The Complete Guide to MIX VOCALS Like a PRO

➡️ FREE MIXING GUIDES (Download)

➡️ Get FULL CONTROL over CUBASE with
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CUBASE

➡️ Craft Professional, Radio-Ready Mixes
Using Only the Tools Available to You in CUBASE

The Complete Guide to MIX VOCALS Like a PRO

If you need help producing professional sounding vocals… Today is your lucky day!
I’ve compiled some of my most helpful tips into a one-stop resource that you can use to improve all aspects of your vocal mixing.

Enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments!

Timestamps :
0:00 Intro
0:54 VOCAL REVERB
2:40 VR - Reverb Tip #1
3:05 VR - Why you shouldn’t use reverb as an insert on a ch​​annel
3:45 VR - Reverb Tip #2
4:55 VR - The “Abbey Road” Reverb EQ method
8:10 VR - Reverb Tip #3
10:50 VR - Using sidechain compression on reverb
13:20 VR - Reverb Tip #4
16:20 VR - Compressing before reverb
17:00 VR - Reverb Tip #5
19:32 VOCAL COMPRESSION
19:49 VC - Overview of vocal track
20:57 VC - Tip 1 - EQ & De-essing before compressing
21:44 VC - Tip 2 - Attack & Release
22:24 VC - Attack defined
22:44 VC - Release defined
23:03 VC - Attack & release in action
26:29 VC - Tip 3 - Using clip gain automation
31:42 VC - Tip 4 - Using more than 1 compressor
31:59 VC - Compressor 1 focusing on peaks
33:11 VC - Adding a second compressor to smooth things out
34:31 VC - Before and after compression
35:23 VC - Tip 5 - Use Dynamic EQ
37:46 VC - Bonus Tip - Overdo it and then back off
38:28 VOCAL EQ
38:42 VE - Strategy 1: Evaluate the vocal
40:40 VE - Strategy 2: Clean up the vocal
40:50 VE - How to clean up the vocal
46:00 VE - Strategy 3: Enhance the vocal sound
46:25 VE - Adding “air” to the vocal
48:06 VOCAL DELAY
48:16 VD - Tip #1 - Slapback Delay
49:26 VD - Slapback delay settings
54:16 VD - Tip #2 - ⅛ Synced Delay
58:56 VD - Tip #3 - EQ Your Delay
1:01:36 VD - Tip #4 - Add a reverb
1:04:16 VD - Tip #5 - Use Vocal Throws
1:06:06 VD - Tip #6 - Use different types of delay tones
1:10:23 VOCAL SATURATION
1:11:23 VS - Tip #1 - Adding warmth with console emulation saturation
1:16:23 VS - Tip #2 - Using saturation in parallel
1:18:08 VS - Tip #3 - Filter the signal before saturation
1:20:33 VS - Tip #4 - Using multiband saturation
1:22:40 VS - Tip #5 - Using saturation on effects
1:25:05 VS - Bonus Tip! - Add saturation to backing vocals
1:27:42 VOCAL NOISE
1:27:54 VN - Tip #1
1:28:39 VN - Gate vs Expander explained
1:28:59 VN - Gate vs Expander example
1:31:19 VN - Tip #2
1:31:59 VN - Addressing vocal breaths in a song
1:34:19 VN - Tip #3
1:35:44 VN - Detect Silence in Cubase

Some of the gear and plugins I use in the studio:

STUDIO MONITORS:
HEADPHONES:

VIDEO FILMING GEAR
Video gear shared in this video

[BigSmoak]

Let get this video 1 million views and likes for the great effort that Chris Selim put into this video to educate us about mixing better.

[HaHaDK]

Been mixing for 25 years, professionally for 15 years, and I managed to learn a lot from you in this video ♥ Thanks buddy

[tradedetailedfx]

Hello Chris, you are one of the most major reason why i come on youtube, not because i am looking for what to watch and pass i always set my notebook before i would press play to watch your alot God Bless You More.

[tronlady]

I still don’t get how amazing people like this make any money by providing TONS of exceptional free content such as this???

[surgerywithoutknives]

Chris … this is in-depth and it’s a real treat … many thanks !!!

[DreamsongsProductions]

Excellent video. Everything you'll ever need is here...

[tabassumdass]

I'm so glad ill find you in this earth.
God bless you dear Sir
I learned form your gaudiness how to mix vocals in different way.

[MrC]

Thank you Chris. Both you and Dom have a world of info and tips for cubase. Thank you sir sending much love and respect from Australia.

[mozizo]

Great Tutorial Chris !
just to add 1 more tip i use lately.
i like to cut all the breaths from a vocal track and have it on a separate "breath track " so i can control its volume, and more importantly its more natural and smooth without all processing of EQ compression saturation etc on the main vocal track

[chrisrose]

I love the side chain compressor on the reverb. I’ll have to try that.

[DaveHankMusic]

Wow! Great to have all these in one place. Thanks, Chris.

[dspoet]

This video taught me so much for mixing rap vocals. Cheers!!

[donaldj.lecher]

Well done, Chris! A great way to topically organize your videos and catalogue everything at the same time. I'm a member of Chris' Mixdown Online Community. I would highly suggest viewers invest in the membership of Chris' community when he opens it up. Keep it up, Chris!

[soundroomstudiosproductions]

Dear Chris (Sir),
Please reduce your vocal level compared to the tracks level you show when you upload a video. All the time after we listen to the tracks you played, when your vocal comes, relatively it is too high volume to listen. We manually reduce the volume on YouTube when you speaks. So please keep the tracks level much higher more than to your narration level. Thank you for this massive video. This is a complete guide for the vocal mixing. Recommended channel for every one.

[itzBlaqxhine]

You are the best chris 😊 God bless you and I pray God give you long life and good health ❤ you are very constant and stable on your truthfulness in your lesson 🎉🎉

[kliggy]

thankyou you're such a great teacher, and i love all the hurt you put behind your lyrics and vocals. i feel that's the true connection to music. i'm sorry for all the hurt you've been through, but you really turned it into something special and beautiful

[aliongamal]

Thank you, Chris. Nice and useful video. I follow you from Egypt

[themotownboy]

Thank you so much! These videos are so informative and useful! I am now a subscriber!

[ryanyates]

I've been trying my hand at mixig for years now and watched countless tutorials. The stuff I make is wildly different to what you are working with here but still, I've learned a lot and been reminded of some of the basics here. Thank you 🙏🙏

[markleyland]

Great video Chris, lots of helpful tips here, as always!