Mixing Indie Folk Vocals (feat Cammy Kurtzman)
Mixing Indie Folk Vocals
(feat Cammy Kurtzman)
Livestream Replay: July 18, 2024
In this vocal mixing livestream event, indie-folk artist (and fellow Mix Protégé) Cammy Kurtzman and I collaborate to achieve a warm, intimate vocal sound for Cammy’s song “Tangible.” Follow along with us as I demonstrate:
- How to balance track levels using clip gain adjustments.
- Techniques for achieving a warm, intimate vocal sound.
- The importance of using reference tracks in mixing.
- How to use compressors to control vocal dynamics.
- EQ tips for shaping vocal tones.
- Adding subtle reverb and effects for depth.
- Practical use of Pro Tools for mixing indie-folk vocals.
- Strategies for maintaining vocal presence without overwhelming effects.
- Insights into collaborative mixing and community feedback.
- Tips for organizing and managing session files in Pro Tools.
Are you hip to the Member Spotlight forum?
This livestream came about after Cammy posted a rough mix of “Tangible” in the Mix Protégé Member Spotlight forum seeking vocal mixing advice.
And I thought, “this would be easier to demonstrate than to type – let’s do a livestream!”
Log into your Mix Protégé account and check out Cammy’s original forum post here:
Mix feedback for indie folk song
Hi guys! I’m in the middle of working on this mix, but ... I feel like the vocals still don’t feel warm and intimate enough. I’m trying not to add too many ...
Mixing Vocals: Achieving a Warm, Intimate Indie-Folk Vocal Sound
Mixing vocals can be challenging, especially in the indie-folk genre where the goal is often to achieve a warm, natural, up-close, and intimate sound. Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting a livestream with Cammy Kurtzman, an indie-folk artist, where we dove into the process of mixing her song “Tangible.”
Cammy, who graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a focus on audio engineering and bass guitar, shared her creative process. Her song “Tangible” began as an acoustic guitar composition, evolving with her band into the breezy, intimate track we worked on.
The Vocal Mixing Process
Our session was a deep dive into the techniques and tools used to bring Cammy’s vocals to life. Here’s a breakdown of the key steps:
Initial Setup and Clip Gain Adjustments:
- Balancing track levels is crucial. By adjusting clip gain, we ensured all vocal parts were consistent in volume.
Compression for Dynamics:
- Using compressors like Waves R-Vox and Avid’s BF-76, we controlled the vocal dynamics. This is essential for maintaining an intimate sound without losing detail.
EQ for Tone Shaping:
- We sculpted the vocal tone by removing unwanted frequencies and boosting desirable ones. This helped the vocals sit well in the mix while maintaining clarity.
Adding Depth with Effects:
- Subtle reverb and stereo widening added depth to the vocals without overwhelming the natural sound. We used tools like UAD Dimension D and Valhalla VintageVerb to achieve this.
Using References
One of the most valuable techniques we discussed was using reference tracks. We compared Cammy’s mix to songs by Katy Kirby and Blake Mills, ensuring we stayed on track sonically. This step is vital for maintaining a clear vision and making informed mixing decisions.
Community and Collaboration
Throughout the session, I encouraged our Mix Protégé members to ask questions and share their mixes for feedback. This collaborative approach not only enhances learning but also fosters a supportive community where everyone can grow together.
Final Thoughts
Mixing indie-folk vocals to achieve that warm, intimate sound involves a combination of careful level balancing, dynamic control, tone shaping, and subtle effects. By sharing these techniques and engaging with our community, we can all become better mix engineers.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, these insights from our livestream with Cammy Kurtzman can help you achieve a beautiful, natural vocal mix. Stay tuned for more sessions and keep experimenting with your sound!
For more detailed tutorials and community support, join us at Mix Protégé. Let’s make great music together!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
Dana Nielsen introduces himself and Cammy Kurtzman
00:02 Cammy's Background and Song Origin
Discussion about Cammy’s background, her education, and how the song “Tangible” was created
05:40 Initial Playthrough of "Tangible"
Dana plays the song to give an idea of the original mix
06:12 Discussion on Recording Techniques
Insights into how the song was recorded, the instruments used, and Cammy’s artistic vision
10:32 Reference Tracks and Their Importance
The importance of using reference tracks like Katy Kirby and Blake Mills for achieving the desired mix
12:31 Initial Setup and Clip Gain Adjustments
Demonstration of adjusting clip gain to balance track levels
18:09 Applying Compression
Using compressors like Waves R-Vox and 1176 to control vocal dynamics
25:00 EQ and Tonal Shaping
Adjusting EQ to shape the vocal tone, removing unwanted frequencies, and boosting desirable ones
32:00 Adding Reverb and Effects
Adding subtle reverb and stereo widening to enhance depth without overwhelming the vocal
40:00 Final Playthrough and Adjustments
Final tweaks and a complete play-through of the mixed song
Responses