How To Mix Vocals Like a Pro in FL Studio
Image credit: Daniel Chekalov
Your guide to getting the mix right on those vocals to fit perfectly into your track and sound professional with ease.
So you’ve recorded your vocals, poured your heart into your lyrics, and now it’s time to make them shine! Good vocal mixing can elevate your track from bedroom recording to professional polish.
But, where do you begin? Aspiring producers, take note as we explore the simple methodology to getting your vocals sounding great in the mix. All within FL Studio, no extras needed.
This guide will equip you with the essential steps to mix vocals that sit perfectly in your track.
A step-by-step guide to mixing vocals
Follow this simple methodology to nail the basics of getting vocals sounding great. These steps will get you on track to customise the process and perfect it with each mix you do.
Step 1: Tame the Low End
Typically, vocals don’t occupy the low-frequency spectrum. This means that we can generally drop the lower frequencies on our vocal mix.
This provides two results: It gives a smoother presence to the nice mids and highs of vocals whilst also giving more space for deeper sounds like kick drums and basslines to shine.
Step 2: Find the Problem Frequencies
We’ve established a general frequency rule with vocals: They don’t typically take much low end. However, each voice is has its own unique tonal characteristics.
You want to isolate certain frequencies to find any harshness, muddiness, or noise laying in the vocal track. Try a narrow bandpass filter to pinpoint the problem area. Reduce those frequencies slightly to achieve a clearer vocal tone.
Step 3: Introduce Subtle Compression
Compression helps vocals sit upfront in the mix without clipping or dipping. Apply gentle compression and slowly tweak your settings to find the right balance of sound.
Start with a low ratio (around 2:1 and a slow attack time to preserve the natural dynamics of your vocals. Adjust the threshold until your gain reduction meters show a few decibels of gain reduction.
Step 4: Add Depth with Reverb
Reverb is space and builds the depth of your mix. Give your vocals a bit of lasting presence by adding a little bit of reverb but be careful not to overdo it and lose its presence unless you’re going for lots of reverb stylistically.
Experiment with short reverb settings (around 0.5-1.0 seconds) and low mix levels to add subtle ambience without overwhelming the vocals.
Step 5: Reference Tracks and A/B Testing
Listen to commercially produced tracks with prominent vocals as a reference. If you particularly like an artist and how their vocals sound in mixes then use their track.
A/B testing your mix with a reference track allows you to compare your vocal sound. Adjust your processing based on these comparisons until you feel they sound close enough for your taste.
FL Studio’s Stock Plugins: Your secret weapon
FL Studio has lots to offer and even on the lowest tier you have full access to a bunch of powerful plugins. Here are the ones you can use to enhance your vocals even on the cheapest ‘Fruity’ tier.
Fruity Reeverb 2: This great reverb plugin offers fantastic control over the space you give to each track. Simulate acoustic spaces and give dimension to your vocals.
Fruity Note: Reverb is one of those effects that is easy to overdo in a mix, creating a washed out and ‘muddy’ sound. Reverb works best on isolated or solo instruments. When your track gets busy and has a lot going on it is better to use some light delay on instruments. Rarely should you use reverb on the Master track and affect the whole mix, this tends to muddy the sound also.
Fruity Compressor: Simple to use but effective in practice. This is the perfect tool to provide some stability to your vocal recording.
Fruity Note: Compression represents a trade-off between dynamics and loudness, welcome to the loudness wars! If you are mastering (compressing in the Master Mixer Track) and need to apply compression to a complete mix we recommend using Fruity Multiband Compressor or Maximus instead.
Fruity Parametric EQ 2: Get the dynamic frequencies of your track just right with this precise tool. With a super simple visual display you can easily start to mix your track but with deep control behind it you can get a precise sound.
Fruity Note: If you require even more precise control over EQ you can click and drag on the plugin window to resize Parametric EQ2.
Bonus Tip: FL Studio allows for detailed automation. Automate the compressor threshold or EQ bands to adjust the processing dynamically throughout your song. This can be particularly useful for taming vocal sibilance during specific words or phrases.
Closing Notes
Mixing vocals is an art form, and like any skill, it takes practice. Experiment with different techniques, trust your ears, and don’t be afraid to fine-tune your settings. With dedication and this guide, you’ll be mixing vocals that captivate your listeners in no time.