Architects Vocal FX: Henrik Udd’s Metalcore Mixing Techniques

Architects’ vocals are a force of nature. From Sam Carter’s ferocious screams to his soaring cleans, they’re always impactful and sit perfectly in those dense, heavy mixes. Ever wondered how those signature vocal effects are crafted? We got a peek into the process with acclaimed producer Henrik Udd, the man behind the console for several iconic Architects albums. Forget just slapping on a preset; achieving that polished, atmospheric, and aggressive vocal sound involves a thoughtful combination of effects and automation. Let’s dive into some of Henrik’s key strategies for mixing those massive metalcore vocals, as seen in his session.

Crafting the Core Ambience: Reverb, Delay, and Chorus

Getting the foundational ambience right is crucial. Henrik often employs a combination of reverb, delay, and a touch of chorus to give vocals their space and character.

Reverb: Screams vs. Cleans – A Tale of Two Approaches

When it comes to reverb, it’s not a one-size-fits-all deal, especially for dynamic metalcore vocals. Henrik highlighted a key distinction:

• Screamed Vocals: These need to be punchy and in-your-face. To maintain this aggression, he tends to use less reverb on screams. Too much wash can make them lose impact and get buried.
• Clean Vocals: Cleans, on the other hand, often benefit from a bit more reverb. This helps them soar and adds that atmospheric quality Architects are known for. For a go-to reverb, Henrik often reaches for a Lexicon unit, known for its lush and high-quality reverberation.

This careful balance ensures that screams retain their bite while cleans get the space they need to shine.

Subtle Enhancements: Delay and Chorus

Beyond reverb, delay adds rhythmic complexity and depth. While not overly emphasized in this specific breakdown for one track, it’s a staple in a metalcore vocal chain for adding echoes and trails that can fill out the soundscape.

Chorus is another effect Henrik uses, though he mentioned backing off on it a bit sometimes. A subtle chorus can thicken vocals or add a slight detuned shimmer, but too much can make things sound dated or overly processed. It’s all about finding that sweet spot.

Signature Sounds: Creative Vocal Effects

Beyond the basics, certain creative effects help define that modern metalcore vocal sound.

The Classic Reversed Reverb Swell

You know that cool sucking-in sound or ethereal whoosh that often precedes a vocal phrase? That’s often a reversed reverb. Henrik demonstrated a straightforward way to achieve this within Pro Tools using the AudioSuite.
Here’s the gist:

1. Duplicate the vocal phrase you want to affect.
2. Apply a reverb to this duplicated phrase (make sure it has a decent tail).
3. Render or print this reverb.
4. Then, select the rendered reverb audio and use the "Reverse" function in the AudioSuite’s processing options. Pro Tools will flip the audio, creating that signature reverse swell.
5. Nudge this reversed audio into place, usually leading right up to the original dry vocal.

It’s a simple trick but incredibly effective for adding drama and transition.

Ethereal Washes with Long Reverbs

For those truly epic, atmospheric moments, long reverbs are your friend. Henrik mentioned using a particularly long reverb, around nine seconds, to create vast soundscapes.

Panning for Width

To make these long reverbs even more immersive, panning comes into play. He might pan a long reverb effect to one side (e.g., hard left on one phrase) and then perhaps to the opposite side later in the song for a different section. This creates a sense of movement and width, making the mix feel bigger.

The "Shimmer" Effect: Reverb into Reverb

Here’s a pro tip for achieving an even more complex and "shimmery" texture: send the output of one reverb into another long reverb. This cascading effect can create beautifully evolving textures that are perfect for ambient sections or vocal highlights. It’s all about experimenting with your sends and returns!

Don't Forget Filtering!

Sometimes, vocal effects can introduce unwanted frequencies or build up mud. Henrik briefly touched upon filtering some effects. This is where targeted EQ strategies become crucial. You might want to high-pass your reverb returns to remove low-end rumble or low-pass them to make them darker and sit further back in the mix. Surgical EQ can also tame any harshness introduced by certain effects.

Movement and Automation: Bringing Effects to Life

Static effects can sound, well, static. Automation is key to making your vocal effects breathe with the song.

Auto-Panners and Pan Automation

To add movement, an auto-panner can be used on certain vocal layers or effects, creating a rhythmic sweep across the stereo field.

Beyond auto-panners, manual pan automation is a powerful tool. Henrik showed an example of automating the pan position of an effect, perhaps moving it from "right 50" to "left 50" over time or for different phrases. This level of control allows you to precisely place your effects in the stereo image and make them interact dynamically with the music. You can draw these automation curves right into your DAW's automation lanes.

The Power of Contrast: Keeping it Dry

With all this talk of reverbs, delays, and creative effects, it's easy to go overboard. But sometimes, the most impactful vocal is a dry one. Henrik demonstrated keeping certain vocal phrases relatively dry. This contrast can make the effected sections feel even bigger and more dramatic when they hit. Don't underestimate the power of a focused, upfront vocal cutting through the mix.

Achieving Architects-Level Vocals (And Learning More!)

So, to recap Henrik Udd's approach to those killer Architects vocal effects:

• Balance Reverb: More on cleans, less on screams (think Lexicon).
• Creative Textures: Utilize reversed reverbs (Pro Tools AudioSuite is your friend) and long, panned reverbs.
• Shimmer it Up: Try sending reverbs into other reverbs.
• Add Movement: Employ auto-panners and detailed pan automation.
• Filter Wisely: Use EQ to clean up and shape your effects.
• Contrast is Key: Don't be afraid of dry vocals.

These techniques offer a fantastic window into how sophisticated metalcore vocal production is achieved. Applying these ideas can seriously level up your own vocal mixes.

Want to see exactly how producers like Henrik Udd dial in these effects, set up their sends, automate parameters, and make every vocal element sit perfectly in a dense metal mix? At Nail The Mix, you get to be a fly on the wall. Each month, you get access to the actual multi-tracks from huge metal songs – including sessions from bands like Architects (check out the Architects NTM session here!) – and watch the original producers mix them from scratch, explaining every decision. If you’re ready to go beyond presets and truly Unlock Your Sound, seeing these pros in action is invaluable. Dive deeper into the Architects mixing session with Henrik Udd and transform your vocal productions!