• Best Eq Settings For Vocals
• Best Software Eq For Vocals Free
• Best Software Eq For Vocals Gearslutz

If you have a microphone to record your vocals, you need a preamp.

The reason is simple: a microphone produces a very low voltage output that is between 50dB and 80dB quieter than the line-level output from electronic instruments.

Best Vocal VST Plugins: Use These Tools To Process Your Vocals Like a Pro [REVISED & UPDATED] Written by Doug B. On December 17, 2015 Last modified on June 26, 2018 at 13:37. Mixing vocals to pre-mixed instrumental is an issue that just about every engineer will encounter. The idea of recording vocals to a mixed down instrumental has been around for decades. On rare occasion that vocal and instrumental would be released as the actual song.

The preamplifier boosts the mic-level signal up to the same strength of a line-level signal, i.e. it ensures the sound the mic picks up is just as loud as the other sounds.

If you try to record the signal directly from a microphone, without running it through a preamplifier, it will be very quiet.

You can boost the volume, of course, but it will sound horrible, because you will also be turning up every other sound, like all of the environmental noise, the electrical hum and any sound from the mic itself.

The preamp boosts only the mic signal and none of the other sounds.

What To Look For In A Preamp

We will briefly cover the main features you need to consider when buying a preamp and give the best models that have each feature. If you already know what you need, you can jump directly down to our comparison table of the best vocal mic preamplifiers.

Transparency vs. Coloration

Transparency refers to how naturally a preamp transmits the input. A transparent preamp does not change the tone at all, while one that colors the sound, changes the tone and gives it a rich, warm, vintage feel.

Number of Channels

Both recommendations above only have one channel, which is all you need if you are just recording your vocals.

But if you want to record several inputs, like another singer or some instruments, you would need another preamp for each mic or one that has multiple channels. Ones with multiple channels usually aren’t as good as single-channel models, but there is an exception.

Other Features

There are a few other features that might be important to you, like form factor. The main options are rackmount, lunchbox and desktop.

If you have other equipment, a rackmount or lunchbox form factor makes sense. If not, desktop is probably the easiest, but just because a preamp is made to mount in a rack, that doesn’t mean you have to. You can just as easily leave a rackmount or lunchbox style unit sitting on its own.

Apart from that, every model we recommend below has all the standard features you would want for recording vocals. The main decisions you need to make are whether you want transparency or coloration and whether you need multiple channels.

Best Vocal Mic Preamp If Money Is No Object

Perfect Transparency

If you can afford it, nothing beats the Avalon VT-737sp for a perfect transparent sound. It is easily the best preamp for home studio use and is used by many professional musicians. Naturally, it has a price to match.

Best Mic Preamp Under $1000

(note: these were priced under $1000 at the time of writing and may have suffered a price increase since)

You can find some great preamps under $1000.

You will also find a lot of overpriced ones. Preamps with tons of features no one needs.

You want to avoid those. If you’re going to spend up to a thousand dollars, you want to make sure you get your money’s worth. These two give you that.

Best For Coloration

The best microphone preamp for coloration in the under $1000 price range is the Warm Audio TB12 Tonebeast. It lets you select a number of different levels of coloration as well as a transparent sound. It is high-quality and extremely flexible.

Best For Transparency

No unit in this price range outputs sound more transparently than the Grace Design M101. It will transmit your voice or instrument cleanly and faithfully, with no change to the original input.

Best 8-Channel Preamp

The Focusrite OctoPre MkII Dynamic Microphone Preamp is the clear winner among 8-channel models. It gives you incredible transparent sound in a well-constructed package. This is easily the best 8-channel model and it works with vocals as well as any instrument.

Best Mic Preamp Under $500

(note: these were priced under $500 at the time of writing and may have suffered a price increase since)

People will tell you it’s impossible to get a quality preamp under $500.

Not so.

While there are a lot of worthless models in this price range, there are some really good ones, too.

If you’re outfitting a professional-level studio, then I’d look in the under $1000 range. But if you’re getting a preamp for home recording of vocals or instruments, you can certainly find what you need for under five-hundred dollars.

There are a lot of different options to research, though. You need to find the good values among all the bad units that sound terrible and probably won’t last more than a month past the warranty. The following two are the best values out there.

Best Preamp For Coloration

Without a doubt, the best mic preamp under $500 to get a classic colored sound is the Golden Age Project Pre73. It perfectly recreates the sound of the famous Neve 1073 preamp and does it at a much lower price.

Best Preamp For Transparency

Our choice here is the DBX 286. It does everything well and sells at a low price.

Best 8-Channel Preamplifier

The ART TubeOpto 8 Tube Microphone Preamp is the clear winner among 8-channel models. It features great sound quality at a very good price. The build quality on some of the controls could be better, but it’s the sound that matters and in this price range, you won’t get better sound from a multi-channel amp.

Best Budget Mic Preamp (Under $200)

(note: these were priced under $200 at the time of writing and may have suffered a price increase since)

I’m going to state the obvious.

When you get a budget microphone preamplifier that costs under $200 (and actually, the models below are often sold for under $100), you have to make some sacrifices.

The key is: finding a model that sacrifices features you can live without.

Most of the more affordable mic preamps are cheaply made and do not last. Those are the ones you want to avoid.

The models below are exceptions. They might not match the highest-quality preamps on the market, but they do the job (as long as you’re not outfitting a professional-level sound studio) and cost a fraction of the price.

Best Budget Mic Preamp

The best mic preamp if you’re on a budget is the Mackie 402VLZ4. It’s actually a 4-channel mixer with two built-in Onyx preamps that deliver crystal-clear sound. It’s also built like a tank. Find out more in our brief review below.

For an even cheaper option, and the cheapest one that still delivers good results, check out the Alto Professional ZMX862.

Best If You Need More Channels

If 4 channels aren’t enough, the 8-channel Behringer XENYX 1202FX is a great choice. At times, it even sells for the same price as the Mackie, despite having twice as many channels. The Mackie is more solidly built though and it sounds a bit better, too, especially with vocals.

Best Vocal Mic Preamp 2019 Comparison Table

Amazon runs a lot of sales, making it impossible to keep the prices up to date. Please click on the dollar signs to see the current prices.

The Best Mic Preamp For Vocals Over $1000

Avalon VT-737sp Class A Mono Tube Channel Strip

The choice of numerous professional musicians the Avalon VT-737sp is as good as it gets and easily the best mic preamp for home studio use. Unfortunately, it has a price to match.

The VT-737sp basically has three main stages: first the preamp, then the compressor and finally a 4-band equalizer (bass, low mid, high mid and treble). It is outfitted with four vacuum triode tubes that ensure maximum sonic integrity through all three stages. The unit has XLR inputs that work with both mic and balanced line signals and a balanced XLR output and jack.

The first time you use the Avalon VT737sp, you immediately notice the smooth and warm, but still completely neutral, tone. It doesn’t modify your natural tone, but works with it to make it sound its best. No matter what you run into this preamp (vocals, guitar, drums, etc.), the sound is reproduced faithfully and made to shine.

For most of us, this unit is out of our price range and definitely more preamp than we need, but if you are outfitting a professional-level studio or are lucky enough to not have to worry about money at all, this is the microphone preamp to get. Countless professional musicians agree (it was even used by Steve Hodge to track Michael Jackson’s vocals: story here).

Pros

• Four vacuum triode tubes provide maximum sonic integrity
• Faithfully reproduces vocals, working with your tone to bring out its strengths
• “Soft start” feature gradually warms up the unit to protect the electrical components
• Superior build and beautiful vintage design

Cons

• Expensive, though, as always, you get what you pay for
• Only one channel

The Best Microphone Preamps Under $1000

Best For Tranparency: Grace Design M101 Single-Channel Microphone Preamplifier

The Grace Design M101 doesn’t look like much, with a simple design and straightforward layout, all in a lightweight chassis. But the sound quality packed into that little box is incredible.

This unit was designed to transmit the character of your voice or your instruments faithfully, exactly as it is received from the microphone. And it does just that. The sound is clean and neutral and pretty much perfect.

The M101 has a Hi-Z instrument input, 48 V phantom power switch, gain knob, trim knob, ribbon mode switch and a high-pass filter. It puts out 10–75 dB of gain with a frequency response of 4.5 Hz–390 kHz at the mic input and 2.5 Hz–195 kHz at the Hi-Z input.

One major drawback for some is the external 6V power adapter. This unit does not have an internal power supply, but we feel that is a reasonable sacrifice to keep the price low.

If you are looking for a preamp that will flatter your voice or instrument and add a magical, vintage character, the Grace Design M101 is not for you. This unit adds nothing to your sound. It transmits everything as cleanly and faithfully as possible. If that’s what you’re after, the sound quality is incredible. It is easily the best preamp for a transparent sound in the under $1000 price range. Nothing else comes close.

Pros

• Perfectly transparent sound transmits your vocals and instruments cleanly and faithfully
• Incredible build quality
• Affordable price, especially considering build quality and features

Cons

• External ‘wall-wart’ type power supply
• Only one channel

Best For Coloration: Warm Audio TB12 Tonebeast Microphone Preamp

The Warm Audio TB12 Tonebeast is a high-quality and extremely fun single-channel preamp that lets you choose various levels of coloration and transparency. Few units offer this kind of customization and quality and those that do all cost at least 3 times more. Some compromises were made to keep the Tonebeast low cost, but none are serious.

The TB12 has all the standard features like phantom power, 20dB pad, phase-invert and high-pass-filter.

What sets it apart are several switches that let you choose through which op-amp, capacitor, impedance and output transformers you want to send the sound signal.

Using those switches, you can get an output ranging from very colored (with a warm, vintage tone) to transparent. Usually, you have to buy several preamps to get these different tone options; here you get them all in one unit.

That said, if you are looking for the best transparent sound quality, there are better units out there (like the one reviewed above). This unit shines when it comes to coloration and the fact that it can also deliver a transparent sound that comes close to the best is just a bonus.

Warm Audio did have to make some sacrifices, though, to keep the price this low. The main one is the lack of an internal power supply. Instead, the Tonebeast relies on an external ‘wall-wart’ type power supply.

Another slightly annoying disadvantage is the LED level meter. It uses different colored LED lights, but the blue one is far brighter than the other colors and distracting to look at, especially in a dim room.

The Tonebeast12 from Warm Audio is one of the best preamps you will find for giving you that sought-after warm, vintage sound. The fact that it can also deliver a quality transparent sound makes it even better.

The incredibly low price, considering all of the above, makes it a no-brainer. If you don’t need multiple channels (see the next model below) or want only a transparent sound (previous model above), get the TB12. You will congratulate yourself on your purchase for many years to come.

Pros

• Get both a warm, vintage sound or a transparent one from the same unit
• Hi-Z input for instruments and a line level input
• Very sturdy construction on all components
• Affordable price, especially considering the high quality sound and the different tone options

Cons

• External ‘wall-wart’ type power supply
• Blue LED on the LED meter is too bright and outshines the other colors considerably
• Only one channel
• Rack-mount unit, so won’t look as good as separate component

Best With Multiple Channels: Focusrite OctoPre MkII Dynamic Microphone Preamplifier

The OctoPre MkII Dynamic Mic Preamp is one of Focusrite’s budget preamps, though it still costs quite a bit of money.

You definitely get what you pay for though. Sound quality is outstanding, with all eight channels outfitted with a very high-quality preamp and a Focusrite Red 3 derived compressor.

The Octopre Mark 2 is incredibly well constructed, making it sturdy and durable. It is extremely versatile, with both analog and ADAT digital outputs (up to 96 kHz). This microphone preamplifier is strong with all instruments as well as vocals.

The biggest issue we found with this preamp is that phantom power is supplied in banks of four, not to each channel individually. This won’t be a problem in most cases, since dynamic mics generally ignore power on the line, but could become an issue when miking a drum kit.

Also, the first two inputs are only on the front of the unit, which could lead to some messy cabling. That said, having them there makes it easy to quickly plug in a guitar or bass, but it would be nice if they were mirrored on the rear of the unit as well.

Overall, the Octopre from Focusrite is about as good as it gets, without venturing into stratospheric price ranges. It is the preamp we recommend, if you want multiple channels and have the budget.

There is actually a less-expensive version available, the OctoPre MkII (not dynamic), but it does not include compressors. If you don’t need those, you can save a few hundred dollars.

Pros

• Extremely high quality preamp on each channel
• Transparent and neutral sound keeps your vocals natural
• ADAT digital outputs in addition to analog outs
• Great price when you consider the sound and build quality

Cons

• Phantom power supplied in banks of 4 channels, instead of a per-channel basis
• First two inputs only on front, which could mean messy cabling

The 3 Best Mic Preamps Under $500

Best For Transparency: DBX 286s Microphone Pre-amp Processor

The DBX 286 is one of the most affordable studio quality mic preamps/channel strip processors on the market. It is solid state and single channel.

If you plan on using it for live performances, the Enhancer allows you to control the definition and detail of high and low frequencies separately, so you can really crisp up your tracks and add fullness to the vocals (or the deeper instruments). It also has a gate that can reduce headphone leakage or handle noisy guitar amps.

The DBX 286 has a built-in tunable de-esser that eliminates vocal sibilance (i.g. from ‘s’ sounds) or high-frequency distortion from instruments like cymbals. It also has a compressor, which allows you to avoid accidental clipping and distortion and get smoother acoustic tracks and more powerful vocals.

This rack-mount unit also has a wide-ranging input gain control, switchable +48V phantom power, and a 80Hz high-pass filter (to remove low frequency hum, rumble or wind). It features a floating balanced XLR mic input that can take both balanced or unbalanced inputs. In short, it has all the basic features a vocalist needs and sells for a very low price.

Pros

• Classic dbx compression for powerful vocals
• Frequency tunable de-esser reduces sibilance and HF distortion
• Enhancer increases HF and LF detail and definition
• Affordable price, especially considering build quality and features

Cons

• Rack-mount unit, so won’t look as good as separate component
• Only one channel
• XLR input and TRS output makes for a bit of a strange setup, but is easy enough to work around, I suppose

Best For Coloration: Golden Age Project Pre73 JR

Best Eq Settings For Vocals

The PRE-73 Jr from Golden Age Project is a pared-down version of the PRE-73, which was designed to emulate the classic sound of the Neve 1073.

This Jr version delivers that same incredible sound at a fraction of the price. It is able to do that, because the designers saved on features. Luckily, few of us actually need the features that were left out.

Since it is meant to sound like the Neve 1073, this is not a neutral preamp. It will definitely color your vocals, though most would say this is a good thing. It imparts a big, warm, vintage sound to your vocals, a sound for which people pay tons of money. The fact that you get this classic sound for such a low price is what puts this unit on our list.

Sound quality is top notch and the same goes for build quality. Seeing how well-made every single component is makes you wonder how Golden Age Project can keep the price so low.

But, as mentioned, the answer is the lack of features. They’ve only included the bare essentials, though, for most purposes, you really don’t need anything else.

The Golden Age Project Pre73 JR Compact Vintage Style Microphone Preamplifier is a low-cost way to enjoy the classic Neve 1073 sound. This preamp is low on features and only has one channel, but the sound quality and build quality are far above other units in this price range.

If you want transparency, this is the wrong model for you. If you want a preamp that improves your vocals with a large, warm, vintage sound, this is the best value you will find.

Pros

• Large, warm and powerful vocals
• Frequency tunable de-esser reduces sibilance and HF distortion
• Very sturdy construction on all components
• Affordable price, especially considering the vintage sound

Cons

• Not transparent or neutral: this unit will change the way you sound (most would say for the better)
• Basic features only: at such a low price, it is clear all of the effort went into sound and build quality

Best Multi-Channel: ART TubeOpto 8 Tube Microphone Preamp

The ART TubeOpto is a well-designed and solidly built 8-channel rackmount preamp.

It offers great sound quality and good build quality (some of the controls don’t feel as solid as comparable units). Each channel is outfitted with a fully-featured class-A tube mic preamp that offers incredible sonic transparency.

Each preamp has both an XLR and a quarter-inch jack input and up to 64dB of gain, plus controls for input gain and output level and switches for input pad, phase flip and low frequency roll off. The first two channels also have additional front-mounted high-impedance instrument line inputs, so you can easily plug in a bass or a guitar.

The TubeOpto has two phantom power switches: one for channels 1 to 4 and one for channels 5 to 8. We always prefer to have control of phantom power to each channel individually, but that is not a common feature in this price range.

The strength of this unit is obviously the multiple channels. If you only need only one, the other two amps on this list are a better value. But as an 8-channel preamp, the ART TubeOpto performs incredibly well.

It does a great job with any type of input, from high-frequency instruments to low frequency ones. It is great with vocals as well. This is easily the best 8-channel mic preamp under $500.

Pros

• Extremely high quality preamp on each channel
• Transparent and neutral sound keeps your vocals natural
• Multiple controls and switches on all eight channels give you total control
• Budget price when you consider the sound and build quality

Cons

• Phantom power supplied in banks of 4 channels, instead of a per-channel basis
• Lacks compressors
• Some of the controls not as high quality as the competition

The 3 Best Budget Mic Preamps

Best Mic Preamp Under $100: Mackie 402VLZ4

The Mackie 402VLZ4 4-channel Mixer features a high-headroom/low-noise design. It has two high-quality Onyx preamps with a 128.5 dB dynamic range. They deliver a crystal-clear sound, no matter the input and have phantom power for condenser microphones.

Mackie products are famously “built like a tank” and this model is no exception, despite the ultra-low price. In addition to the solid build, the rotary controls are sealed to prevent dust and grime from getting inside.

If 4 channels is not enough, Mackie make this same model in variations with 8, 12, 14 and 16 channels. The three largest are rack mountable, but this one and the 8 and 12-channel versions are not.

At such a low price (at the time of writing), you expect there to be some drawbacks and there are a few. Luckily, none of them involve quality.

The main trade-offs are: a lack of direct preamp outputs for the two microphone channels, no solo button, no pan knobs and no balanced RCA outs. It also does not come with a standard power cable; instead you get one using a pin system, which is not as durable, because the pins can be bent fairly easily.

Another annoyance is the lack of an on/off switch, so you have to unplug the unit or connect it to a power strip and use the switch on that.

For us, none of those trade-offs are deal-breakers, since they make the low price possible, without sacrificing quality. If you’re looking for a solid preamp on a strict budget, the Mackie 402VLZ4 is your best bet.

If you want professional-quality sound, you’re simply not going to find it in this price range or anywhere close to it. The 402VLZ4 is as close as you can get.

Pros

• High-quality Onyx preamps deliver crystal clear sound
• Built like a tank construction for which Mackie is famous
• Affordable price, especially considering build quality and features

Cons

• Power cord uses pins, not the standard plug
• Lacks balanced RCA outs
• No power button, so you have to unplug it to turn it off

Best Mic Preamp Under $200: Behringer XENYX 1202FX

The Behringer XENYX 1202FX is a 12-Input 2-Bus Mixer with XENYX mic preamps. It is incredibly affordable considering the versatility and the sound quality you get.

The 4 XENYX mic preamps included in the 1202FX are state-of-the-art units that match all but the best standalone preamps. They have48V phantom power, an incredible 130 dB of dynamic range and a bandwidth that extends from below 10 Hz to well above 200 kHz. They give you a beautifully transparent and perfectly clear sound.

If you prefer a more colored sound each mic preamp has a neo-classic “British” 3-band EQ that is based on the same circuitry as the British consoles of the 1960s and ‘70s. They lend your music a classical, warm tone with tons of character.

The EQs are only on the 4 mic channels, though.The 1202FX is further quipped with Behringer’s studio-grade 24-bit multi-FX processor. It features 100 different digital effect presets like delay, chorus, reverb and so many more.

You can apply the effects to any channel, to the monitor or to the the main output. And if you already have your own external unit, you can easily just bypass the internal FX processor.

The Behringer XENYX 1202FX offers tons of value (and fun!) at an incredibly low price. Naturally, they had to make some cuts to keep the price this low. The unit only has external power via a “wall wart” adapter and there is no button to turn the power on or off (you just have to unplug it). Apart from those minor annoyances, you’re getting an incredible value here.

Pros

• 4 XENYX mic preamps: state-of-the-art units with 130 dB dynamic range and 10 Hz to 200 kHz bandwidth
• Neo-classic “British” 3-band EQ lend your music a warm, vintage character
• 24-bit multi-FX processor, though the 100 digital effects are far more than anyone needs
• Affordable price, especially considering the sound quality and many features

Cons

• EQs only present on the 4 mic channels
• No power button, so you have to unplug it to turn it off

Best Cheap Mic Preamp With Multiple Channels: Alto Professional ZMX862

The Alto Professional ZMX862 is a cheap peamp in price only. It is actually well-constructed and delivers a much better sound that you would expect for a preamp that costs less than $100. It is actually not just a mic preamp, but a mixer.

It comes in three different versions: a 5-channel one, a 6-channel one and an 8-channel one. The 5-channel version has one microphone preamplifier with 18V phantom power, the 6-channel version has 2 and the 8-channel version has 4. These are ultra-low noise preamps that work with both condenser mics and dynamic mics.

In addition to the gold-plated XLR inputs for microphones, you can plug in virtually anything else: keyboards, drum machines, MP3 or CD players, even audio from a DVD player. It has a 3-band EQon every channel and built in FX settings like room and space delays, small and large hall acoustics, plate and spring reverbs, flangers, chorus effects and much more.

Obviously, the Alto Professional ZMX862 won’t be able to compete with preamps in the under $500 and under $1000 categories and especially not with the Avalon, but as long as you don’t push it too hard, it will deliver. Considering the price, sound and build quality are great. Plus, it is a mixer, not just a microphone preamp, making it much more versatile than much of the competition.

Pros

• Full mixer, not just mic preamp
• Gold-plated XLR inputs and 18V phantom power for both condenser and dynamic microphones
• Built in sound FX let you get creative
• Budget price

Cons

• Can handle any basic task, but if you push it, sound quality deteriorates
• Headphone and main level are not independent, so if you have speakers connected to the main output, they will also be playing along with the headphones
• Components are not the highest quality, but given the price, that is to be expected​

The process to EQ vocals isn't hard when you look at the primary areas to change and proceed from there. Let start off with the basic vocal eq settings and the details behind them. Then, let's dig deeper.

Roll off below 100 Hz using a High Pass Filter. Anything below this isn't going to benefit the mix. We'll look at rolling off even higher.

To remove harshness from a vocal, apply a narrow bandwidth cut within the 1 KHz to 4KHz range. We'll look at how to find the right frequencies to cut.

Apply a gentle boost using a wide frequency band above 6 KHz.

Experiment with a narrow cut in the 1 KHz to 2 KHz range to smooth out the voice.

Apply some boost in a reasonably narrow band somewhere in the 200Hz to 600Hz range. Look for adding a little power behind the vocal.

This is all well and good, however, using vocal EQ isn’t as simple as A+B = C.

The Reasons to EQ Vocals

Vocal EQ work is performed to enhance the vocals so they sound best in our environment as well as within the band and within the song. And this is where most of your work is focused.

Let me put it this way...not every singer has a golden voice. Adding to that, you have to modify the vocal to fit with the song. For example, a lead singer must stand out from backing singers and the instruments. Backing singers must blend together.

Grab the 27-point vocal mixing checklist so you can create better sounding lead vocals today.

Drop the Very Low

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Each mixer channel has an HPF (high pass filter) button. By pressing this button (or engaging it on a digital console), we are dropping all audio frequencies below a certain level. As an example, a Yamaha mixer with a “/80” button is the HPF and it rolls off 80 Hz.

Freq’s this low are typically your low bass notes and kick drum. Also general stage noise rumble. If any low frequencies seep into the vocal microphone, they can muddy up the sound. So, it’s good to use a HPF on vocal channels.

If the HPF is controllable, roll off the lows starting at a higher point, such as 120 or 140 or 180...until you hear a negative impact on your vocal, then back it off.

Tenderize Harsh Vocals

This is where a lot depends on the type of mixer; analog or digital. For example, most analog mixers have a semi-parametric EQ. This means you EQ via knobs on each channel with control for gain (amplitude) and the center frequency, however, you can't control the width of the affected frequencies - the bandwidth. Thus, your EQ adjustments affect a wide range of frequencies at once - like moving a mountain peak back and forth - and moving a lot of the mountain with it.

Some EQ's allow the user to work on EQ like a surgeon, making frequency cuts/boost in very specific ranges.

Harsh vocals can be reduced by sweeping over the mid/ high-mid frequencies until you hear the harshest vocal sound. Then you cut (reduce) those frequencies via the EQ. This would be the case with a parametric EQ where you can control the center frequency, the gain/amplitude cut or boosted, and the bandwidth, sometimes known as the Q.

Look to sweep from 1 KHz up 4 KHz

Brighten the Vocals

Best Software Eq For Vocals Free

As for “brightness,” much of the high frequencies control how bright and airy a vocal can sound. For example, crank the high EQ all the way up during a practice on a vocal mic. It will be very airy and then you can reduce it to where it sounds good.

So much of what sounds good comes with having a good ear and knowing your music.

Smooth it Out

Best Software Eq For Vocals Gearslutz

Much of the natural freq’s of a voice are in the mid-range frequencies. By cutting or boosting in the mid-range, we can optimize the sound so it sounds best. We can also boost or cut to separate it out in the mix from other vocals and or instruments that might be vying for the same frequencies.

Check out the 1-2 KHz area. I've had to cut there and I've found boosting to me helpful. Try both and find out what works for you.

You also want to work that vocal into the music in a spot that fits. This means you might need to cut some frequencies from an instrument that seems to conflict with your vocal, such as acoustic guitar or piano.

Bring out the Bass - sort of

While the low end can muddy up the vocals, there are some valuable frequencies down there for use. Roll up a little boost in the 300-600 range and find a spot that adds to the vocal. You might find it doesn't add anything or it hurts it. That's possible. It all depends on the frequency characteristics of the singer's voice.

Other Vocal Mixing Tips

The best thing you can do is get a solo track of a vocal on CD (or do this during practice). Move the EQ dials, one at a time, to an extreme. Once you hear what is bad, it’s easier to then move the dial until you hear what sounds good. We just need to know the bad to help identify the good.

Additionally, if you have singers with slightly wavering voices or young singers – teenagers, you can add a little vocal reverb effect that will even out their vocal fluctuations. Reverb and effects weren't mentioned here as those only happen after doing all your EQ work.

Know The Microphone

I play golf and I used to smash the ball as hard as possible with whatever club I used. Because of this, my accuracy left a lot to be desired. One day, a pro told me to use the next club up and swing easy. As he put it, “let the angle of the club do the work.” My accuracy increased and my score dropped – a double win!

I’ve adapted this idea into microphone selection. I pick the microphone that does some of the work I need. For example, I pick a vocal microphone with a natural EQ bump or cut that is what that singer needs.

EQ Warning

Maybe it’s something deep within our minds that says “if there is a problem with the sound then we need to boost the good frequencies to makeup for it.”

However, with EQ and even cross-channel balancing, this isn't always the case. Cutting frequencies is often the cure.

For example, if two instruments share common frequencies and you want one instrument to stand out, don’t boost the frequency for that instrument. Cut that small frequency band in the other. Also, lowering other channel volumes can bring the boost that you need. Louder isn’t always better.

One last VERY HELPFUL TIP! Clean up a male vocal by cutting 3-6 dB in the 250 to 350 Hz range. Look around for the sweet spot. This is where a lot of muddiness in a vocal can be found.

'Vocal EQ is where the science of audio manipulation is surpassed by the art of audio manipulation.'

The tips mentioned might get you exactly what you want to hear when you EQ vocals. But more than likely, they will only point you in the right direction that will eventually lead you to the sound you want.

Listen to several genres of music and you can hear the different types of vocal EQ for that style of music. That's how you start going from the science of EQ work to the art. You might think that a singer’s vocal EQ is perfect but they think it needs more breathiness or more brightness or more bass. It’s quite subjective, sorry to say. But in the end, the creativity is in your hands.

Are you ready to learn all the nitty-gritty details about mixing vocals? What if I said it's not as hard as you think?

Start with foundational EQ work. Cut before boosting. Roll off excess low end. Keep the mindset of cleaning up the vocal first.

EQ in a way that matches the style of music you are mixing. Listen to the same song from a professional recording to hear it.

Do you want to learn even more about mixing vocals? If you do, check out my massive article on mixing vocals!

Create great vocal mixes that stand out in the mix, fit within the music mix, and give the singers exactly what they need in their monitors.