Achieving the perfect vocal level in a mix can be one of the most challenging aspects of music production. The goal is to ensure that the vocal sits comfortably in the mix, neither overpowering the instrumental backing nor getting lost within it. Traditionally, engineers have done this by making careful fader moves throughout the song, balancing the vocal level against the rest of the instruments. While this approach can yield great results, it can be time-consuming, and relying too heavily on compression often leads to unnatural-sounding vocals. Fortunately, Waves has developed a plugin that simplifies this process—Vocal Rider.
Vocal Rider is a cross-platform plugin available in various formats, including TDM, VST, AU, and RTAS, designed to automate the process of leveling vocals in a mix. Rather than manually adjusting faders throughout a track, Vocal Rider writes automation data for its own level fader directly into your DAW. This makes it an efficient and elegant solution for getting vocals to sit perfectly in any mix. As with other Waves plugins, Vocal Rider features the standard Waves window bar, allowing you to save and load presets easily, as well as compare between ‘A’ and ‘B’ settings. It is available in both mono and stereo versions and is protected by iLok. For those interested in trying before buying, a demo version of the plugin is also available for download.
One of the key advantages of Vocal Rider is its real-time operation, which means you don’t need to “learn” the track before the plugin can start working. It supports up to 24-bit, 96kHz operation, ensuring that it can handle high-quality audio without issue. Vocal Rider also includes a side-chain input, making it easy to follow the mix level. The recommended approach is to route all the instrumental sources to a bus and then select that as the side-chain source. This allows Vocal Rider to respond dynamically to the rest of the mix, adjusting the vocal level as needed. Once the vocal is leveled with Vocal Rider, you can apply more subtle and musical compression using your preferred plugin, without having to deal with large level variations that can cause the vocal to sound over-compressed.
A crucial aspect of Vocal Rider’s functionality is its ability to distinguish between vocals and background noise, which is where the Vocal Sensitivity knob comes into play. This knob essentially acts as a threshold, telling the plugin to ignore sounds below a certain level. When a vocal above the threshold is detected, the Ride/Idle activity LED lights up, indicating that Vocal Rider is active and making adjustments. The Target control sets the reference level for your vocal, using a transparent fader cap that moves over a horizontal bar meter displaying the vocal level in real-time. This visual feedback makes it easy to monitor how the plugin is adjusting the vocal in relation to the rest of the mix.
The time constants that govern the speed of the fader’s movements are preset, ensuring that the plugin responds smoothly and naturally. However, there is a Fast Attack setting available for users who prefer a quicker response. This setting affects both the side-chain and fader response rates, making it a versatile option depending on the nature of the vocal and the mix. Whether you need a more immediate response or a slower, smoother adjustment, Vocal Rider gives you the flexibility to fine-tune the plugin‘s behavior.
In addition to its primary functions, Vocal Rider includes a breath-detection algorithm developed by Waves. This feature ensures that the plugin doesn’t mistakenly boost breath sounds in the vocal performance. By automatically recognizing and ignoring breaths, the plugin maintains the natural dynamics of the vocal without adding unnecessary volume to quieter, less essential sounds.
Ultimately, Vocal Rider is a game-changer for vocal mixing. By automating the leveling process, it saves time and ensures that the vocal sits perfectly in the mix without the need for excessive compression. This plugin is particularly valuable for producers and engineers who want to maintain the natural dynamics of a vocal performance while still achieving a professional, balanced mix. Whether you’re working on a high-energy pop track or a delicate ballad, Vocal Rider provides an intuitive and efficient way to manage vocal levels.
In conclusion, Vocal Rider is an essential tool for any serious engineer or producer. Its ability to automatically write automation data, distinguish vocals from background noise, and adjust the vocal level in real-time makes it one of the most powerful plugins in the Waves lineup. With its breath-detection algorithm and flexibility in attack speed, this plugin is perfectly suited for a wide range of vocal styles and genres. If you’re looking for a way to achieve perfectly balanced vocals without spending hours manually riding faders, Vocal Rider is the plugin for you.
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