How to Mix Vocals in Ableton

Mixing vocals is the art of making the tone of the voice fit with the other elements of the song.

Ableton Live is an audio and MIDI recording and production application for the Mac and PC. It's designed to be versatile, acting as both a live sample-triggering platform and DJing application, while also performing as a capable recording environment. Ableton's set of tools includes a full compliment of compression and equalization units, everything you need to properly process recorded vocals in order to successfully integrate them into a mix.

Instructions

1. Select the channel on which the vocal is recorded. You are more likely to use the Arrange view for recording because it allows for a full overview of the song structure. The Clip View window on the bottom half of the screen displays any inserts or effects active on the selected channel. At the time of recording, there should be no active inserts, giving you a recorded audio file that is as pure a representation of the vocal as possible.

2. Move to the "Clip View" window and open the media browser by clicking the triangular "Arrow" button in the upper left corner of the Ableton window. Click the "Live Devices" button below the arrow to reveal the built-in live instruments and effects. Double-click the "Audio Effects" folder to show the available track inserts. Double-click the "Compressor" and "EQ Eight" icons; a single instance of each should appear in the Clip View window.

3. Click the "Circular Arrows" icon on the title bar of the compressor; the media browser will display a list of available presets for the compressor. Double-click each one and watch the output display on the compressor unit until the vocal's peaks are smoothed out and the volume maximized without tipping over into the red. The compressor is a subtle effect. If you are unfamiliar with how it works, the presets offer a good starting point to find the sound you are seeking.

4. Repeat the process with the equalizer. The EQ Eight is easier for beginners to understand than the compressor. Moving the line up or down on the left side of the display adjusts the bass; adjusting it on the right side affects the treble. It's better to remove unwanted frequencies rather than boost the ones you do want. Overloading the output channel can make your final mix sound muddy and dull. Listen for the prominent frequencies in the rest of the song. If the song is bass-heavy, subtract some low frequencies from the vocal. You will be able to push the volume higher, making it stand out from the rest of the track without distorting.

References

• Ableton Life; Vocal Processing Tricks; April 2010
• Ableton & Music Production; Mixing Vocal Tips; Sep 2010