How to Make One Vocal Sound Like a Choir
In this tutorial we are going to explore how we can make a simple four-part vocal harmony sound like a full choir. We’re going to do so by using a freeware VST plug-in called “Clone Ensemble” and a few simple recording techniques. This effect is useful for creating an ethereal sounding backing vocal, and it’s also a lot of fun! I’m using Cubase 4, but the techniques would be the same in any audio sequencer.
Note: this tutorial contains embedded audio that will not display in a feed reader. Click back to the site to read the tutorial with audio or download the Play Pack at the end of the tut.
Step 1
First, go grab yourself a copy of Clone Ensemble and drop the .dll in your plug-ins folder. The unregistered shareware version is unexpiring but feature limited, meaning you are restricted to one preset with no control over the settings. However, this preset is still very impressive. I’m using the registered version, so I will be able to add things like bass, alto and unison voices. If you like the effect I’d recommend that you purchase it, as the price is very reasonable. You could also use Antares Avox.
Step 2
Right click in the track column (in Cubase 4) and add four mono audio tracks. In the example below I have double-clicked the text box for each track and named them.
Step 3
Record your first vocal line.
Step 4
Record your three other harmonies in the remaining tracks. Now we have a four part harmony.
Step 5
Add Clone Ensemble as an insert effect on Track 1. There are plenty of settings that can be tweaked, but for now I’m just going to reduce the number of clones (centre-left button) to 8. I find this amount of clones is about right and still sounds fairly natural. Add Clone Ensemble in the same way, and with the same settings, on each track.
Step 6
If we look at the “Sex Machine ” button on the left, the default setting is “Unison”, but on my audio Track 1 I want to enhance some of the bass. To achieve this, I’ve selected B:U (Bass and Unison) and experimented with the formant buttons and the wet/dry mix until I’m happy with the sound.
I’ve also selected U:A (Unison and Alto) and adjusted some settings on track three to enhance the higher harmony.
Step 7
It’s all sounding pretty good now, but I want to apply a long reverb over all four parts. To do this, I’ve added a group track. You can do this by right-clicking in the channel column and selecting “add group track”.
In the tab that says “Stereo out” on each audio track, select “group 1″. This routes the audio output of each audio track to the input of the group track, and any effects or EQ applied to the group track will effect all the audio tracks routed to it. The volume of all four tracks can then also be controlled by the group track.
Step 8
Now I’ve added Steinberg’s Roomworks reverb as an insert effect to the group track. I’ve selected the “Hall Saint Pauls” patch for a nice long Cathedral sound and I’ve adjusted the wet/dry mix to 60%.
Step 9
As a final touch, I’ve adjusted the EQ on the group track to cut out some of the bass.
The finished product is a very nice backing choir sound that would be great underneath a powerful lead vocal… although with someone who is a better vocalist than me!
Listen to the finished product:
To experiment further with this sound you could try using a different vocalist for each harmony, and record 4 tracks of each harmony with Clone Ensemble applied to each track. To do this I would record each harmony x 4, with Clone Ensemble applied, bounce this to one stereo track, and repeat with each harmony to save on CPU load.
For some further examples of this effect used really well you should check out the ‘Music’ section of the Clone Ensemble website.
Happy cloning!
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By Andy Slatter
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sounds great! thank you.
first!!1!!!…dude, andy this is sick yo!! audiotuts rules all
Excellent tutorial Andy!
Very straightforward instructions for a very effective, er… effect. I usually try to obtain this effect myself, though not with vocals admittedly, the long way round i.e. applying very mild chorus and eq multiple copies of each part.
I will definitely give those plugins a spin.
Thanks,
J
It would have been a nice tutorial if the plugins where used more subtle. The fake viberato and over the top reverb make this choir sound very artificial. It is a beginners mistake to use plugins to the point that they become noticeble.
Thanks for the feedback guys.And yes,feel free to adjust the settings in Clone Ensemble to achieve a more subtle effect if that is what you require……….or better still,hire a choir!
The thing is Misja, it’s a tutorial on how to create an effect aimed at someone who doesn’t know where to begin. In the sense of it being a tutorial, it’s served it’s purpose. It’s up to the user to take what they’ve learned and tweak it until they’re happy.
I can’t wait to dig in and make all kinds of beginners mistakes! Thanks Andy!
that was sick dammmmmmmmmmmmmmn i will of to use that in one off ma song next time 4real.
Thanks alot
interesting stuff, I personally tried that with the demo program, sounded quite ok in the mix (somehow, voices alone sound “chemical”)
It all comes down to what youre using it for and whether or not it serves your purpose,that said…. it’ll serve my purpose very well
whats a harmony please?
don’t use it on vocals , use it on something else like a lead .. will be better imo .
Thank u very much
The harmonies sound just like Ellliott Smith!!. I love the lyrics, too…
Thanks
Wow and wow and more wows. That was hot as hell and I wish I could do that instead of recording about 20 different backs that take forever getting them aligned with another, but I don’t have Steinberg. Darn!
Clone Ensemble is a not particularly convincing plug-in, it sounds pretty fake. I tried it and scrapped the idea, although it can be used carefully in the background to embellish the overall sound. Using the Melodyne autotune program and building it up manually on multi-track and slightly detuning some tracks makes a far more natural and convincing sound, and it can all be done from one original vocal track, thereby making it much tighter.
The secret is what you do with the tracks that you build up. It shouldn’t be difficult for intelligent people to figure out with a little bit of experimentation. That’s what I did and it makes people’s eyes boggle when they hear it.
Incidentally, people don’t need the expensive Steinberg. I use Acoustica Mixcraft, which is a lot cheaper and easier to use, has unlimited track capability (only limited by your computer) and they have a very active forum for obtaining advice as well as many tutorials on Youtube. Google the name and you can download it and trial it for free.