Back in “the day” when creating an album in the studio was more about the production than the live performance, and technology in the studio was moving faster than technology on stage, there came a term known as “autotune.” What that meant was producers could take a track a vocalist sang and tune it to be “perfect.” So, even if that particular singer wasn’t singing the correct pitches, it could be corrected later.
Well, like most short cuts, it got vocalists nowhere fast, because after the album is made, the tour has to happen, and if the sound on stage doesn’t match the sound on the album, fans stop being fans. So, the tech heads of the music industry known as audio engineers and producers created what are known as “vocal processors.” While autotune is at its core is a vocal processor, it has evolved immensely. So what is a vocal processor and how do you use it to your advantage? There are several ways.
First off, let me put you at ease and say very rarely does a vocalist sing perfectly all the time. Everyone needs a little help now and then. On the other hand, vocal effects processors aren’t just for correcting pitch, they’re also for creating layers to your sound. Layers such as reverb, EQ, funky tone qualities, and in the case of Ed Sheeran, entire bands using just your voice.
EQ is the levels of frequency response of an audio signal, or controls which allow their adjustment (according to Oxford Languages Dictionary). In layman’s terms, it balances the treble and bass frequencies your voice is giving off so the microphone can produce your sound in the best way possible.
Do You Need a Vocal Effects Processor?
Now you’re probably wondering if you actually need a vocal effects processor. If you have a home studio then, the answer is probably yes. Luckily, most home studio software has them built in or available to download. Or, if you’re playing regular gigs in which you need to bring your own equipment, most amps that have microphone inputs have vocal effects processors built in as well.
For example, I have a simple 4-input amp with built-in vocal effects I can change with the turn of a dial. You don’t have to learn an entirely new skill to figure out what works best for your voice. If you are going into the studio to record something, your producer will most likely handle effects. However, a great producer will ask for your opinion on what they’re doing. It is your voice, after all. Some level of reverb is usually a must so the recording doesn’t sound flat. If you don’t know what reverb sounds like, turn on any Celine Dion studio recording. She’s the QUEEN of it. (In my humble opinion.)
Vocal Effects Processors Are There to Enhance Your Voice
Vocal effects processors are there to enhance your voice, not change it. I wouldn’t be any sort of voice coach if I didn’t play devil’s advocate and vouch for live sound. Effects can and have been overdone. What really sells a song is the performance of it. The emotion behind it. If someone turns on a song that sounds perfect, the listener themselves won’t feel anything and therefore they’ll forget your song or flat out dislike it.
The emotion and the performance are two things that cannot be manufactured, they have to be genuine. Imagine if Phillipa Soo sang Burn from Hamilton as though she were walking down the street. Or, if John Legend sang All of Me as though it wasn’t for his wife. It would fall flat, it wouldn’t be right. Performance and emotion connect you to your listener and that is how you get them wanting more.
Vocal effects processors are a fun toy we as vocalists can play around with. We can figure out what settings make our voice sound the absolute best, and what settings make us sound like T-Pain. There’s actually an app for that last one. Depending on the style of music you want to pursue, you’ll run into thousands of different effects and it’s up to you and (if you have one) your producer to choose whichever one fits the song.
Ultimately, vocal effects processors have evolved to be a shortcut to a tool we as vocalists can use to level up both our studio and live shows! Have fun, and use them wisely.
Erin Phillips