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Tips & Tricks Interview

Platinum Producer Kalli reveals his vocal mixing secrets (Part 1)

Platinum Producer Kalli reveals his vocal mixing secrets (Part 1)

Pascal "Kalli" Reinhardt is a platinum-certified producer who has successfully brought his distinctive sound to Germany as well as the US and UK. Working from his studio in Berlin, he collaborates with a wide array of national and international artists on diverse and exciting projects.

Recently, Pascal has had the pleasure of producing and writing with renowned artists such as Felix Jaehn, Alvaro Soler, GREY, LÉON, Allie X, Kontra K, Glasperlenspiel, Paddy Kelly, and Wincent Weiss. His work continues to bridge musical worlds, creating captivating tracks that resonate across different cultures and genres.

In this two-part interview, Pascal "Kalli" Reinhardt breaks down his vocal chain, starting with the inserts, for the song "Where you are " by Nico Santos feat. FAST BOY.

"My vocal chains always vary depending on the genre. But for Pop/Dance/Rap vocals it needs to be treated a lot most times, especially dance, as it was with Where You Are.
Before plugins, I reduce all breaths by hand, or move them to a different track to treat separately or decrease in volume.
And all plugin parameters are completely related to the volume of the actual events and gain staging, so will be different on each track/singer/project."

 

1. Cubase Pitch Correct

"Cubase offers its own version of Autotune, which stands out for its reliability and smooth performance. Compared to Antares Autotune, Cubase's pitch correction tool is notably less buggy, providing a more seamless and enjoyable experience for musicians and producers."

Vocal Chain 01

 

2. Renaissance DeEsser

"The Waves Renaissance DeEsser is my go-to tool for managing sibilance in vocal recordings."

Vocal Chain 02
 
 
Renaissance DeEsser product image
-70%
29.99 $
   99.00 $
Renaissance DeEsser
5 stores

3. Pro-DS

"The FabFilter Pro-DS is my second de-esser of choice, perfect for capturing and managing different sibilances that might slip through the first pass."

Vocal Chain 03

 

158.00 $
   169.00 $
Pro-DS
12 stores

4. Pro-Q

"The FabFilter Pro-Q 3 is my go-to for cutting lows, reducing muddiness, and addressing vocal harshness around 3kHz. Sometimes, I follow it up with Soothe for extra polish."

Vocal Chain 04

 

138.00 $
   169.00 $
Pro-Q
12 stores

5. CLA-2A Compressor Limiter

"I often start with the Waves CLA-2A as my initial compressor, aiming for subtle compression to avoid any noticeable pumping artifacts."

Vocal Chain 05

 

CLA-2A Compressor Limiter product image
-76%
35.99 $
   149.00 $
CLA-2A Compressor Limiter
6 stores

6. Renaissance DeEsser

"I utilize the Waves RDeesser again as another layer of de-essing in my processing chain, placed after compression to capture any remaining sibilance and ensure a smooth, polished vocal sound."

Vocal Chain 06

 

Renaissance DeEsser product image
-70%
29.99 $
   99.00 $
Renaissance DeEsser
5 stores

7. CLA-3A Compressor Limiter

"For additional compression in my chain, I turn to the Waves CLA-3A. By introducing a different compressor, I avoid overemphasizing certain frequencies that might result from using the same compressor multiple times. This approach ensures a balanced and controlled sound without inadvertently accentuating any particular tonal qualities."

Vocal Chain 07

 

CLA-3A Compressor Limiter product image
-73%
39.99 $
   149.00 $
CLA-3A Compressor Limiter
5 stores

8. Renaissance Vox

"In my chorus vocal chains, I often rely on the Waves RVox compressor to add additional compression tailored for the heightened energy of the chorus or hook sections. Its characteristic boost in high-mid frequencies can enhance certain vocal performances, although I remain mindful that it may introduce harshness on others. This selective application ensures that the vocals remain impactful and well-balanced within the mix."

Standard 16 9 (4)

 

Renaissance Vox product image
-72%
35.99 $
   129.00 $
Renaissance Vox
6 stores

9. OTT

"I incorporate a subtle touch of OTT multiband compression, typically around 10%, to apply gentle upward compression and subtly push the vocals forward in the mix."

Standard 16 9 (5)

 

10. Pro-Q

"To mitigate any harshness or sibilance introduced by extensive compression, I employ another instance of Pro-Q 3. This allows for precise reduction of problematic frequencies while maintaining the integrity of the vocal performance."

Vocal Chain 10

 
138.00 $
   169.00 $
Pro-Q
12 stores

11. Fresh Air

"I utilize Slate Fresh Air to give vocals a distinct "in-your-face" presence and bring them to the forefront of the mix through light saturation without necessarily increasing their volume excessively."

Vocal Chain 11

 

12. Cubase Channel Strip EQ

"Last but not least, I use Cubase's Channel Strip EQ, positioned after all insert plugins, to fine-tune the low frequencies and ensure a clean and balanced vocal sound."

Vocal Chain

 

We recreated the whole vocal chain for you with the exact same settings as shown above a starting point for your own vocal production. For Cubase users we included the FX chain preset and for all others you can use the free Waves Studiorack plugin host. The download is free but you can support us with a few dollars if you like! 

Thank you Kalli for the interview! Stay tuned for Part 2 and check out Kalli on Instagram:


June 01, 2024
#KALLI #NICOSANTOS #VOCALCHAIN #SECRET

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