SOMETHING
SOUNDS WRONG.

VOCALS

What's wrong with the vocal?

VOCALS / LEVEL

What kind of level problem are you hearing?

TRY THIS FIRST

Adjust the vocal level.

If the vocal is consistently too loud or too quiet, start with the simplest fix: change the fader level.

Compression is not a substitute for simply putting the vocal at the right overall level.

TRY THIS FIRST

Try volume automation.

If entire lines or sections move noticeably forward and backward, automation gives you direct control over those changes.

Bring louder sections down and quieter sections up. Then listen again before adding more processing.

TRY THIS FIRST

Fix the problem words directly.

If only a few words or phrases jump out or disappear, you may not need to process the entire vocal more heavily.

Try clip gain or volume automation on those specific areas.

VOCALS / BURIED

Does the vocal sound loud enough by itself, but disappear when the rest of the mix plays?

CHECK FOR MASKING

Something else may be competing with the vocal.

Instead of immediately turning the vocal up, listen for instruments occupying a similar range.

Guitars, keys, cymbals, and other midrange-heavy sounds can make a vocal difficult to hear even when the vocal itself is loud enough.

START SIMPLE

Bring the vocal up.

If the vocal is simply too quiet, moving the fader may be all it needs.

Don't add compression, saturation, or EQ just to solve a basic level problem.

VOCALS / HARSH

When does the harshness happen?

FIND THE SOURCE

Figure out where the harshness lives.

Sweep a narrow EQ band temporarily to help identify the frequency range that is bothering you.

Once you find it, return the EQ to neutral and try a small, broad cut rather than leaving a giant surgical notch.

TARGET THE MOMENTS

Don't process the entire vocal for a few bad words.

If the harshness only appears occasionally, try automation or dynamic EQ on those specific moments.

A permanent EQ cut may make the rest of the vocal unnecessarily dull.

CHECK THE RECORDING

The louder performance may be changing the tone.

Check whether the microphone, preamp, interface, or recorded track is clipping when the singer gets louder.

If the recording itself is clean, dynamic EQ or automation can help control harsh moments without darkening the entire vocal.

VOCALS / MUDDY

Does the vocal sound muddy by itself, or only when everything else is playing?

CHECK THE SOURCE FIRST

Listen for excessive low-mid energy.

Microphone placement, proximity effect, the room, or the microphone itself may be contributing to the problem.

If you're still recording, try changing the microphone position before reaching for EQ.

CHECK THE REST OF THE MIX

The vocal may not be the actual problem.

Guitars, keys, bass, room microphones, and effects can accumulate energy in the same area.

Bypass or lower competing elements one at a time and see whether the vocal suddenly becomes clearer.

VOCALS / THIN

Are you still able to change the recording?

FIX IT AT THE SOURCE

Try changing the microphone position first.

Moving closer to many directional microphones can increase low-frequency response, while changing distance and angle can significantly alter the tone.

Try small position changes and listen before changing equipment or adding processing.

CHECK WHAT'S MISSING

Don't immediately boost a pile of low end.

First check for aggressive high-pass filtering, previous EQ cuts, phase issues with layered vocals, or processing that has made the vocal overly bright.

If the vocal still needs more body, try a gentle tonal adjustment rather than a dramatic boost.

VOCALS / SIBILANCE

Is the problem mostly S, SH, T, or similar consonants?

CONTROL THE SIBILANCE

Try a de-esser.

A de-esser reduces the vocal when excessive energy appears in the sibilant frequency range.

Set it so the distracting consonants become controlled without making the singer sound dull or unnatural.

THIS MAY NOT BE SIBILANCE

Go back to the harshness branch.

If the entire vocal sounds bright or painful rather than only the consonants jumping out, the issue is probably broader than sibilance.

Check microphone tone, EQ, saturation, distortion, and the upper-mid or high-frequency balance.