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I've discovered my vocals sound better when I turn them down 600 db.

A wise man once said: "you find your sound when you fail to sound like your idols".

I am 71 and have been doing this home recording thing since the early 70.s-strted on a Teac cassette recorder.  I have learned more from you in the last few days than 50 years of trial and error.  Am truly enjoying your presentations-very professional and down to earth, thank you!

I was watching from a spoken word perspective. Interesting that the devil frequency is 2.6kHz - the Sennheiser MKH 416, one of the most popular spoken word mics of all time, has a pretty sharp peak at 2.5kHz. It helps with clarity of diction, and gives it its distinct sound. A -3dB notch makes it sound like a regular condenser.

I guess we now know why it's not used for singing!

I'm not against copying someone's process if i need to figure it out myself, i consider that an art in itself

No matter how much you think you know you always learn more. Thanks for this. Some lifetime nuggets to take. ❤🎉

Thanks brotha! Vocals are a differnt animal for sure

You’re absolutely correct. Thank you!

Great lesson is driving home that Vocals don't stand alone, they're a part, yes a major part of the mix, but nonetheless, part of the mix and this video gives me entire pause in listening to the Vocal in a totally new way..thanks Joe

These tips basically fixed my vocal mix! It sounds sooo much better now.

your the only person i see talk about the low mid problem in mixes i too have perceived the warm sound rather than the thin but smooth vocal sound

Found this very interesting. I use a Neumann 87 mic for my vocal and I’ve never used EQ on it. I’ve always just allowed it, with my vocal, like an elephant, to sit wherever it likes and I’ll fit the rest of the track around it - but then I don’t do mixes either - I mix as I go. Sounds like I might be missing a trick - Never too old to learn

ive notoced the same thing on the search for my own voice. When its brighter and thinner, it sits in the mix better and lets the frequencies of the other instruments support it and eachother. As for stealing/borrowing, I almost hate to admit that i do it but no matter how much i do it, and how close i get to what im mimicing, it still sounds like me...sometimes thats a bad thing...sometimes its a good thing.

Great stuff Joe. One thing I'd like to see more of is making these changes in the context of the mix, rather than in solo. I appreciate the medium of YouTube, and whatever playback we are using, will have a great impact on what we are hearing, but it's your mindset that is absolute gold. Just tell us what you are hearing and why you are making the moves. If we hear it...BONUS! I know from my own experience that our learning curve will determine what we are hearing more than the codecs, and I am a great believer of saving & rewatching something. And when I finally get it...and hear it! ...that's when things fall into place. Peace and respect. Thanks :)

I couldn't agree more about the "borrowing" not "copying".  It's the whole Ed Sheeran thing he dealt with.  It's not like almost all hits are some version of:  I, IV, V, vi variations.  If you want a good laugh search "axis of awesome 4 chords".   Thanks Joe!  Reworked some EQ on a song of mine you've heard.  Much better, but still working on it!

I’ve always believed that if you model others you’re learning. We all do it. If we don’t we are not learning.

Thank you Joe. I'm learning to mix my vocals and your a huge help brother. Props

This couldn't have come at a better time!! Thanks Joe!

Great advice - and really beautiful songwriting and singing too, Joe. Thank you.