In this article and tutorial, Grammy-winning producer and engineer Dom Morley, shares how to prepare your mix for vocals, how to make space in the mix for vocals, and what initial EQ and compression decisions to make to start getting your vocals to sit well in the mix.

Although Dom is using various iZotope products including Nectar Pro, Neutron Pro, and Neoverb Pro a lot of the principles and tips he shares apply to whatever plugins you choose to use.

Video Tutorial Chapters

• 00:00 - Intro

• 00:50 - Static balance set up

• 01:10 - The 2K EQ carving trick

• 03:35 - Unmasking with Nectar Pro

• 05:50 - Unmasking with Neutron Pro

• 07:45 - Exploring EQ moves across the session

• 10:08 - Using Neoverb Pro’s Reverb Assistant

• 12:24 - Using Neutron Pro’s Exciter on horns

• 12:54- Backing Vocal treatment with Nectar Pro

• 15:55 - EQ-ing the lead vocal

• 19:44 - Compressing the lead vocal

• 21:16 - De-ssing the lead vocal

• 21:31 - Using Nectar Pro’s Vocal Assistant as a starting point

• 23:38 - Outro

Learn More About Vocals From Dom Morley

You can learn more about Dom’s working practices with his course ‘Everything You Need To Know About Recording Vocals’, a course featuring 25 episodes in which he unpacks the secrets to getting great vocals. Morley is well placed to make such a claim, having recorded world-class vocalists including; Adele, Amy Winehouse, Dionne Warwick, Shakira, 50 Cent, Rag’n’Bone Man, Richard Ashcroft and Sting. Morley also won a grammy for his work on the iconic Amy Winehouse album Back to Black.

The course is designed to answer many questions including…

• How do you use tempo and pitch for emotional impact?

• Should you EQ and compress at the recording stage?

• How do you help a singer to perform at their very best?

• When should you copy and paste the chorus, and when should you not?

Learn More About iZotope Plugins

If you are interested in trying the iZopte plugins Dom uses in this tutorial, then you can sign up for a free trial of iZotope’s Music Production Suite Pro.