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Pro Lead Vocal Mixing Clinic

4.8 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Half star
Based on 55 ratings
see reviews
Justin Hicks

In this vocal mixing crash course, we will first uncover the 6 key elements and components that make up a professional lead vocal sound. Because it's in understanding these 6 key elements and components that give a foundation to work from and give us a direction to go every time we mix our vocals. So this mini course is all about exploring some of my favorite techniques to be able to accomplish all of the elements on a consistent basis. We will cover 10 of the key techniques and ideas that are the foundation to help us achieve all of these components in our vocal mixes. We will look at vocal signal chain ideas, the importance of subtractive eq, how to use harmonics and distortion effectively, how to use stereo imagery the right way, utilizing delays for added dimension, carving space for the vocal in the beat and key compression and eq techniques.  But the purpose of this course is to keep it short, sweet and simple and focus on what I believe to be the most effective and efficient way to achieve a professional vocal, no matter what you want your vocal sound to be for any particular track

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What's inside

Syllabus

Understand the elements that make up a pro lead vocal
Introduction: Foundations of pro lead vocals
Understand pro lead vocal signal chain foundations
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches techniques to help students consistently achieve a professional lead vocal sound
Develops a solid foundation in vocal signal chain principles
Covers a comprehensive range of techniques including subtractive equalization, harmonic enhancement, compression, reverb, and width and dimension
Provides a parallel compression technique to enhance vocal power
Explores the use of multiple reverbs to add width and dimension to vocals
Teaches a vocal doubling technique to enhance vocal size and naturalness

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Reviews summary

Practical clinic for pro lead vocal sound

According to learners, this "Pro Lead Vocal Mixing Clinic" is a highly practical and efficient course for achieving a professional lead vocal sound. Students frequently praise the clear and concise explanations of essential techniques, making complex concepts easy to grasp. Many found the actionable tips and workflow improvements to be a "game-changer," enabling them to apply learnings immediately. While some earlier feedback noted a lack of revolutionary new information for very experienced mixers or wished for more advanced depth, more recent reviews overwhelmingly highlight its immense value for both aspiring and intermediate producers seeking to elevate their mixes. The instructor's passionate and easy-to-understand teaching style is consistently applauded, providing a solid foundation and practical approaches to vocal production.
Recent reviews confirm ongoing high value and applicability.
"I feel confident that the techniques taught here are still highly effective and relevant today."
"The methods learned are truly timeless and continue to deliver professional results for my projects."
"Even though some reviews are older, I found the information to be current and extremely useful."
Instructor is knowledgeable, passionate, and easy to follow.
"The instructor has a great teaching style, easy to understand and very passionate."
"His passion shines through, making the learning process really enjoyable and informative."
"I appreciate how the instructor kept the lessons engaging and focused."
"The instructor really makes complex ideas accessible and easy to implement."
Valuable for both beginners and intermediate mixers.
"This is perfect for beginners and intermediate mixers alike who want a solid foundation."
"Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your current skills, this course offers great value."
"I'm relatively new to mixing, and this course gave me the confidence to tackle vocals."
"Even with some experience, I picked up several useful tips to enhance my workflow."
Explanations are easy to understand and straight to the point.
"It's straight to the point. No fluff. I learned so much, and the content is easily digestible."
"I finally understand the "WHY" of certain mixing choices, not just the "how". This course is extremely valuable."
"The teaching style is direct and effective, making complex concepts very clear."
"I loved how he broke down each element and explained its importance and application."
Offers immediately applicable strategies for vocal mixing.
"This course is so clear, straight to the point and it works very well. I was applying the techniques and getting great results immediately."
"This course is a GAME CHANGER FOR MY VOCAL MIXING WORKFLOW & RESULTS!"
"I'm a beginner, and this course gave me a practical approach to mix vocals from the start."
"Easy to grasp and instantly applicable techniques that genuinely improve vocal sound."
May lack revolutionary insights for very experienced audio engineers.
"For someone like me with over 20 years in engineering, I can tell you that there is nothing new here."
"I would say it is a decent overview for beginners, but if you have a lot of experience... nothing revolutionary."
"I was hoping for more advanced or unique insights, but it covers solid fundamentals."
"A bit basic for my level, but the foundational explanations were still good reminders."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Pro Lead Vocal Mixing Clinic with these activities:
Answer questions in the course forum
Answering questions in the course forum can help you to reinforce your understanding of the course material and to help others.
Show steps
  • Visit the course forum.
  • Read through the questions that have been posted.
  • Answer any questions that you can.
  • Be respectful of other users.
  • Avoid posting spam or unhelpful comments.
Practice setting signal chain parameters
Practice setting up various signal chain parameters to improve your understanding of their effects on vocal sound.
Show steps
  • Create a new vocal track in your DAW.
  • Load a vocal sample onto the track.
  • Add a compressor, EQ, and reverb to the track.
  • Experiment with different settings for each plugin.
  • Listen to the results and make adjustments until you're happy with the sound.
Use a vocal mixing software plugin
Vocal mixing software plugins can provide you with a range of tools and presets to help you achieve a professional vocal sound.
Show steps
  • Choose a vocal mixing software plugin.
  • Install the plugin and open it in your DAW.
  • Load a vocal sample into the plugin.
  • Experiment with the different settings and presets.
  • Listen to the results and make adjustments until you're happy with the sound
Two other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all five activities
Practice mixing vocals in different genres
Mixing vocals in different genres can help you to develop a wider range of skills and techniques.
Show steps
  • Choose a few different vocal tracks from different genres.
  • Load the tracks into your DAW.
  • Experiment with different mixing techniques on each track.
  • Listen to the results and make adjustments until you're happy with the sound.
  • Compare the results to see how your mixing techniques differ for each genre.
Create a vocal mixdown of a song
Creating a vocal mixdown of a song can help you to put all of your skills and techniques into practice.
Show steps
  • Choose a song that you want to mix.
  • Load the song into your DAW.
  • Mix the vocals using the techniques you have learned in this course.
  • Export the mixed song to a file.
  • Share your mixdown with others and get feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Pro Lead Vocal Mixing Clinic will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

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Course image
Rating
4.8 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Half star
Effort
1.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Justin Hicks
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches techniques to help students consistently achieve a professional lead vocal sound
Develops a solid foundation in vocal signal chain principles
Covers a comprehensive range of techniques including subtractive equalization, harmonic enhancement, compression, reverb, and width and dimension
Provides a parallel compression technique to enhance vocal power
Explores the use of multiple reverbs to add width and dimension to vocals
Teaches a vocal doubling technique to enhance vocal size and naturalness
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