iZotope Vocal Doubler: An Essential Tool for Vocal Production
If you’re a music producer or sound engineer, you understand how crucial it is to make vocals stand out in a mix. One of the most effective techniques to enhance the presence and depth of vocals is vocal doubling, and iZotope Vocal Doubler is one of the best tools to achieve this effect.
What is iZotope Vocal Doubler?
iZotope Vocal Doubler is a free plugin designed to add a doubling effect to your vocals quickly and intuitively. Unlike other methods that require manually doubling tracks or using more complex modulation effects, Vocal Doubler offers a simple interface to achieve professional results in just a few clicks.
How It Works
The principle behind Vocal Doubler is to create a copy of the original vocal track, slightly shift it in time and pitch, and then blend this copy with the main vocal track. The result is a richer, fuller vocal sound that feels more immersive without losing its clarity.
The plugin features a minimalist interface, primarily consisting of a single window with a central circle. Moving the cursor within this circle allows you to control two key parameters:
- Separation: Moves the duplicated vocal further from the original, both temporally and spatially, creating a wider stereo effect.
- Variation: Adds random modulations to the doubled vocal, giving it a more organic and natural sound.
Examples of Use in Vocal Production
1. Adding Thickness to Lead Vocals
One of the most common applications of iZotope Vocal Doubler is to add thickness and depth to lead vocals. Imagine you have a vocal track that sounds good but lacks that extra richness to make it stand out in the mix. By applying Vocal Doubler with a slight separation and low variation, you can achieve a doubling effect that gives the vocal more presence while keeping it centered in the mix.
Steps:
- Load the plugin on the lead vocal track.
- Move the Separation slider outward to create a wider stereo effect.
- Add a touch of Variation to give the sound a more organic feel.
2. Creative Effects on Backing Vocals
The plugin is also perfect for creating choir-like effects from a single vocal track. You can duplicate your vocal track, apply Vocal Doubler to one of the copies with a high level of separation and variation, and then place it further back in the mix for a rich, full choir effect.
Steps:
- Duplicate the lead vocal track.
- Apply iZotope Vocal Doubler to the duplicate.
- Set Separation to maximum for an extended stereo effect.
- Increase Variation for a smoother, more natural sound.
- Pan the track left or right to enhance the choir effect.
3. Distorted Double Effect for Backing Vocals
To create gritty and aggressive backing vocals, you can use Vocal Doubler alongside a distortion effect. By applying distortion before Vocal Doubler, you’ll achieve a doubled and distorted vocal effect that adds energy and intensity to your productions.
Steps:
- Add a distortion plugin to the backing vocal track.
- Follow up with Vocal Doubler to double the distorted vocal.
- Adjust Separation and Variation to get the desired sound.
- Keep the mix level lower to avoid overpowering the lead vocal.
Conclusion
iZotope Vocal Doubler is a powerful and versatile tool that can significantly enhance the quality of your vocal productions. With its intuitive design and ability to modify the spatial and tonal characteristics of vocals, it offers virtually limitless creative possibilities. Whether you’re looking to add some thickness to your lead vocals, create immersive choir effects, or experiment with unique vocal sounds, Vocal Doubler is an essential plugin to have in your arsenal.
Want to learn how to mix vocals? Get essential vocal mixing tips in this round up of our most popular tutorials. Learn how to process vocals, make vocals cut through a mix, learn all about vocal doubling, and more.
