vocal effect of echo or reverb setting to achieve a nice, professional sound? All the presets seem to be harsh or 'gimmicky', one dimensional or just plain whackey. I want my album to sound uniform in it's vocal effects, but every time I use it, I experiment a bit more, and find what I think is a nicer sound (although sometimes later change my mind). So does anyone have what they think is a 'magic formula setting' for a nice deep, rich, w_a_r_m, lush sounding vocal delay?
If it helps to mention - I have a powerful voice in the style of (but not as good as) Tom Jones, Tony Christie, Elvis etc.

My tip to anyone else from what I have learned so far would be keep all your vocal tracks dry, then add effects when the whole album is down. To most, that might sound obvious, but I started trying to achieve finshed tracks one at a time, only to find, as stated above, that I found better settings, meaning the finshed tracks didn't sound like one collection.

By the way, sorry if I'm in the wrong catagory, I know this is more 'mixing' than 'mastering' - or perhaps it should be in 'software'

Cheers

[hbproductions08]

**Note: Follow these steps in order!!!! And play and listen after applying every step to see whats goin on...this will help you see what you need to do if you need to make adjustments catering to your mic...**

1 - Apply Noise Reduction (If you don't know how to do this...good luck with the rest of this tutorial...Noise reduction is easy...ask a friend...dont skip this part.)

2 - Amplitude>Dynamics Processing>4:1, -24, Very Fast Attack

3 - Amplitude>Dynamics Processing>De-Esser(High S)

4 - Filters>Parametric Filter>R&B Groove

5 - Filters>Quick Filter>Loudness

*Optional Step If you find there is TOO MUCH BASS in the vocals then apply this step...
Filters>Graphic Equalizer>Simple Bass Cut

6 - Filters>Graphic Equalizer>Voice Presence(Cut)

7 - Filters>FFT Filter>Kill the Mic Rumble

8 - Filters>FFT Filter>Kill the Subharmonics

9 - Filters>FFT Filter>Mastering - Heavy & Narrow

10 - Filters>Scientific Filters>Hiss Cut (Above 10kHz)

11 - Delay Effects>Reverb>Vocal - Nice Presence (**Change the perception catering to your recording...I Usually use something in between 50-75** ALWAYS use reverb...even if there is no need to, then put it on 50. Even if you dislike reverb, it's always needed. Even ambient reverb in your room wont suffice if you dont have a booth of some sort...an additional note...REVERB AND OTHER DELAY EFFECTS ALWAYS COME LAST!!)

[takka360]

Very good post

[Skiday]

Originally Posted by hbproductions08

Noise reduction is easy...ask a friend...

You are my friends!!!!!!

I shall give it a go and report back - thanks

[takka360]

I hate noise reduction,it takes the top of the audio away,just make sure you
have no noise in the first place.I hate it and never use it and never need to.
Comp very fast,gentle and wide,tight and close reverb.
This is it.

[Skiday]

Originally Posted by hbproductions08

- Apply Noise Reduction (If you don't know how to do this...good luck with the rest of this tutorial...Noise reduction is easy...ask a friend...dont skip this part.)

Re the noise reduction. Are you referring to the blank bits, or the vocal line itself?

Of course I silence the blank spaces between the vocal phrases first of all, but I don't think any 'noise' (other that my tortured screeching) exist (or at least in any quantity humanly perceptible) due to the vocal being properly recorded in the first place. Had it been lifted from tape, I could understand the necessity for noise (of the tape) reduction. I share takka360's concern, and worry that the vocal line may be dulled, which will then have to be artificially brightened in later steps.

However I have still to apply the whole algorithm to test it.

[Skiday]

I have now tried the suggested alithogram from hbproductions08 to the letter, but for my style of music, it seems 'over-prossesed' and heavy. I guess we all have to go through our own process of finding out what works for us, which I think I have now done and found a sound I am happy with.

Cheers

Andrew Day 'skiday'