Man it was crazy, when you took it on and off in the mix, to me I perceived it as more upper mid presence, must be the harmonics that carried upward. It seemed to add a nice clarity and perception to the vocal without it sounding harsh. I never in a million years would have thought of this trick, thanks for sharing.
That's a very interesting observation. It doesn't *really* do what an EQ does, so it tricks the brain a little into hearing something different than what we see on the display.
@@WeissAdvice Even at zero drive, unless you have it set to 0% wet, Saturn is also (subtly) saturating the band above the one you're demo'ing, right? I also felt like the vocal got brighter and a little more sibilant, not in a bad way, but very modern pop.
Man this is awesome! I've been trying to figure out how most of my reference tracks have a cleaner more present low mid and I'm pretty sure this is going to be the ticket for me. Thanks Matt!
@@WeissAdvice This is really, really good. I have a question... I'm wondering how to use Saturation and dynamics.. (soft clipping) on a vocal that was recorded on a transformerless mic with a transformerless preamp and try to get the subtleties right to make it sound like a more expensive mic and preamp...(maybe tube as well as transformer)... There's something that happens in the lows and in the low mids with saturation and clipping... That you can't really just slap on some transformer Saturation or pre-amp plugin to imitate.... But what you showed us today kind of reminds me of it. Do you have a recipe for doing that? Thanks! 😎
Brilliant video, really clearly explained and a great tip. Sitting here wondering if this is a technique specifically for more singing/tonal vocals as opposed to rap or spoken word or if it would apply generally...
I’m working on a true crime podcast and the vocal wasn’t sitting how I wanted. I purchased Saturn 2, threw it on the vocal, and boom! Same frequency you mentioned, 400-509 range. It added some sauce that I didn’t know was missing. This video confirmed everything I just did. Thanks bro
Wow, that's a brilliant technique. If I closed my eyes and tried to guess what you did, I never would have guessed the only processing was on the low mids. That's nuts.
Great video thank you! Question: Do you have Saturn on a send and blend it in, or directly on the track? I see the mix knob is all the way up so I assume a send.
No, you're not losing your mind. If you check the section where I push the band into break up you'll hear some tones comes alive north of 1k. Because it's saturation and not EQ we perceive it a little differently than what you may be used to.
I use a JZ V67. I recommend this mic very very highly. I put it on the brighter end of the "warm" mics family, and it's got a rounder sound than most condensers. Whenever I'm recording Akon I bring it with me - you can hear it for the chorus of "Te Quiero" (verses are a C800G), and the 2nd Verse of "Baileme Lento" (rest of the song is a Manley Ref C - the exact opposite sounding mic).
I have a question, and I think it's pretty much what Mr Productions, or should I call him EasyStreet ... was saying. I get that the saturation was targeted at the low mids ... is that the *input* to the saturation process ... meaning that the output will include harmonics for a good few octaves above that?
Good observation. YES - the output WILL generate harmonics ABOVE the crossover. You can hear it most clearly during the section where I push the signal into overdrive!
It's such a difference and a perfect last touch on lead vocals. By default Saturn 2 is also saturating the low band and upper band with the "Warm Tape" and 20% drive - do you just bypass those bands and only have the mids working?
You can probably get something similar with Izotope. One way to do it would be to create a parallel track, bandpass down to the frequency area you need to target, and then chain Exciter to the back end of that.
All of my former content has been removed. Mixing With Saturation will be available once WeissAdvice.net is up and running. Unfortunately, that won't be until late summer (2021).
Hey so I usually have a last minute EQ in the end of my chain to clean up stuff that’s been brought up from the other processing in the chain. Would I do this trick at the very very end after my final EQ?
@@WeissAdvice okay sorry one more question. I have a AKG P120($85 mic) are these settings still good for low end mics or what do you think is the best Saturn preset to use on low budget mics?? And can I still add another band to the high high end or is that overkill?
Exactly - very useful for band limited playback like laptop speakers, etc. Variations of this effect can work well on any source that needs midrange "body." Even mixbus if you're very careful.
@@WeissAdvice Okay sorry just have to ask so i don’t bother you later 😂 If i want to do this technique, can l Bus a Saturn and blend it? what should the drive be at if i bus it? & 2nd question, lf l choose not to bus it, should i have it on a mixbus and mix into it? or have it on my actual vocal chain ? l usually use MaagEQ for my air but i need something for my vocals to cut through on systems
what's the difference between clean tube and clean tape saturation. I know tape adds warmth by high frequency attenuation and tube adds warmth by low frequencies amplification. But what does the clean setting do on each side ????
Tape seems to break up a little earlier with compressed harmonics and a larger proportion of 3rd order harmonics, but otherwise sounds like the same algorithm as tube. The "clean" refers to the proportion of low partials to high partials, with clean being the default, and "warm" being a greater emphasis on lower partials. I know that was super jargony so if you need me to clear anything up just let me know.
@@WeissAdvice thanks man, i made a tutorial on my page on the Tupac vocal effect, hopefully you benefit from it, tupacs mixing engineer gave out the secrets on gearslutz, maybe you might find a place for it in one of these rappers with that old school style
I was teached to make 3-4khz in Lead Vocal most dense with saturation as this will make Vocal close to listener, 300-1000hz was said to move thing back in the speakers. In this case 300-1000hz don't move Vocal back. weird
Be really careful with prescriptive EQ'ing. Some voices love 3-4k, some voices hate it. 300-1k definitely doesn't "move things back". I think whoever is giving you advice maybe needs a bit more experience.
just take a class with this song my master, how to mix the drums, the voices and apply the effects, please, this is a rhythm that africa consumes a lot, specifically Angola..
Man it was crazy, when you took it on and off in the mix, to me I perceived it as more upper mid presence, must be the harmonics that carried upward. It seemed to add a nice clarity and perception to the vocal without it sounding harsh. I never in a million years would have thought of this trick, thanks for sharing.
That's a very interesting observation. It doesn't *really* do what an EQ does, so it tricks the brain a little into hearing something different than what we see on the display.
@@WeissAdvice Even at zero drive, unless you have it set to 0% wet, Saturn is also (subtly) saturating the band above the one you're demo'ing, right? I also felt like the vocal got brighter and a little more sibilant, not in a bad way, but very modern pop.
@@paranoidjones looking at the colours of the other bands they are at 0%
That’s the best tip I’ve heard in ages, thank you!
Man this is awesome! I've been trying to figure out how most of my reference tracks have a cleaner more present low mid and I'm pretty sure this is going to be the ticket for me. Thanks Matt!
Outstanding tutorial, thanks. I have Saturn 2, but this opens up a whole new perspective on how it might be used. Subscribed.
You are incredibly talented, your techniques are helping so many of us!
Thank you so much Prevayle!
i love this trick man really good work 😍
Amazing how it makes me hear more presence higher up, as other commenters have mentioned. Great technique.
This is what I've been looking for! I would never have thought of saturating the low mids. Thanks a lot!
Thanks Reza!
Amazing plugin. Also very useful to shape transients on percussive elements and control crest factor.
Great video!
There's a LOT of ways to use this plugin! Super useful on percussion.
Awesome review and tutorial. Magic is definitely in the midrange! Thanks Matt
Thanks CHS!
Crazy ! I can hear it through my phone , makes it cut better and more pleasant, Legend !
gorgeous work
Saturation does magic to so many things! Thanks for this tip!
An unsaturated photo always looks dry/bland. Unsaturated sound tends to be the same.
This was amazing! I use Saturn on almost all of my mixes but never in this way and I love this technique! Weiss the damn GOAT
Thanks Darren!
@@WeissAdvice This is really, really good. I have a question... I'm wondering how to use Saturation and dynamics.. (soft clipping) on a vocal that was recorded on a transformerless mic with a transformerless preamp and try to get the subtleties right to make it sound like a more expensive mic and preamp...(maybe tube as well as transformer)...
There's something that happens in the lows and in the low mids with saturation and clipping... That you can't really just slap on some transformer Saturation or pre-amp plugin to imitate.... But what you showed us today kind of reminds me of it.
Do you have a recipe for doing that? Thanks! 😎
Brilliant video, really clearly explained and a great tip. Sitting here wondering if this is a technique specifically for more singing/tonal vocals as opposed to rap or spoken word or if it would apply generally...
I’m working on a true crime podcast and the vocal wasn’t sitting how I wanted. I purchased Saturn 2, threw it on the vocal, and boom! Same frequency you mentioned, 400-509 range. It added some sauce that I didn’t know was missing. This video confirmed everything I just did. Thanks bro
Right on!
Man, your info is bananas.. Thank you so much bro.. Wow..
Thanks JT!
your the best man was jus dealing with this problem last week
Glad to help! thanks John!
Thanks a lot for the detailed walkthrough!
Absolutely, thanks for tuning in!
great vid and explanation on why you're choosing to do things.
Thanks Overdrive!
really crazy mx for sure like the way that Fabfilter Saturn gave the color to the chorus , thanks for breaking this up
Hey, thanks for tuning in to the channel!
@@WeissAdvice do you take student for mixing lesson
Great tutorial, really like your vibe!
Thanks Rojo!
Wow, that's a brilliant technique. If I closed my eyes and tried to guess what you did, I never would have guessed the only processing was on the low mids. That's nuts.
Yea, it feels like presence. But in the body range.
Super helpfull! Thank you! A video about saturation on the master track would be also great!
I think I've done one on this channel. But it's very specific to heavy saturation as opposed to more "utilitarian" saturation, so to speak.
Great video thank you! Question: Do you have Saturn on a send and blend it in, or directly on the track? I see the mix knob is all the way up so I assume a send.
🔥🔥🔥🔥Do you typically add this as a last insert in the vocal chain or just after Subtractive EQ and before Compression?
Sounds like what I like to do with the tube screamer pedal. But I kinda like this workflow. Thanks!
Great video man!
Thanks Cheese!
This is gold.
Works on a lot of sources besides vocal too.
@@WeissAdvice yeah, i bet. when the concept is great and is being applied with a valuable plugin, the sky is the limit.
Good video, thanks!
tried this out today this is one of my favourite tips ive found in a while now the low mids is so annoying for me
Glad you dig it!
Nelson Freitas track..he is a very famous Singer on my country, Portugal.
He's got an incredible voice
Am I loosing my mind or does it sound like the upper mid came up? Great video as always Matt. Will be trying this for sure.
No, you're not losing your mind. If you check the section where I push the band into break up you'll hear some tones comes alive north of 1k. Because it's saturation and not EQ we perceive it a little differently than what you may be used to.
What microphone are you using for your tutorials? Also, do you recc it for studio recordings?
I use a JZ V67. I recommend this mic very very highly. I put it on the brighter end of the "warm" mics family, and it's got a rounder sound than most condensers. Whenever I'm recording Akon I bring it with me - you can hear it for the chorus of "Te Quiero" (verses are a C800G), and the 2nd Verse of "Baileme Lento" (rest of the song is a Manley Ref C - the exact opposite sounding mic).
@@WeissAdvice Thanks! I have the Ref C in the studio and c414 but I really like how this sounds in your videos and highly considering it!
[Puts on best Borat voice] Very niiiiceee.
[Puts on Matt Weiss voice] Thanks Steve!
I have a question, and I think it's pretty much what Mr Productions, or should I call him EasyStreet ... was saying. I get that the saturation was targeted at the low mids ... is that the *input* to the saturation process ... meaning that the output will include harmonics for a good few octaves above that?
Good observation. YES - the output WILL generate harmonics ABOVE the crossover. You can hear it most clearly during the section where I push the signal into overdrive!
GRAT TIPS!
Thank you!
It's such a difference and a perfect last touch on lead vocals. By default Saturn 2 is also saturating the low band and upper band with the "Warm Tape" and 20% drive - do you just bypass those bands and only have the mids working?
A lot of the times I don't bypass it because it's either (a) too subtle to notice, or (b) sounds good that way.
@@WeissAdvice yeah true. Thanks buddy looking forward seeing more videos from you. It’s amazing input!
Don't have Saturn, but I'll try this with Izotope Exciter because it sounded awesome. 😁👍🏾
You can probably get something similar with Izotope. One way to do it would be to create a parallel track, bandpass down to the frequency area you need to target, and then chain Exciter to the back end of that.
@@WeissAdvice Exciter is actually a mulitband saturator just like Saturn. So hopefully I can just follow your tutorial.
Hi Matt, just wondering what happened to your 'Mixing With Saturation' course as I can't find it online.
All of my former content has been removed. Mixing With Saturation will be available once WeissAdvice.net is up and running. Unfortunately, that won't be until late summer (2021).
@@WeissAdvice thanks for getting back to me. Looking forward to the new site!
Mr Michael big up your self coming from jamaica
Appreciate you Mr Michael!
a year ago i would of said, i dont hear a difference, but i definitely hear it now
Thanks Lewis! Some of this stuff is subtle. Glad that ear is getting keener!
Hey so I usually have a last minute EQ in the end of my chain to clean up stuff that’s been brought up from the other processing in the chain. Would I do this trick at the very very end after my final EQ?
I think it can work either way. Just kinda depends on what you're hearing as you hear it.
@@WeissAdvice okay sorry one more question. I have a AKG P120($85 mic) are these settings still good for low end mics or what do you think is the best Saturn preset to use on low budget mics?? And can I still add another band to the high high end or is that overkill?
Nice
Thanks Gary!
Good 😁
Thanks JS!
light the g!
So this will work so the mid range will cut through? it will cut through on other systems as well for playback?
Exactly - very useful for band limited playback like laptop speakers, etc. Variations of this effect can work well on any source that needs midrange "body." Even mixbus if you're very careful.
@@WeissAdvice Okay sorry just have to ask so i don’t bother you later 😂 If i want to do this technique, can l Bus a Saturn and blend it? what should the drive be at if i bus it?
& 2nd question, lf l choose not to bus it, should i have it on a mixbus and mix into it? or have it on my actual vocal chain ?
l usually use MaagEQ for my air but i need something for my vocals to cut through on systems
Do you put this at the end of the mix chain ?
Not necessarily the very end, but usually shows up after the "clean up" phase.
Do you think you could do a mix with just fabfilter plug ins 2 track mix? Thanks
Without a doubt.
@@WeissAdvice Thanks Weiss!
This técnic bring more definition into the vocal and more harmonic to the med hi freq
Exactly!
Job Weldon 🏆
what's the difference between clean tube and clean tape saturation. I know tape adds warmth by high frequency attenuation and tube adds warmth by low frequencies amplification. But what does the clean setting do on each side ????
Tape seems to break up a little earlier with compressed harmonics and a larger proportion of 3rd order harmonics, but otherwise sounds like the same algorithm as tube. The "clean" refers to the proportion of low partials to high partials, with clean being the default, and "warm" being a greater emphasis on lower partials.
I know that was super jargony so if you need me to clear anything up just let me know.
@@WeissAdvice Thank you for taking the time to explain that. So "clean" adds both high and low emphasis rather than just one ??
it cuts through the mix way better, dayummm
Thanks Lewis!
@@WeissAdvice thanks man, i made a tutorial on my page on the Tupac vocal effect, hopefully you benefit from it, tupacs mixing engineer gave out the secrets on gearslutz, maybe you might find a place for it in one of these rappers with that old school style
I was teached to make 3-4khz in Lead Vocal most dense with saturation as this will make Vocal close to listener, 300-1000hz was said to move thing back in the speakers. In this case 300-1000hz don't move Vocal back. weird
Be really careful with prescriptive EQ'ing. Some voices love 3-4k, some voices hate it. 300-1k definitely doesn't "move things back". I think whoever is giving you advice maybe needs a bit more experience.
crank
Damn this record is Mean
Thanks Ryan!
@@WeissAdvice Your welcome
Is this on a bus track
Or on the main vocal
This is on Nelson's main vocal track. Works on a bus just fine too.
Killer.....
Thanks Jeff!
just take a class with this song my master, how to mix the drums, the voices and apply the effects, please, this is a rhythm that africa consumes a lot, specifically Angola..