A good vocal mix starts with a good recording, so record with closed-back headphones and healthy levels. Then work through these steps in order. Every DAW includes plugins that can do all of them.
Step 1: Edit and clean
Cut silence between phrases, remove clicks and loud breaths that distract, and add short fades at the start and end of each region. Comp the best takes into one track before you add any effects.
Step 2: Even out the level
Use clip gain or volume automation to bring quiet words up and loud ones down before compression. The compressor then has less work to do and sounds more natural.
Step 3: Subtractive EQ
- Add a high-pass filter to remove rumble below the voice, often somewhere around 80 to 120 Hz depending on the singer.
- Sweep for boxy or harsh areas and cut them gently rather than boosting everything else.
Step 4: Compression
Start with a moderate ratio such as 3:1 and aim for a few dB of gain reduction on the loudest parts. Some engineers use two compressors in series, each doing a little, instead of one working hard.
Step 5: De-ess
Bright "s" and "t" sounds jump out after compression and EQ. A de-esser turns down just those moments.
Step 6: Tone and presence
Now add gentle boosts for clarity or air if the vocal needs them. Light saturation can help a vocal cut through a busy mix.
Step 7: Space
Send the vocal to a reverb and a delay on separate effect tracks rather than inserting them directly. Filter the lows and some highs from those returns so the effects don't cloud the vocal.
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