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12.53am
23 March 2017
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hi everyone! I’ve always had an infatuation with Lennon’s reverbed vocals in songs like “Im only sleeping” “Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite “, “rain” and want to have that vocal effect on a home recording I’m working on. Obviously it won’t sound exactly like john (because no one ever will) but if some other fans here on the production side of music could give some tips/advice for how to replicate that sound it would be really appreciated 🙂 thanks
12.47pm
5 February 2010
Offline That sound you’re talking about is (usually) a combination of double-tracked vocals and some tape-delay echo.
I’ve been able to get pretty close to that sound using Audacity and then 1) making a copy of the vocal track, and 2) offsetting that copy of the track so it’s a split second behind the original track. Adding just a touch of reverb never hurts either, but I always make a copy of any track I’m adding reverb to, so the reverb goes on the copy, not the original.
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1.02pm
Reviewers
17 December 2012
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One thing to remember is that John’s vocal was often put through a Leslie speaker from the beginning of 1966. There is software available that emulates this effect.
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2.15pm
19 October 2016
Offline On a number of songs – I recall from reading Lewisohn but I’m traveling so I can’t give a specific reference – John’s vocals were often slightly slowed down, which lent that dreamlike tone…
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cinnamonsynonms6.59pm
6 July 2016
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I think they were sped up on some tracks like Lucy in the Sky and Strawberry Fields. John also liked the slap back/short delay typical of the Elvis Sun recordings.
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8.53pm
5 February 2010
Offline Ron Nasty said
One thing to remember is that John’s vocal was often put through a Leslie speaker from the beginning of 1966. There is software available that emulates this effect.
Wow, really? I thought that was a one-time trick they used just for “Tomorrow Never Knows .” I just recently re-read Geoff Emerick’s book and I don’t recall him mentioning the Leslie effect outside of that one song. You learn something new every day …
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3.28am
8 January 2015
Offline The real trick with doubled vocals is to copy a second track, add that delay as @PeterWeatherby says, but to detune slightly one of the tracks. That detuning won’t be obvious but what it does is trick the brain into hearing it as a doubling. It works better when the tracks are panned closer together! The chorus effect uses a variation of this trick. Also, they put EVERYTHING through a Leslie at some stage. But John, he couldn’t have anything normal on his voice after 1966.
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but I may have to get more specific in the future.
5.46pm
5 February 2010
Offline ewe2 said
The real trick with doubled vocals is to copy a second track, add that delay as @PeterWeatherby says, but to detune slightly one of the tracks. That detuning won’t be obvious but what it does is trick the brain into hearing it as a doubling. It works better when the tracks are panned closer together! The chorus effect uses a variation of this trick. Also, they put EVERYTHING through a Leslie at some stage. But John, he couldn’t have anything normal on his voice after 1966.
Oooohhh … detune the second track! I like this idea. Must try this in the very near future.
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10.21pm
23 March 2017
Offline ewe2 said
The real trick with doubled vocals is to copy a second track, add that delay as @PeterWeatherby says, but to detune slightly one of the tracks. That detuning won’t be obvious but what it does is trick the brain into hearing it as a doubling. It works better when the tracks are panned closer together! The chorus effect uses a variation of this trick. Also, they put EVERYTHING through a Leslie at some stage. But John, he couldn’t have anything normal on his voice after 1966.
by detune do you mean like tune down the guitar a half step?
10.24pm
Moderators
27 November 2016
Offline Not half a step, as that sounds really out of tune. About a tenth of a step, at most.
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11.28pm
24 March 2014
Offline A question of cents instead of tones or semitones
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11.35pm
Moderators
27 November 2016
Offline Shamrock Womlbs said
A question of cents instead of tones or semitones
If you want to use cents… between 5 and 15.
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2.14am
24 March 2014
Offline I’d better adjust it by ear. No regular amount. If it sounds good 2 cents down then it’s ok.
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3.17pm
8 January 2015
Offline Yes, detune the track (not the instrument!) by cents! Probably best to have a test pair of tracks to compare the effect with a “dry” pair, it’s a subtle thing. You won’t get much closer to ADT without buying a software effect or the real thing.
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