For energetic, powerful vocals, we’re going to want to set up a stereo slapback delay. It’s the trick that pro mixers use to get their vocals up-front but cohesive.
A slapback delay is a very fast delay with no repeats. It became very popular in the late 50’s with rock music, and has been a staple in music ever since. To hear what this sounds like, check out the vocals on Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire.”
We won’t be making one that obvious, but that’s the idea. It’s a great way to add depth and width to a vocal without pushing it back in the mix. It’ll also thicken your vocals.
Here’s how you set up your own vocal delay:
