Backing vocals

Backing Vocals Lesson

So, guys, next up, we're gonna have a quick look at the backing vocals here.

Overview

As you can see, on each channel, I'm using the same strip as I did on the lead vocal to treat each layer. However, we are combining eight or more layers into each section. Here's how I approach it:

• I take the various groups and put them together through an auxiliary channel.
• These all together sound like this.

You can hear that we're going for quite a sort of gospel choir sound. The key with backing vocals is the way you glue those all together.

Processing Steps

Equalization

What happens to glue those together?

• I take the processing off, and it suddenly sounds a bit mushy, a bit swamped, nothing special.
• To address this, I focus on equalization:
  • I take out the muddy low ends.
  • I boost the highs.

This needs to sit just above the lead vocal.

Digital Delay

To really make it sound like a gospel choir, I'm using a digital delay or a plugin that emulates digital delay on a very short feedback loop:

• Settings: 49 milliseconds and 67 milliseconds.
• This creates those little double sounds that come out:

"Who to trust can't be trusting you."

This is a great way to minimize recording effort, just four or five really tight vocals can end up sounding like a whole choir.

Stereo Imaging

Next, I'm using a stereo imager from Sound Toys, but you can use any stereo imager available in your software. This helps again to make it sound bigger and more like a choir:

"Who to trust can't be trusting you."

If you're listening on headphones, you'll notice that the vocals suddenly sound a lot wider and bigger.

Adding Delay and Reverb

Then next up, just like we did on the lead vocal, we're adding a bit of delay on the send itself:

"Who to trust can't be trusting you."

This time, it's without the sidechain, which helps beef things up and make it sound like more people. After this:

• I add a reverb right at the end to make it sound like it's in a space.
• I've set it to "large room," which is quite literally what I wanted it to sound like.

Conclusion

You glue all of these together with the other backing vocals. Each group has the same treatment, and it really helps to stick everything together.

It's very important to find the right balance between your lead and backing vocals, as this can make the difference between a polished-sounding record or something that seems like it was done anywhere, like in a bedroom.

If you follow these steps and take your time with the sonics of the vocals, it helps any listener really get hooked quickly, making it a real earworm.