PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production Recording and mixing vocals - your help is appreciated

Hi there! I've been using a DAW for about 2 years now and learning as I go. I can hear that some of my recent recordings and mixing is better than my early stuff. But I want to get better especially with vocals. Can you read what I have written below as my current practice and offer suggestions to improve?

For background, I use Cakewalk or Reaper, depending on the project - mainly, if I need to do a bit of pitch correction, I'll use Reaper because it has ReaTune plugin/FX.

Recording vocals
1) For my main vocal, I have been recording the main vocal on three tracks (3 separate records) and I try and get the phrasing and pitch across all three as consistent as possible.
2) Clipping - I normally do a test run of a song section and keep an eye on the mic preamp (I'm using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 2nd gen and the preamp will flicker red if clipping).
3) Plosives - I try and deal with this at recording by using a pop filter and mic angle placement. If I did encounter plosives, I would either punch in record a replacement section or use EQ or track volume automation to reduce it.
4) I then choose one of these three tracks to be the main (or comped into a main), with the other two tracks panned left 9 o'clock and right 3 o'clock, with both volume down around -15db while main is at 0db so these are sitting behind and supporting - incognito-like. This is because I try to thicken up my vocal as my voice can be dry and 'thin' while trying to keep the main vocal centred and as the main focus. Any suggestions on other ways to achieve this? I have tried an ADT plug-in and also thickener/fattener plug-ins but not as good in my ears as the technique I have described.

Mixing vocals
Next question is treatment and the order in which they're applied. I'd be happy to hear your thoughts about what I apply and what you do. Also, if you do the chain order differently, could you share with rationale?
5) De-esser - I haven't tended to use one, but would probably put it in before the EQ. My logic would be that I am then EQ-ing a de-essed track.
6) EQ - I normally just use a low floor to take out anything below 80-100khz, but usually don't apply any other scoops or increases.
7) Compressor - because my vocals can have uneven dynamics, I use a compressor with a ratio 5:1 and threshold in the -12 to -18db range. I've been applying this to the left and right triple vocal so that they don't 'pop' out of the sidelines.
8) Reverb and delay - I mainly use a reverb that gives me some but not too much. I have to admit that I am a little lost about how to best apply these and when not to apply at all. I'm thinking a really close intimate vocal would not use any, but other styles - use a 'smidge'
9) If I've recorded harmony or ooos/ahhs, I'll use the techniques for these tracks using the above, then I put all vocal tracks into a VOX bus/group and get the balance right for all vocals.
10) Recently, I've begun listening to the full mix of everything by turning my master down to say -20db, then adjusting my vox bus/group until I can understand the lyrics. Then I bring the master back up again. My logic here (I saw a video with this suggestion) is that if I can get the vox levels right at low master levels, it should also be good and my normal master level.

I would really love any tips or advice you can give, or if what I am doing looks weird. If you have any good youtube videos you've seen that explains it, that would be helpful. I've watched so many 'Do this one thing and all your problems will be solved' videos I am now a little confused.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Andrew D