Mac Miller’s music has an artistic style that expands to jazz, funk, R&B, etc. He has a distinct vocal sound that he delivers with grit. His early work had hints of a raw, lo-fi sound. The later albums he produced were cleaner but still retained character. This guide helps you add tricks to your mixing repertoire to mix your vocals like Mac Miller.
Fix the Basic Mix
Mac’s vocal chain started with fixing any issues with the voice to make it clean. He then added some character to the vocals. It created a solid foundation where he could later add some creative twists. Work on the take until you have a clean record. It can serve as a blank canvas where you can show your mixing chops.
Adjust the EQ
Start with a high-pass filter to remove unwanted low frequencies. It helps the vocal sit better in the mix. Cut unwanted rumble without thinning out the vocal too much. Make small cuts in the low-mids to reduce muddiness. You need to be extra cautious here if you are adding multiple layers. Boost the high-mids for clarity. Work on the high end to add some air. These boosts help the vocal cut through the mix without sounding harsh. Use a wide Q for more natural-sounding boosts.
Even Out the Vocals with Compression
Use a clean compressor to even out the vocal performance. Set a medium attack and release. Aim for a gentle gain reduction. It smooths out volume inconsistencies without squashing the life out of the performance.
Try using two compressors in a series instead of one for heavy lifting. The first can catch peaks with a higher threshold and lower ratio. The second compressor provides more consistent compression.
A multi-band compressor gives you more control over specific frequency ranges. Focus on taming harsh high-mids while controlling the low-end. It can help manage problematic frequencies without affecting the entire signal.
Add Some Saturation and Distortion
Use a tape emulation plugin or analog-style saturator. Start at the low end. Increase it gently until you hear a pleasant grittiness. It will give your voice some heft.
Different saturation types give you varied results. Tube saturation adds warmth to the mix. You can get a slight roll-off in high frequencies with tape saturation. Try different settings to find what works best for your track.
Expand the Sound
Add a quarter-note delay to give the vocal space. Roll off the high-end of the delay to push it back in the mix. It creates depth without cluttering the main vocal.
Try using different delay times for verses and choruses. A shorter delay, like a slap-back, can work well for verses. Use a longer quarter or eighth-note delay to open up the choruses.
A short room reverb can bring depth to the mix. The goal is to create a sense of space without washing out the vocal. A short decay time often works well. Go for two reverbs in the mix: a short one for the body and a longer one for the tail. It gives you finer control over the vocals in the mix.
Layer the Vocals
Mac often used multiple vocal layers to create a full sound. You can hear this effect in his hits like “Hand Me Down” or “Good News”. Try the techniques given below to add depth to the vocal performance.
- Double the main vocal in the track. Pan the copies left-right. It creates width to the sound for a fuller vocal in the mix.
- Record harmonies and blend them with the main vocal. Use harmonies to add richness without drawing attention away from the lead.
- Add an octave-down layer for depth. It works especially well in choruses or when emphasizing certain phrases.
- Use falsetto parts for high-end sparkle. You can blend it to add excitement to the vocal.
Try different blending techniques according to the music you are mixing. Take the vibe of the track into consideration when working.
Parallel Processing
Send a copy of the vocal to a separate channel. Apply heavy compression and distortion. Blend this back in with the main vocal for extra grit.
It helps maintain the clarity of the original vocal while adding character. Try different processing chains on your parallel channel. Try heavy compression or distortion. You can even try pitch-shifting for more interesting results.
Add Lo-Fi Effects
Mac Miller used a lo-fi sound in his mix for some interesting variation. Use a bit crusher to reduce the bit depth and sample rate. It is better to start with gentle hands. Even a small reduction can add noticeable texture. Apply a vinyl noise plugin for analog warmth. It adds a layer of authenticity to the lo-fi sound. Try different tape emulations for effects.
Balance the Clean and Dirty Elements
Mac's vocal sound is balanced. It is a mixture of clean elements spun in with dirty elements. Start with a clean vocal. Gradually work with the sound to add character. You can automate the blend of clean and dirty vocals throughout the song. Use a cleaner sound for verses and a grittier tone for choruses.
Create Contrast
The mix's contrast can help you bring the vocal to the front. Keep the instruments lo-fi. Make the vocals clean. It helps the vocal stand out against a more textured backdrop. Use automation to bring out certain words or phrases. It shines a spotlight on the main part of the lyrics to create interest. Give space in the mix for the vocal to shine through. A clean lead vocal with grittier doubles can create an interesting texture.
Listen to Mac's music to see how the vocals sit in the mix. Try to identify the techniques being used. You can use this as the base to recreate his sound. If you want to achieve his sound in a few clicks, you can go for the Mac Miller Vocal Preset. It is made using stock plugins, so you can spend more time recording and less time getting the preset to work. Add it to your vocal chain and hear the improvement in real time.