A rap vocal needs to be clear, upfront, consistent and full of character. These four stages cover the process, from cleaning up the raw recording to the creative effects that give a vocal its personality.
Stage 1: get it under control
- Listen solo at a loud but comfortable level, and note any frequencies that sound harsh or boomy.
- High-pass to remove low rumble - start around 50 Hz and raise until just before the voice thins.
- Surgical EQ - use a standard EQ or a dynamic EQ to tame harsh resonances. A free option such as TDR Nova works well. Be subtle: carving too much takes the power out of the vocal.
- De-ess - tame sibilance, typically somewhere from around 5-7 kHz upward depending on the voice.
- Breath and noise control - a gate, or manual editing, to clean up the gaps.
Stage 2: air and presence
- Additive EQ - a gentle high-shelf boost for air, and a presence boost if needed, with a smooth EQ (TDR SlickEQ is a good free choice).
- Compression - to bring the vocal forward and keep it consistent. Rap vocals often take more compression than sung vocals, because consistent level is essential for intelligibility. Ableton users can try the Glue Compressor; Logic users have several stock compressor models.
- Saturation - a touch for warmth and bite.
Stage 3: creative mixing
- Keep the lead vocal mono and centred.
- Spread the ad-libs and doubles across the stereo field. Widening tools and vocal-doubling plug-ins help. When you pan or widen parts, bring their level down.
- Band-pass ad-libs for a radio or telephone effect, so they sit behind the lead.
- Doubles usually sit quieter than the lead, sometimes with the low end rolled off so only the edge of the double is heard.
Stage 4: delays, reverbs and character
- It is about feel. Effects should support the vocal rather than stick out - unless the effect is intentional, like a delay throw on one word.
- Delays - try 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 note delay times on different sections, on separate return tracks, and automate the sends.
- Reverb - plates and halls, with decay time and level set by ear. Rap vocals usually stay drier than sung vocals to keep them upfront.
- Character effects - flangers, distortion, filters, pitch shifts on chosen words or sections.
Sitting it in the beat
- Level - the vocal on top, every word audible.
- Ride the fader for consistent intelligibility.
- Make room - cut a little of the beat's presence range where the vocal lives, or sidechain it from the vocal.
- Check on a phone and in the car - the places most people will hear it.
Do this now
- Build a four-stage chain on a rap vocal.
- Pan the ad-libs left and right at reduced level and band-pass them.
- Set up 1/4-note delay and plate reverb returns, and automate a delay throw on the last word of a verse.
- Check the vocal on a phone speaker.