M/S Plugins
Use M/S plugin to send bass to the center on synth parts that are too wide.
Punk Guitars
Try moving everything below 350 Hz to 400 Hz to mono using a mono maker such as in the Brainworx_Saturator or by using high / low pass filtering. This will give the guitars more of a classic 70s punk rock guitar vibe.
Narrow/Wide Guitars
One trick that can be used to make guitars sound wide in the chorus is to use the Brainworx_Mono_Maker or create frequency bands using high/low pass filters to move 400 Hz and below of the guitar into mono during the verse. Automating the volume of the guitar down a couple of decibels during the verse will also accentuate the effect. Use typical guitar widening effects to achieve the desired width. You can also make the verse guitars wider, and the chorus more narrow sounding to create more of a punk rock guitar chorus, just be sure to always put the volume automation so that the chorus is a bit louder than the verse.
The Haas Effect
The Hass Effect is created by adjusting either the left or right track so that it is ahead or behind the other track by a small amount. The effect seems most prominent between three and eight milliseconds, but the range is dependent on the frequency of the signal and is noticeable at delay lengths longer than thirty milliseconds. Around eighty milliseconds the delayed track can be clearly heard as an echo. The value of the Haas Effect is that it will increase the stereo image of the sound.
Haas Effect versus Stereo Imaging Plugins
Stereo imaging plugins often use complex algorithms to filter out problematic elements caused from the Haas Effect while also taking advantage of the psychoacoustic effects. Professional have many different opinions on the matter, but stereo imaging plugins exist that are completely mono compatible and can be trusted to produce quality results.
Harmonized Rap Vocals
Use Autotune on all vocal tracks. Put vocal tracks in the left, center, and right positions. Use pitch offsets so that each track is slightly out of tune with each other.
Synth Panning
Try panning synths wide in the verse to create a sense of ambience and then make them narrow in the chorus to give the chorus a more high energy feel.
Drum Widening
Try keeping as much ambience as possible in the drums during the verse and then cut out or minimize the drum ambience in the chorus.
Rap Vocal Doubling
Rap artists often double the vocals with two actual vocal performances rather than a doubling plugin during the chorus, but usually not in the verse. Sometimes doubling is added to the last measure or half measure in a phrase. Rap artists sometimes double the last word in the phrase, words that fall on the downbeat, or on words that fall on the first and the third beat of the measure. Doubling may also be used on verbs or phrasal verbs (words or phrases that denote action) such as fight, dance, play, hit it, get up, etc. Vocalign is often used to tighten the doubled tracks up.
Pretolesi’s Smooth Centered Bass
In this technique the bass is spit into frequency bands and everything below 300Hz is moved to the center. No compression is added below 300 Hz. Compression is applied to the stereo bus mostly between 700 Hz and 2 KHz, and then a bit of 10 KHz air is added to the mix.
Mid Side Background Vocals
Use a mid/side EQ on the background vocals. Cut 1.5 KHz about four decibels, and boost 10 KHz about two decibels.
Check Your Phase
The Panipulator is a free plugin that allows you to check your phase.
By Jack Johnston
Jack Johnston has a Master’s of Arts in Applied Linguistics from the New School University, a Master’s in Business Administration from Western Governors University, and a Master’s in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University.