When and how to pan vocals properly.

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lc_cne

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I am pretty good at mixing a basic hip-hop vocal but I really struggle when layering vocals. For example rappers like Jeezy or Young Joc. Anyone have any panning suggestions? and whenever you do pan what effects do you use on the panned dubs.
I need help on how to layer and pan choruses for rappers. Do you just expiriment? When I record dubs, the mix sounds sloppy at times despite dishing out an identical take. What could I be doing wrong?
 
well for most vocals like that its 4 stacks

Lead Vocal
Backing Vocal
and Two Dubs Ephasizing on words

the way I done those before basicall is

pan the lead and backing one soft right and one soft left i say about 25% each

as for the other two dubs hard right hard left i say about 50% each

some people will pan all the way right or left I don't like doing that because it doesn't give vocals that fullness but it all depends on the situation and how u want it to sound
 
also make sure the vocals aren't off so much and on point whether it be the rapper has to do them over and get them on point or you go in and move them to the desired spot
 
like you said in your initial post. Experiment. We can suggest things all day long, but it may not fit the song you are doing. Play around, and sometimes ideas just start flowing.
 
yeah make damn sure your artist is on time with the vocals.. otherwise cut n move for you buddy!

what i normally do only cuz i was taught n loved the effect dpeneding on the thickness of the artists vocals is this

MAIN
2 MAIN DUBS (IDENTICAL)
2 EMPHASIZING TAKES (LAST FOR OF BAR)
2 EMPHASIZING TAKES (POWER WORDS)

Main i would nomarl pan off to the left or right about 17%
2 main dubs either hard left n right 100% or i'll keep it about 30-45%
2 emphasizing takes will pan about 80-85%
2 emphasizing takes(pwr words) will be 100%

i was told by someone vocal pans would pan out like a rainbow from left to right!

n then adjust volume as to your liking..

i know it seems like alot of dubs.. but its very effective.. and anyone who i record i teach them this and they absolutly love the way it comes out!
 
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Man I did some experimenting on this ish earlier and I am blown away I have ignorantly thought that there has always got to be a center vocal in this with two takes panned right and left. for some dumb reason I thought if I panned as you'll have described I would brake all rules in mixing. Then I remebered that there are no REAL rules to mixing. Thank you'll I am seeing a BIG difference. Do any of yall know any articles on this! for hip hop. Also is this the same method you'll use on singers.
 
I will let you in on a little secret about panning. Most of the big mixers only pan three places: left, center and right. When you take away all the 26.87L options, it makes things a lot easier (and generally sounds better too). Not saying you have to pan LCR 100% of the time; if something calls for 76.35439%R, then do it, but it's not that often I pan other than 100% L, 100% right and straight up the middle.

Eventually things become intuitive. But assuming the LCR method, if you pan it center and it sucks, then pan it hard left. if it still sucks, then pan it hard right. You've only wasted thirty seconds of your day so far. If it still sucks after those three pan postions, then 99% chance the tracks just suck and you need to re-record (or you have other EQ, compression, etc. issues).

Most rappers give me anywhere from two tracks (lead, dbl) and 8. Stick the lead in the center. The rest just depends. If there is a single double, then stick that in the center as well. If there are pairs of tracks, then they usually sound best hard l hard r.

I wish there were a paint-by-numbers way to pan all the tracks, but there isn't. You just have to listen. If you clear your mind and just LISTEN, then tracks will honest to God tell you what to do with them. Then you don't really have to make hard decisions, you just have to follow.
 
chris carter said:
I will let you in on a little secret about panning. Most of the big mixers only pan three places: left, center and right. When you take away all the 26.87L options, it makes things a lot easier (and generally sounds better too). Not saying you have to pan LCR 100% of the time; if something calls for 76.35439%R, then do it, but it's not that often I pan other than 100% L, 100% right and straight up the middle.

Eventually things become intuitive. But assuming the LCR method, if you pan it center and it sucks, then pan it hard left. if it still sucks, then pan it hard right. You've only wasted thirty seconds of your day so far. If it still sucks after those three pan postions, then 99% chance the tracks just suck and you need to re-record (or you have other EQ, compression, etc. issues).

Most rappers give me anywhere from two tracks (lead, dbl) and 8. Stick the lead in the center. The rest just depends. If there is a single double, then stick that in the center as well. If there are pairs of tracks, then they usually sound best hard l hard r.

I wish there were a paint-by-numbers way to pan all the tracks, but there isn't. You just have to listen. If you clear your mind and just LISTEN, then tracks will honest to God tell you what to do with them. Then you don't really have to make hard decisions, you just have to follow.
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O sh*t. Best advice I have gotten in a min. That was a gift. Preciate it bro I will keep this in mind. I think to much when I mix and I think it throws me off sometimes.
 
yeah good post! that will definantly do it.. str8 up.. i used to get high when i was rapping n recording n mixing myself.. n the enhancement! lol

i would just be high with a low light situation eyes closed focusing in on the vocals n the music. and i than at that moment i knew were to go and this was before engineering school.
 
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