wouldn't you like to get vocal trax like this to mix?

[Wiz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFUZlV0J ... ure=fvwrel

oh momma

(its the vocals only for we are the champions by Queen)

quite stunning.

I find interesting, apart from the unbelievably stellar vocal performances, things like the lack of pre delay (perhaps not available on the reverb used) and the way, whatever the compressor(s) is/are being used, is handling what is obviously a very dynamic vocal performance.

None of the compressors I own, at least with me lose on the knobs, would cope with that. (given that I am assuming, no automation is being used)

The harmony layering, is just mind boggling.

[ChrisW]

Apart from the raw ability.
Hundreds and hundreds of shows under the belt.

[jkhuri44]

^ not sure about that statement wiz...

automation in music mixing is not really meant to be heard. i think an engineer is learning a tune, and knowing when to turn faders, preamp gain, output up and down.....

If something sounds natural, its sometimes not because "nothing" was done to it, but rather that a hell of alot was done, very well.

There are other times of course that automation is intentionnaly meant to be heard for special effect....

[The Tasmanian]

I'd say there is hardly any compression going on on this - its all amazing technique - maybe with a comp threshold sitting just below the point of tape distortion as insurance. The old school way.

When you record a GREAT vocalist - they do it all for you (as witnessed on this performance).

When you record an OK vocalist - you need to jump in and adjust stuff during the process - use a compressor a lot, and or ride the preamp during sections to adjust for the lack of control (technique) on the singers vocal output level.

[Wiz]

I'd say there is hardly any compression going on on this - its all amazing technique - maybe with a comp threshold sitting just below the point of tape distortion as insurance. The old school way.

When you record a GREAT vocalist - they do it all for you (as witnessed on this performance).

When you record an OK vocalist - you need to jump in and adjust stuff during the process - use a compressor a lot, and or ride the preamp during sections to adjust for the lack of control (technique) on the singers vocal output level.

you may very well be right. But, I thought I heard compression. I agree though, great singers, which I have only had the luck to record very rarely, are a wonderful thing.

[Chinagraf]

When you record a GREAT vocalist - they do it all for you (as witnessed on this performance).

And they are amazingly aware of what they are doing. As a youngin I recorded a well known singer up at 301.
Mid take she stopped and asked me to back off the compression because she couldn't quite get one or two words to lift in dynamic the way she wanted. This was on the cans while she was singing, not listening back in the studio.
Less experienced singers seem to have no real idea of how they are singing dynamically.

[rob]

exactly what I was thinking. I don't think there was much compression on this, mainly just performance technique.

I've been listening to some recordings recently that I did in the mid eighties. On all of them, ranging from electric jazz rock type stuff to folk pop I hardly ever used a compressor, it rarely seemed necessary following time spent in mic placement and performance rehearsal and some active fader riding.