ABSTRACT
The vocal is the ultimate instrument for driving the song home to the listener. The vocal must be part of a picture that the listener can believe in. The low frequencies of a vocal can be important for warmth and size, for instance, in the verse. But in the chorus, space is needed for drums, guitars and other instruments. Hi-passing the vocal allows for that space. Depending on vocalist and register, 100 to 400 Hz as a cutoff frequency could work. When in doubt, always choose for a less radical setting, as a slightly boomy vocal will be less harmful than an artificial sounding vocal. The best equalizing (EQ) curve is, of course, dependent on the vocalist, the way the vocal was recorded and the sound needed in the mix. The “telephone effect” is an often used effect for vocals. It adds instant vibe and identity and can be easily constructed with EQ.
