Skid Row | Forever | Vocal/Guitar Rock Cover

    Check out my latest cover song, recorded on the KPA of course. "Forever" by Skid Row, this was a really fun one to play. If anyone wants to collab sometime on a rock/metal song, hit me up! :thumbup:

    External Content www.youtube.com
    Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent.
    Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.

    Hi, Eyetri2015,

    I'm glad I hit Play.

    I wish the lead vocal was more prominent in the mix. Tried listening with headphones, computer speakers, and two other external speakers. Same general sense: the lead vocal was too far back.

    Thanks for sharing your music.

    ST

    Quote from ST

    Hi, Eyetri2015,

    I'm glad I hit Play.

    I wish the lead vocal was more prominent in the mix. Tried listening with headphones, computer speakers, and two other external speakers. Same general sense: the lead vocal was too far back.

    Thanks for sharing your music.

    ST

    Hey ST!

    Thanks for checking the video out. You know, I'm still learning how to record and mix vocals properly. I went back and forth on the vocals being TOO prominent and then not enough. Apparently to your ear I stayed on the side of not enough.

    What's the secret to getting the vocals to pop while also allowing the other tracks to shine? Is it primarily proper EQ? Compression? Volume automation? All of the above? None of the above? Anyhow, I made an attempt to use them all, but no doubt I still have a lot to learn.

    Thanks again!
    Kevin

    Hey, Kevin.

    I don't know the secret to getting the vocals to pop while allowing the other tracks to shine. I'm all about performing live, so I listen through that filter.

    I did some hunting around on the web and found this article Tips for Mixing Rock Vocals and the excerpt below.

    Quote

    Balance

    One of the common threads in heavier Rock genres is that the vocal isn’t always the star of the show. There was about a five year period in the early 90s where you could not understand the words to any songs playing on the Rock FM station, unless it was Sublime or Chili Peppers. The guitars often take precedence in the mix, and the snare drum is usually pretty competitive as well.

    Of course, sometimes the vocal is the star of the show, and this may very well change from section to section. It’s not uncommon for the verse to be “smaller” and more vocal-centric, and the chorus to lay in with extra guitar layers and more driving drums.

    We have to assign what our biggest elements are going to be. Once we have that assignment, it is extremely important to approach our vocals in the context of competing elements. The solo button is not your friend. The solo button is something that you wronged in the past and is now coming for your blood.

    This is probably the biggest distinction between Hard Rock genres, and say, Hip-Hop or Pop. The latter are vocal-centric, and the music moves around the perfect vocal sound. In these Rock genres, the vocal has to meet and live within a world where the guitars and drums may take center stage. This concept will be a recurring theme in this article.

    For me, the vocals are always the star of the show. The article above disabused me of my illusions.

    Please take my comments with that grain of salt.

    Cheers,

    ST