The Mackie USB mixer is the one that will help in providing the best sound to your audience and this professional mixer is supposed to be one of the most admired. The ProFX12v2 is capable of delivering. Cross DJ free is described as the best home DJ sound mixer that you can install on your phone. This audio mixer app can detect accurate BPM, Automix automatically, split audio and allows you to.
Knowing how to EQ live vocals is essential to get good results in your live mix. When you put a microphone in front of a vocalist, don't expect it to sound good without adjusting the EQ, no matter how talented the singer is.
The frequency components that make up the voice need to be adjusted so that the best features of the voice are noticeable in the mix.
To achieve this, the voice needs to be equalized correctly. A correct equalization is the secret for providing an excellent sound experience to your audience.
In any live sound setup, the vocals are the most important part of the mix but tend to be the hardest to get right. In today's article, I am going to present a few tips on how to EQ live vocals, plus I provide a few mixer settings for vocals to get you started with your mix.
Table of Contents
- Decrease Problematic Frequencies
- Take Care of the Proximity Effect
- Mixer Settings for Vocals
How to EQ Live Vocals – Helpful Tips to Get You Started
To get the best results when equalizing live vocals, you must do six fundamental things:
- Start with flat EQs – Reset the EQ on the mixing console
- Cut out the low-end rumble – Use the high-pass filter
- Remove problematic ('hot') frequencies – Add warmth to the sound
- Take care of the proximity effect
- Balance the upper mid-range frequencies
- Boost frequencies where is needed – Add Presence.
Start with flat EQs – Reset the EQ On the Mixing Console
The first step to EQ live vocals correctly is to reset the EQ of each channel. That way, you don't start with frequency imbalances. Most of the time, it's not necessary to boost frequencies but to cut them instead.
By starting with a reset EQ, you can start with a balanced sound, and then you can pinpoint if any frequency needs to be boosted or reduced.
An important aspect to keep in mind when it comes to EQ is that less is better. If you can get away with no EQ at all, that is ideal, but that rarely happens.
This principle applies to live audio setups as wells as when recording. Many sound engineers do not use any EQ when laying down tracks in the recording studio. Just keep that in mind when EQing live vocals.
To reset the EQ of a mixing board, turn each knob to the center position that's labeled 'U' or '0.'
READ: Mixing Console Basics
Cut Out the Low-End Rumble
The fundamental frequencies of vocals are between 100Hz-300Hz. Even adult males with deep voices don't go below 85Hz. All this means is that any frequencies below 80Hz should be cut out when equalizing vocals.
Start by applying the mixer's high-pass filter on any channel that doesn't need low-end frequencies, which are most of them.
In most audio mixers, you can find the high-pass filter switch under the gain knob. Make sure to activate it for all the channels where vocal mics are connected.
Only bass-heavy sounds use the low sub-frequency range. Such instruments are guitars, bass, and drum kicks.
Decrease Problematic Frequencies
Problematic or hot frequencies are all that stand out and don't blend well with the rest of the mix. For example, If 'P's' sound plosive, that means that the channel is excessive on the mid-bass around 250 Hz. Try cutting around 200Hz-250Hz.
What to Adjust if Vocals Sound Muddy or Boomy
When vocals sound 'muddy,' it means that it lacks clarity and transparency. Most likely, due to low-frequency resonances that create a congested, smeared, and confusing sound.
If in your mix vocals sound muddy or boomy, try adjusting the frequencies between 220Hz-350Hz. Don't aggressively cut frequencies in this area because you could eliminate part of the warmth of the vocal's sound.
Live Voice Mixer
Remember that although muddy frequencies are present between 200Hz – 350Hz, those frequencies are also part of the fundamental frequencies that bring out the warmth in a voice.
I would recommend delicately cutting anything between 200Hz – 600Hz to avoid destroying warm tones in vocals.
Carefully Balance the EQ to Avoid Vocals Sounding Boxy or Thin
Another critical area to EQ carefully are the frequencies between 350Hz – 600Hz. An emphasis around those frequencies will make the vocals sound 'Boxy,' meaning that they will have resonances as if the vocals were enclosed in a box.
If those frequencies were reduced too much, vocals would sound 'hollow,' meaning that they would sound thin.
Be careful when adjusting frequencies between 350Hz to 600Hz. Adjust until you find a sweet spot.
Decreasing Sibilance In Vocals
Additionally, it's also critical to reduce frequencies that are too bright and are prone to produce voice sibilance. In case you didn't know, sibilance is the hissing sound that's created with 's' sounds. If high frequencies are boosted, vocals are likely to produce sibilance, and believe me, that sound is annoying for the audience.
Frequencies between 5kHz – 10Khz need to be adjusted carefully to avoid a sibilant sound. Start with the EQ set in the middle and have vocalists sing. If you hear that the 's' sounds too exaggerated and bright, decrease the knob until the sibilant tone is eliminated from the vocal sound. Make sure to keep a balance between brightness and warmness in the voice.
Remember that the whole idea when equalizing live vocals is to produce a well-balanced sound that enhances the best features of the voice. Vocals must sound clear and pleasant for the audience to hear.
READ: Best Live Condenser Vocal Mic
Take Care of the Proximity Effect
The proximity effect is a phenomenon that happens when a voice source gets too close to a microphone. What happens is that as the voice source gets closer, the low frequencies increase, producing a bass-heavy sound on the vocals affecting the intelligibility of the sound.
The frequencies that are boosted by the proximity effect are between 80Hz – 200Hz. We have taken care of all the frequencies below 80Hz by applying the mixer's high-pass filter, now is time to adjust anything between 80Hz and 200Hz using the EQ.
Getting Rid of the Proximity Effect
Before using the EQ to take care of the proximity effect, make sure that the singers don't get too close to the microphone. Of course, to avoid feedback, the closer the better, but there is a limit on how close to place a mic to the sound source. If it's too close, the proximity effect can ruin the mix.
A good rule of thumb for live performances is to place the microphone between 4 to 6 inches away from the mouth, then start equalizing the voice.
Occasionally, there will be singers that will almost kiss the mic; if that's the case, you have to adjust the EQ to avoid the proximity effect.
Find the low-frequency knob and decrease the gain on those frequencies to relieve some of the low frequencies. By doing that, you might have to compensate on the mid and high frequencies to get a natural sound.
It might take you a few tries until you get it right. The goal is to make the vocals sound clear, crisp, and warm.
READ: Portable PA Systems For Outdoor Events
Balance the Upper Mid-Range Frequencies
The upper mid-range or high-mid frequencies are the 'Nasal Frequencies' and are located between 1kHz – 3.5Khz. They need to be carefully balanced because if there is an excessive buildup in this area, vocals will sound 'harsh' or 'grating.'
In contrast, if the upper mid-range frequencies are too low, vocals will sound 'muffled' as if the sound is covered with a blanket. It will give the impression that the vocals are far away and not present in the mix.
Best Voice Mixer Reviews
There is no magic formula, or one setting fits all kind of deal to EQ live vocals. Each venue will be different, the same is with each voice. All you need to know are the basics and theories behind how things work so that you can adapt it to your setup.
By practicing and training your ears, you will get better over time.
READ: 6 Tips for Choosing the Best Portable PA System for Live Music
Boost Frequencies Where is Needed to Add Presence to the Voice
In a live mix that contains several instruments, it is critical to bring out the vocals in the mix. It can be achieved by slightly increasing the 'presence range of frequencies,' which are between 4kHz – 6 kHz.
Presence is responsible for the clarity and definition of voices. Increasing this range of frequencies can make the music sound detailed and closer to the listener.
On the other hand, Reducing the 4kHz – 6kHz content of frequencies makes vocals sound more distant and transparent.
When mixing all instruments and vocals, try not to clutter the 'presence' range of frequencies so that vocals cut through the mix with clarity and detail.
READ: How to Set Up a Stage Sound System
Mixer Settings for Vocals
All of the tips mentioned in this article are easier to implement using a digital audio mixer because you have a more precise parametric EQ for each channel. You can pinpoint individual frequencies and either increase or decrease them very accurately.
If you use an analog audio mixer, it's more difficult to EQ individual frequencies because one knob can be responsible for a broader range of frequencies.
In this case, you would have to use your ears to identify the frequency you are trying to increase or decrease.
Here are a few mixer settings for vocals that can help you get started.
EQ Live Vocals with a Three-Knob EQ Analog Mixer
If your analog mixer has three knobs for the EQ, you are limited to what you can do. I would recommend to set the High-frequency knob to the middle and do the same for the mid-frequency knob.
If you are equalizing the mic for a male singer that has a low pitched voice, try reducing the low-frequency knob a bit to get rid of the muddy sound. If it's a female singer, you can leave the low frequency in the middle.
Listen to the voice as it comes out of the loudspeaker and adjust it according to what is needed. If the voice sounds dark, it means that the EQ is weak at high frequencies. Try increasing the highs a bit.
If instead, the sound of the voice is not punchy, try increasing the mid-frequency knob.
On the other hand, if the voice sounds muddy, decrease the lows a bit.
How to EQ Live Vocals with a Four-Knob EQ Analog Mixer
If your analog mixer has four knobs for the EQ, the second one under the high-frequency knob is a frequency selector. With that knob, you can select the frequency you want to adjust, then use the third knob down to increase or decrease the gain on that frequency. That way, you have more control over the selection of frequencies to EQ.
Start by setting the HF (high-frequency) knob to the middle '0.' Make sure that the second knob down is also set to the center. Increase the third knob to about 50%.
Set the fourth knob to the center if it's a female singer, or to 40% if it's a male singer with a low pitched voice.
As you hear the sound coming out of the loudspeaker, increase or decrease the frequency selector until you can clearly listen to the voice with a well-balanced tone.
Take into consideration all of the tips mentioned previously and adjust the knobs until you have found a sweet spot.
EQ Settings for Vocals Using a Six-Knob Analog Mixer Equalizer
The ideal analog mixer would have at least six knobs for EQ. That way, you have more precise control over the frequencies you want to equalize.
With a six-knob EQ, the first one, from top to bottom, is for high frequencies. The second one is the high-mids frequency selector. The third knob is the one that controls the high-mid frequency gain.
Fast download site. The fourth one from top to bottom is the low-mids frequency selector, with the fifth knob being the gain control for the low-mids. The sixth knob is the one responsible for controlling the gain for the low frequencies.
Start by setting the HF knob to the middle; that way, you keep the bright sound neutral so that the vocals don't sound harsh.
Next, set the second knob (high-mids frequency selector) to the center.
Then, set the third knob (high-mids boost/cut) to about 50%, do the same to the fifth knob (low-mids boost/cut).
Set the low-frequency knob to the middle '0' (twelve o'clock position).
At this point, have a singer start singing and sweep the high-mids frequency selector up and down slowly and listen to how the voice changes.
My recommendation is to keep the EQ as flat as long as it sounds good. If the voice sounds too 'nasal,' try sweeping the high-mids frequency selector until you find the offending frequency and use the boost/cut knob to increase or decrease it.
If the voice sounds 'boxy,' 'hollow,' or 'thin,' use the low-mids frequency selector to find the offending frequency to boost or cut accordingly.
Takeaway
If you don't know how to EQ live vocals, don't worry. With the tips provided in this article and enough practice, you can learn the ins and outs of equalizing vocals and instruments. First, get used to your mixer's controls and start practicing until your ear is trained.
Remember how Spider Man activated the interrogation mode of his tech suit, and used a built-in voice changer to create a frightening voice? The young Peter Parker needed that deep voice to inflict fear into criminals.
Voice morphing is fun, and the good news is, you don't need to hire a Hollywood audio editing team to tweak your voice. We tested and gathered a dozen of best voice changer software in this article, including real-time voice changer for Discord, twitch and other streaming and chatting apps, as well as non real-time voice modulation tools that can alter your voice and save the audio files.
You can use these desktop audio editing programs to alter your voice, in following situations and beyond:
- To create a hilarious effect when you are gaming, streaming, and chatting;
- To stay anonymous or make your gender unintelligible with female/male voice changer;
- To spice up a Discord chattering or prank a friend with a tweaked voice;
- To dub a YouTube video with funny voiceover;
- To speak in a baby voice on a Zoom conference call (might get your fired).
You can try several programs to decide which one offers you the best experience to change voice on-the-fly, and stick to the one you are most comfortable with in different situations.
1. MorphVOX Junior
Supported OS: Windows; Mac (Pro Version)
Visit product page: https://screamingbee.com/morphvox-free-voice-changer
Presented by Screamingbee, MorphVOX has been around since 2005, and the UI hasn't changed much. You can instantly feel the early- or mid-2000's design trend from its retro interface. The archaic interface doesn't prevent it from being a piece of handy voice changer software for Windows 10.
Tips: If you want to alter your voice in Discord, Skype and Twitch, make sure the audio setting in each app uses 'Screaming Bee Audio' as default. It will send out the voices changed by MorphVOX in real-time, be it voices captured from your external microphone or built-in mic.
For a non-techie person, MorphVOX has ready-to-use voice modulation profiles, such as child, warrior, robot. For advanced users, there are sliders to manually manipulate the timbre of your voice. Besides changing the voice to sound like another person, you can also utilize the sound effects such as beep beep, gunshot, cuckoo in IM and VoIP for fun.
There are many handy features for online chatting and gaming scenarios too. For instance, you can create shortcut key for any effects, making it real quick to switch sound. Key-mapping makes it easy for full screen in-game situations. For paid version, you can set unlimited shortcut for any sound.
Pros:
- The free version comes with numerous effects to toy around.
- It is easy to switch between different speakers.
Cons:
- If you want to record your voice, create voice-overs or import existing audio files and alter the voice, the Junior version doesn't support it.
- Ads banner could be annoying in Junior version.
Note Sims all in one download. : MorphVOX Junior is the free version of Screamingbee's voice changer, for more features, you can upgrade to MorphVOX Pro.
2. Clownfish Voice Changer
Supported OS: Windows Vista/7/8/10
Visit product page: https://clownfish-translator.com/voicechanger/
Clownfish is a popular application on windows to alter your voice simultaneously when you are talking. You can use it for Discord, Skype, TeamSpeak, Viber, Ekiga, Jitsi, Ventrilo, Mumble etc. It is a barebones program with effects clearly displayed in home screen. You won't see a daunting interface with buttons, sliders, and audio processing jargons to joy around.
Clownfish offers you many sound choices: female, male, alien, Atari, helium, clone, radio, robot. You can simple click the corresponding icon, and talk to your microphone. You voice will be changed on the fly as you are talking. You can visit the developer's page to free. download full version of the voice changer.
Pros:
- Clownfish has a slight edge in terms of simplicity and easiness to navigate.
- It is also a voice assistant that allows you to convert text to speech.
Cons:
- Lack advanced settings for power users.
- Less flexible to switch sound quickly when you are gaming in full screen.
Clownfish Not Changing Voice? Here Are Reasons and Fixes
1. External/built-in microphone is not synced with the Clownfish.
Microphone installation is the key to the fix. You can right-click in Clownfish, go to Setup, and click the install under system integration mode. Remember to restart the computer after installation.
2. Clownfish is not installed in the default folder.
Clownfish may not function when you install it in other directory. You can uninstall and reinstall the app to the local drive C.
3. You haven't chosen Clownfish as the virtual voice in Discord.
After you finish installing and configuring Clownfish, make sure to check settings in Discord: Voice > Input Device, and choose one that corresponds to Clownfish.
Read more: 4 Ways to Fix Clownfish not working for Discord or Skype >>
3. AV Voice Changer
Supported OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10
Visit product page: https://www.audio4fun.com/voice-changer.htm
AV Voice Changer takes a more professional stand against other voice changer software on this list. It is more of a voice modulator with editing and recording abilities. You can also use it as a real-time voice changer for Discord and streaming Apps.
With advanced voice morphing algorithms, people wish to sound deeper, older, younger, or changing voice to female or male will find their luck with this tool. Unlike other basic programs, the built-in female to male voice changer is sophisticated with options as: 20-35 years old Man, 36-60 years old Man, Angry Man, to name a few.
Besides morphing your voice in real-time chatting, it also supports recording, loading existing audio, trimming and cutting audio. You can save altered voice recordings and later use it as voiceover in videos, as many YouTuber have done to make their video sounds funny.
Further reading: how to add audio files to a video>>
Pros:
- Actively updated with a growing library of sound effects for pro users.
- More customizable options to alter voice by changing multiple parameters.
- There are many sleeker skins to use.
Cons:
- Free version is more like a demo than a fully-fledged package.
- Relatively pricier than other freemium voice changing software.
4. Voxal Voice Changer
Supported OS: Windows 7, XP, Vista, 8, 8.1 and 10; Mac OS X 10.5 or above
Visit product page: https://www.nchsoftware.com/voicechanger/
Voxal Voice Changer is developed by NCH software. It combines real-time voice changing and offline recording into the package. You can alter your voice for fun or to prank you friends, the magic happens in real-time. No matter you are trolling around in Steam games, CSGO, Rainbow Six Siege, Skype or TeamSpeak, your voice can be morph simultaneously. Robot, girl, boy, alien, atmospheric, or echo, you can pick whatever you like.
Besides changing the voice on-the-fly, you can also record voiceover, import audios already stored on your computer, and morph it to the way you like. For instance, you can create voices for characters in audiobooks, dubbing for you vlogs, and change the pitch to conceive your real voice. There are effect chains in UI, it's easy to modify the sound, view what effects you have applied, and delete some part from the chain if you don't like it.
Note: Voxal can automatically change the configuration or settings in other programs. For some people, this could be a time-saver, as you don't need to switch the audio profile manually in Discord, Skype, Steam, etc. However, it might trigger security programs to wrongly treat Voxal as malware.
Female voice settings in Voxal:
There are several girl voices pre-loaded in Voxal voice changer. To record or alter your voice to sound like a girl, you can click the People folder from the left panel, and choose any female pre-set.
You can fine-tune the girl voice by adjusting a combination of several effects. Here is a simple guide: 1. Click on the Edit icon; 2. Go to Voxal Effects; 3. Change parameters from effects such as reverb, flanger, pitch, distortion, etc.
Pros:
- Hear your altered voice immediately (enable it in settings to hear the effects live).
- Option to adjust the pitch of your voice, or add effects such as echo and reverb.
Cons:
- Limited editing features for recorded voices.
- Less straightforward to 1-click switch among voices.
5. Voicemod
Supported OS: Windows 7/8/10; the Dev is working on Mac and Linux version
Visit product page: https://www.voicemod.net/
Voicemod is another nice choice among real time voice changer software. It has sleeker UI than the alternatives. With popular sound effects scattering on the homescreen, it is easier to navigate and instantly change your voice by clicking a corresponding icon: alien, baby, cave, Frankenstein, and one you never thought of. As Voicemod installs a virtual audio driver, it alters any sound that goes into your audio input such as a microphone. Therefore, you can change your voice for Discord, and any other streaming apps, CSGO, PUBG and lots more.
It also has a nice Meme Sound Machine feature out of the box, which acts like a soundboard to play funny soundbites or audio clips. You can import any audio files and map it to a hotkey. When you are trolling online chat rooms, gaming or streaming, you can quickly play sound effects or morph your voice to celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, and anime characters such as Rick and Morty.
Tips: Voicemod makes it easy to record anime voice for Japanimation lovers. You can use following settings to configure the Anime Voice: 100% Mix I; 80%Pitch 1; Turn off Humanizer I; 100% Mix II; 70% Pitch 2; Turn on Humanizer II.
Pros:
- Option to control the volume of each sound.
- Tick 'Hear Self' to hear how the effects changes your voice.
- Large amount of autotune plugins to use (Pro version).
Cons:
- There are 7 presets to use every week in free version.
- You cannot save your favorite voice changer parameters in free version.
6. AthTek Skype Voice Changer
Supported OS: Windows Vista/7/8/10
Visit product page: http://www.athtek.com/skype-voice-changer/
Skype Voice Changer is a lightweight utility to install on your Windows. Simple yet powerful, it has all the basic components you can expect from a free real-time voice changer. You can record and playback to hear how each effect sound like before applying it.
Besides changing the pitch of your voice, this mini tool also have sound emotions baked in. You can yawn, whistle, laugh, or add a background noise such as a plane spinning or a cicada buzzing.
Pros:
- Lightweight and easy to use.
- Free online library available to download more official sound effects.
- Option to import local sound emotions from other resources.
Cons:
- Comparatively less voice types and characters.
- Free version limits voice recording up to 1 minute.
7. AthTek All-in-One Voice Changer
Supported OS: Windows Vista/7/8 (Also works on Windows 10 when we tested it)
Visit product page: http://www.athtek.com/voice-changer.html
All-in-One Voice Changer is a really barebones program. Presented by AthTek, this tool is based on the developer's previous program Skype Voice Changer. You can tell from the interface how these two pieces of software resembles each other. Besides Skype, you can also use this free voice changer for Discord, Yahoo messages, online chatting room and so on.
Pros:
- It consumes minimum CPU space comparing to other large programs.
- You can import local audio files to change the pitch.
Cons:
- The interface looks outdated and the voice types are less appealing.
- There are not so much exciting features comparing to its precedent voice changer for Skype.
Best Voice Mixer Brands
8. Voicechanger.io
Visit: https://voicechanger.io/
Voicechanger.io allows you to quickly upload a recorded audio file and pick a voice type to morph. You can playback the example of each profile before choosing one. It works nicely with more than 50 pre-settings, though the developer merely calls it a hobby project.
Tips: If you are a big fan of Nintendo Switch Animal Crossing game, and want to speak 'Animalese', you can try the highlighted two voice types to change your voice. These two voice changer settings resemble the game the most.
9. Female to Male Voice Changer
Visit: https://lingojam.com/FemaletoMaleVoiceChanger
There are not alien, robots, baby or cat voices. The solemn role of this tool is to alter female voice to male voice. The drop down menu provides you with subtle options, such as slightly lower pitch, extremely low pitch or chipmunk. We had a good laughter when it changes our cat's meow into a deeper voice.
The best thing is, if you import a video into this voice changer, it will automatically extract the audio within and changing the pitch accordingly.
10. Voice Spice
Visit: https://voicespice.com/
Voice Spice allows you to quickly adjust the pitch slider, record your voice directly within the browser, and download the altered sound. Besides female and male voice changer, you can choose Space Squirrel, Robot and Hell Demon effects. It also has a text-to-speech generator, where you can input scripts and choose a voice for it. You can use it as a workaround way to change your voice and dub for a video.
Bonus Tip: DIY Voice Changer
The mechanism behind voice changer is adjusting the pitch of the audio, so it sounds differently. Plus, there are effects such as reverb and echo added to simulate the environment you are in. Once you know the basics, you can drag the sliders and tweak with parameters to make any real-time mixer a voice changer.
Voicemeeter Banana by VB-audio is perhaps the most popular one for you to alter the voice. It has a sleek interface, the most futuristic design among the list, and it is completely free of charge. Make sure you plug in the microphone before launching the program, and then you can adjust the settings and test repeatedly until the altered sound meets your demand.
Pros:
- Free and powerful audio tool with nice interface.
- Support recording stereo sound, with A1 to A3 channel.
Cons:
- Complex to set up for different platforms and apps such as OBS and Discord.
- Require some knowledge in sound manipulation to make corresponding tweaks.
FAQs
Can you change your voice in Discord?
Yes. You can use any voice changer that installs a virtual audio drive on system level, simply go to Discord settings > Voice & Video > Input Device, and select the corresponding virtual audio device.
Are voice changers illegal?
Not if you use it properly. You can use a voice changer for entertaining activities, or creating funny sound effects for video projects. It is illegal if you alter your voice to impersonating other people or disguise your identity for criminal activities.
What is the best free voice changer?
Taking into account the types of voices available and ease of use, MorphVOX Junior, Clownfish Voice Changer and AthTek All-in-One Voice Changer work nicely as free voice changer software. Voicemod, Voxal, AV Voice Changer are powerful with more sliders to tweak with, but these freemuim lock much of their functionality behind a paid version.