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."
"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."
"The Waves Renaissance DeEsser is my go-to tool for managing sibilance in vocal recordings."
"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."
"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."
"I often start with the Waves CLA-2A as my initial compressor, aiming for subtle compression to avoid any noticeable pumping artifacts."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
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:
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