The lead vocal is so important in a mix. We do all kinds of things to try and get it to sound clear, polished, and larger than life. But sometimes even the right EQ and compression isn’t enough to get vocals standing where you want them in the mix.
The Secret Presence Track
One little tip that many people use is something called a harmonic exciter. It adds harmonic content to the track and gives it a bit of life that wasn’t there. One way to do this in your DAW without that type of effect is to create a vocal presence track that no one will ever know is there, but it makes all the difference.
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My name is Graham Cochrane and I'm the founder of The Recording Revolution, one of the world's most loved audio recording and mixing blogs with over 200,000 readers each month. 
Graham, I have very much enjoyed your series to start the year and find myself looking forward to the next one. Today tip was very helpful. Thanks for sharing the knowledge and talent.
Nice trick =) I have something similiar to this one, but I add distortion to a overdubbed backing vocal. I think in this song the vocal sounds better without excitement. It’s more smooth and natural) But this trick should help in mixing parts where there are a lot of stuff going on.
awesome tip! this is exactly what the track im working on needed!
Very clever. Thanks for the quality of your videos!
You are a Godsend!! The last time I did any type of recording was back in the original ADAT days (15 or so years ago!!)using SMPTE time code and a midi sequencer. As of January of this year, I decided to get back into it and have been playing catch up with all the advancements in recording since then including, but not limited to Pro Tools. Your website, tutorials and videos have been nothing but a blessing to me. As a member of the Worship ministry at my church, our worship team has come a very long way over the last several years and I feel that very soon we will be ready to take our worship to the next level and actually start recording. This will be a big step for them all because no one (other than myself) has any type of recording experience. I am hoping that when that time comes, my mixing and music production skills will be ready to take on that calling. Your videos do more than just bring me a step closer to my goal but inspire me every time I hear a worship track being played. The track on this video wowed me. Please let us know when that album is released. In the meantime, keep up the great work!! I will be signing up in the near future to Dueling mixes but before that, I’m going to start a library here at home of all your stuff. God Bless You and thank you for the motivation and inspiration. The team will appreciate all that I have learned from you!!
Hi Graham, thanks again for another tip. I have a question, what is the benefit of copying the track as you did here instead of sending it pre fader as you did in previous parallel processings examples? Thanks so much
Javier
Not much difference really.
Seen Pensado demonstrated a very similar thing, expect from memory he sent the bright version to a stereo reverb to help spread it. He’d then just bring it in for specific lyrics. Nice pop effect for a subtle attenuation on important moments.
Wow! Graham, your tips and videos have really moved my mixing skills forward!! This tip has helped me take a decent vocal that I couldn’t get to sit in front and make it a powerful track that cuts right through. I really can’t thank you enough for starting, maintaining and growing this website for us home studio people. You are awesome!
Ed
Glad to help Ed!
Great tips Graham! As an atheist I’ve never listened to so much Christian music, but your tips are well worth it! 😉
Keep up the great work!
Thanks for listening!