How to Mix Screaming Vocals - EQ and Compression

Need a jump start on how to mix screaming vocals for metal and hardcore?
EQ and compression are going to give you 90% of a good scream vocal sound... but you can't be shy!
See where to EQ and how to compress heavily to add energy and character to the vocal.

*Plugins used in this video:*

[richardpell]

"I've found that if you find yourself needing like tons and tons of EQ on it you might not just be using enough compression" This is some of the best, most stress reducing bit of advice I've heard in a while. It rings out in my head when I feel myself EQing a vocal in circles trying to make it fit.

[robertsteinberger]

I learned so much in this video. The concept of compressing an already almost limited signal again with a slower attack to make it MORE dynamic opened my eyes.

[realtealcovers]

Telos is one of my favorite albums. The mix is so intense. Really love the decisions you made with everything.

[keychange]

I love how each plugin u use come together perfectly like a puzzle

[wherethewavesareborn]

Forevermore is amazing!! One of the bands that are keeping the old-Northlane feel for me. It's amazing to see you covering these in such detail!

[franklahache]

Bruh, I’m learning more from you than my college program (I’m in music production)

[earlymedia]

Ayyyye, Forevermore. Love this album, this was cool.

[clintbeasthood]

I've been watching your instructional videos for awhile, I'll often come back for references and such. I was reading an article today on mixing screams and this vid came up and the article mentioned you were the dude who produced Silverstein's Rescue, This is How the Wind Shifts and I Am Alive In Everything I Touch.
Holy crap! Those were their best albums imo you did a great job!!

[Melvin]

Saving this video FOREVER. WOW. THIS IS GOING TO HELP SO MUCH

[BoyOfLol]

Good stuff!

I always forget about harmonic saturation... really can't ever go without it!

[savatomic]

Dude, that mix on start, how the f*** did you mixed that so massive ?

[chronicmango]

So sick to recognize this track immediately. This record slaps.

[denniskielton]

I know this is an old one, so maybe you don't see this comment haha buuuuttt you should totally do a video about tape head. As in, everything you use it for, and what it really does for the mix. I've seen a ton of conflicting info, and as usual, you're the only person in the world of production that seems to just get straight to the point and always deliver solid gold advice. (Which is why if there were anyone I'd sign up with, it'd be you.) Too yeah a tape head video, about using it on drums and vocals and maybe why you don't just use it on every single track for a full analog feel. Which tracks/instruments its good for and why. I recently just got J37 from waves on a he discount, and I want to make the best out of it. 

P.s. you could probably take explaining plug ins pretty far. It's a HUGE part (maybe the biggest part) about learning mixing, plug ins are our new version of all the hardware gear that makes a studio a "studio." Seeing how you now own a plug in company, that make you a big authority, on the subject, and I think if you were to do more videos on not just your own but everyones plug ins, you could become the biggest authority on the subject. If you think about it, every mix tutorial is essentially a plug in demonstration/explanation. You're already THE dude for this (in my opinion) but if you made maybe like a series or something dedicated to plugins, (the types, the models, the variances, the in depth "secret" features) I think you'd become one of the biggest names out here.

Just a thought...


Thanks for everything you do! I've been here a very long time, and don't plan on leaving any time soon haha

[Charlyfromthenuclearcity]

Pretty close to what Ermin Hamidovic recommends in his book.
Nice tutorial ;)

[dullleviathan]

Best tutorial I've ever seen about compressing and EQing vocals! I subscribed, you are a hard working individual.

[yamlevi]

Man, this is one of the best vocals tutorials I've ever seen! Simple and clear! Any chance you could make a clean vocals? You know the regular stuff like The Afterimage just came to my head first as an example
Btw, what's your opinion about overdrive plugin (like the TSE 808) on scream vocals? Saw few people recommend to use it but I didn't see you did it or talked about it
And once again thanks for the great video!

[robertbrockcoble]

Great video! Inwasnin a rut for a few days with my normal method just not doing it for some shouting/screaming moments in a song I was working on. I went about this method, being objective to the source material, and they came out phenomenally. I found it handy to put a limiter (L1 in my case) prior to initial Compression and EQ as well. Very simple, but very good technique.

[metalion]

great tutorial - for the first time i understand using the 1176 in this way, you're essentially putting in extra dynamics that were flattened by the fast attack ssl, emphasising the transients at the front of the words yes?

[tedxiong]

---i like the sound of the snare drum and the kick drum of this mix---

[GoldenProductions]

Hey man thanks for the tip on vocal mixing sounds great and keep up the good work a lot of your mixing tips I have learned from you and then I go into my mix and do the same thing and it works great keep the good work up man