Getting a professional sound means paying attention to the small details.  Another way you can get your audio mixes sounding professional is by cleaning up your vocal tracks.  Vocal tracks can use even more attention than instrument tracks.  They are typically front and center in your mixes and carry a lot of the emotion in the song so we want to pay special attention to these tracks. 

The first place to start with vocal tracks are the entrances and exits from verses, choruses, bridges, and then more specifically, phrases. In the same way we cut out dead space in other tracks, do the same with vocal tracks.  Pay special attention to the entrances and exits from phrases.  Don't cut off too much on either end.  Make sure you get the beginning of a phrase and maybe even include the breath if it helps give some energy heading into the phrase.

Speaking of breaths, as you add compression and EQ you might notice that the vocalists' breaths become more accentuated.  These breaths can be distracting if they are too loud, but, we don't always want to cut them completely out.  I find that breaths add some movement and intimacy to the vocal track.  There are certain times when cutting out breaths is completely fine.  In genres like pop music, breaths are often cut out to create more space for effects and other sounds. 

To clean up breaths, here are a couple of tricks I use.  I will listen through the vocal track and identify any breaths that I think are too loud.  I will use my razor tool and isolate those breaths and then lower the volume of that isolated breath clip.  I'll bring it down so I can still hear the breath but it sounds more natural and not as loud.  It's still there, it still give movement to the vocal phrase, and it still feels intimate and authentic, but it's softer and isn't distracting anymore. 

To finish out this process, make sure to add a small fade in and fade out to each section to avoid any popping.  Fades add just a touch of softness and will make it sound more professional as opposed to a hard entrance.  It's subtle, but it will make a big difference.

This process can be tedious and can take some trial and error as your find the right spots to cut the vocal tracks, but it will make a significant difference making your mix more professional sounding.

If you would like help mixing your songs, Magic Room Music is here to help!  Contact us today to talk about your next recording project!