I thought before we delve too far into the individual effect types we’d talk about vocal chains or for that matter any audio channel’s chain a little bit. I’m referring to the path your vocal recordings take either on the way into your recorder or the effects chain the vocals are run through after they are recorded in your DAW.

As I said before, there are few “always and never” rules you have to follow when recording, but some simple tips will help make it easier. Just to keep it simple we will talk about this as if we are mixing a vocal recording, but the basics hold true to any mixing generally.

In older days, almost all effects were outboard, meaning standalone or often rack-mounted audio effects boxes. Today we have a wide variety of ways to chain effects, especially when you consider there are still great outboard effects units as well as ever improving internal audio plug-ins.

Order of effects in your chain can dramatically affect your output sound. I have changed my orders many times over the years of recording, but I have settled on one that makes sense to me now. In basic here’s how it goes: EQ –> Compressor –> (any other frequency effect like a Pitch Shift or Auto Tune if you must) –> Delay –> Reverb

I don’t always use delays and reverb on every vocal, and sometimes they change order, but that’s my basic formula. I put the equalizer before the compressor because if you are going to be cutting away frequencies, you might as well start at the beginning and not force a compressor or anything else to deal with sound you are going to cut later anyway, right? Overall, I remind you effects should be used when needed and in the right proportions. Keep your reverb and delay levels low unless its for a special part or effect; in other words, use sparingly.

I will explain the roles and settings of these effects in more detail in future installments. I’m glad you tuned back in again; catch us next time. Email your suggestions, questions or job proposals to fixyourmix@boropulse.com.