Post Malone's vocal sound combines his natural talent and clever production techniques. He has established his signature vocal style as a highly sought-after sound in modern music. Here are the steps to mix your vocals, like Post Malone.
Get Your Sound Right
Post Malone has a wide vibrato that's noticeable even in acoustic performances. This natural quality gives his vocal a unique characteristic. It helps his recorded sound stand out. He also uses auto-tune to get that distinct sound. Begin by matching the key and scale to your song. For example, set Auto-Tune to E major if your track is in E major. Set the return speed and humanize the effect until it sounds right. These settings create a balance so that your natural sound matches the affected sound.
Use automation to increase the vibrato effect on held notes. This technique adds extra movement to sustained vocals. It can help if your sound is flat in the recording. Experiment with different Auto-Tune settings to find what works best for your music. Vocal processing often changes throughout a song. Verses might be drier, while choruses could have more effects. Plan your mix accordingly.
Apply EQ for Vocal Presence
Proper EQ helps your vocals cut through the mix like Post Malones. Use a high-pass filter to remove unnecessary low end. Boost slightly for presence and clarity. Cut any muddy frequencies that you can hear. Add a gentle high-shelf boost for an airy sound.
You can get a polished sound with the right EQ settings. Sometimes, less is more! Over-processing your mix can make it sound lifeless.
A good studio monitor or headset is your ally here. You can use visual aids like spectrum analyzers, but it is better to trust your ears first. Play around until the mix sounds right to your ears. Mix at a lower volume to check levels. Mixing too loud can lead to ear fatigue. Ear fatigue leads to poor mixing decisions.
Shape the Sound with Compression
You can play around with compression shapes to achieve the dynamics of Post Malone's vocals. Start with a standard compressor. Aim for a slight gain reduction with a suitable ratio. Use a fast attack with a medium release. Add a gentler second compressor for more detailed control. Consider using multiband compression to target specific frequency ranges. It helps balance the vocal tone without over-compressing.
Add Reverb and Delay
Reverb and delay add space to the sound. It helps you get the depth similar to Post Malone's vocals. You can use two reverbs in the same mix. Go for a short one for general ambiance and a longer one for specific effects. Set the short reverb to a room or small hall sound with a short decay time. The longer reverb can be a large hall or plate with a decay time of a few seconds. Use this sparingly for certain words or phrases, or you might overload the mix. Add a quarter-note delay for rhythmic interest. Pan the delays left and right for width. A low-pass filter on the delay is better to prevent it from cluttering the mix.
Saturate for Harmonic Richness
Saturation adds harmonic content to your sound. It helps vocals cut through dense mixes. Use a saturation plugin after your main compression. Start with a subtle setting and increase until you hear the added presence. Focus on adding harmonics in the mid and high frequencies. Be careful, as too much saturation can cause distortion.
Control Sibilance with De-essing
You can hear his crystal clear voice when you listen to any Post Malone track. You can achieve the same clarity by keeping the harsh "s" and "t" sounds in check. Insert a de-esser into the mix after your EQ and compression. Set the frequency range to target sibilant sounds. Adjust the threshold so it only activates on the harshest sounds. Try to find the right balance between sibilance control and maintaining clarity.
Double the Vocal and Stack It
Post Malone often uses vocal doubles and stacks to create a fuller sound. The best way to achieve this is by recording multiple takes of the same vocal line. You have to align the takes for tight timing. Pan the doubles slightly left and right. Use different EQ settings on each double to create width and depth. Consider using a pitch-shifting plugin to create artificial doubles if needed.
Get Creative with Vocal Effects
Post Malone's tracks often feature creative vocal effects. You can use a vocoder or talk box effect on background vocals. Experiment with pitch-shifting certain words or phrases. Try reversing short vocal segments for unique textures. A tremolo effect can create rhythmic pulsing on sustained notes. Just like with EQ, you should go easy on vocal effects. Add too much, and you end up making your mix sound unappealing.
Balance the Mix
Once you get your desired sound, you must get the vocals to sit in the mix. Volume automation keeps the vocals at a consistent level. Carve out space in other instruments to let the vocals shine. You would not want to drown the vocals you have worked so hard on. Use sidechain compression on competing elements to duck them when the vocals come in. Pan the backing vocals and effects to create space around the lead vocal.
Check it on different playback systems to see how it sounds. A great mix sounds superb on everything from cell phone speakers to sound systems. Hear the full mix to check whether the vocals complement the track or fight it.
Understanding Post Malone’s signature sound and applying these techniques can help you create vocal mixes that capture his vibe. But if you want a simpler way to achieve that coveted sound, check out our Post Malone Vocal Preset. It works out of the box with all your favorite DAWs. You don't need to play around with the settings; it's plug-and-play! Add the preset to your vocal to see it change on the fly!