Tilian’s Signature Vocal FX: Kris Crummett’s Chorus & Delay Tricks

Tilian Pearson. The name alone brings to mind those soaring, instantly recognizable vocals that cut through dense mixes in bands like Dance Gavin Dance and his solo work. Ever wondered how producer Kris Crummett helps craft that signature vocal sound? In a recent session, Kris broke down a key chorus effect he and Tilian developed, giving us a peek into the magic. And guess what? It’s not just one plugin; it’s a combination of clever routing and specific effect choices.

Before diving into the effects, Kris pointed out an interesting compositional choice in the song he was working on: the first chorus doesn’t even have harmonies. This is because Tilian often incorporates multiple melodies within the chorus itself. This makes the verses and bridges, which do have a lot of layers and harmonies, stand out even more. This unique approach means the lead vocal and its effects have to carry a lot of weight. After the basic vocal EQ and compression that get the vocal sounding solid and dry, the fun begins. Check out the full session here. Let’s dive in!

Crafting “That” Tilian Identity: The Distorted Doubler

One of the first global effects Kris reaches for is a special doubling effect that has become a core part of Tilian’s vocal identity. While he often uses the Waves Doubler, for this particular sound – something they honed during the mixing of a Dance Gavin Dance record – they landed on a custom chain.

The Secret Sauce: MicroShift Meets Distortion

This isn’t your average, clean doubler. Kris uses an effects rack featuring Soundtoys MicroShift for that classic pitch-shifted doubling and widening. But here’s the kicker: before the MicroShift, he introduces distortion. The video mentions “distortion from CQ in an effects rack,” which could be a custom setup or a specific go-to distortion plugin. The key is that this light distortion feeds into the MicroShift.

What does this combo achieve?

• It creates an almost ’80s short room sound, adding a distinct character.
• It subtly enhances Tilian’s vocal, giving it a unique identity that’s present across his songs.
• While it might sound subtle in isolation, once all vocal layers are running through it, the effect becomes a clear sonic signature. Think of it as a character-filled, slightly gritty chorus that adds texture and presence.

You can hear this effect adding a distinct character, even when mixed subtly. It really helps the vocal establish its own space and personality within the track.

Building Atmosphere: Reverbs and Delays in Harmony

While the distorted doubler adds character, space is primarily built with a careful combination of reverb and, more prominently, delays.

Reverb: Subtle Support, Not the Main Event

For reverb, Kris often turns to FabFilter Pro-R. Interestingly, he frequently starts with the factory default preset, making only minor tweaks. On this particular Tilian track, the reverb is kept quite low.

Why so subtle?

• The vocal already has a bit of a “live room” tail, so the Pro-R is used to gently extend that existing tail rather than creating a whole new reverberant space.
• It’s about adding a touch of extra depth where needed, not swamping the vocal.
• The reverb level is even automated, sometimes being brought even lower in certain sections. For this track, the delays are doing the heavy lifting for creating a sense of space.

Delays: The True Architects of Space

Kris emphasizes that on this song, delays are doing far more than the reverb to create a lush, spacious vocal sound. He primarily uses Soundtoys EchoBoy for these tasks.

1. The Main Wash: Quarter-Note Ambiance

The first delay is a quarter-note delay that’s active most of the time, providing a constant sense of space.

• Plugin: Soundtoys EchoBoy
• Timing: Quarter note, locked to the song’s tempo (168 BPM in this case).
• Character: Described as a “washed out, mid-range quarter note.”
• Key Settings:
  • Feedback isn’t excessively long.
  • Significant low-end cut, all the way up to around 1kHz. This is crucial for preventing muddiness. You can achieve this with EchoBoy’s built-in EQ or an external EQ plugin.
  • A slight high-end cut around 13kHz.
  • Set to 100% wet.
  • Utilizes a single echo (not ping-pong or dual).
• The Result: This delay makes the vocal feel spacey and can even make the track feel a bit slower and more expansive than it actually is.

2. The Rhythmic Throw: Lo-Fi Half-Note Magic

The second delay is a half-note delay, used more as a “throw” – an effect brought in on specific words or phrases for emphasis and rhythmic interest. This one has a distinct lo-fi character.

• Purpose: To make certain parts feel even slower, more spaced out, and add a unique rhythmic element.
• The Lo-Fi Chain:
  1. Soundtoys EchoFarm: Used for the basic half-note delay, often with its built-in chorus engaged.
  2. FabFilter Pro-Q (or any versatile EQ): This is where the “lo-fi” sound is sculpted. Kris uses a band-pass filter, cutting both highs and lows to create that classic radio, telephone, or “filtered” effect. He finds this much more effective than relying on built-in “lo-fi” settings on delay plugins.
  3. Valhalla VintageVerb: After the EQ, this reverb is added to give the lo-fi delay a more ethereal, spatial, and “blooming” quality rather than sounding blunt and dry. Kris uses the Concert Hall mode with the 1970s color setting.
• Application: This delay is often automated to fill gaps between vocal phrases, especially in verses, ensuring there’s no “dead space” vocally. It’s not meant to be super obvious but adds a subconscious layer of texture and rhythm.

Bringing it all to Life with Automation

Static effects can quickly make a mix feel flat. Kris Crummett uses automation extensively to make these vocal effects dynamic and interactive.

Dynamic Delay Management

To prevent the two main delays from clashing and creating mud, they are automated to “trade places.”

• When the half-note “throw” delay (Delay 2) is active on a specific word or phrase, the send to the main quarter-note delay (Delay 1) is turned down or muted.
• This ensures clarity and allows each delay effect to have its moment without cluttering the mix.

The “Doppler” Panning Effect

Here’s a really cool trick Kris uses to add movement without resorting to “goofy” hard panning:

• The dry main vocal is automated to pan across the stereo field (e.g., moving from center to left).
• Crucially, the sends to the delays and reverb are post-fader and remain centered (or stereo).
• The Effect: As the dry vocal pans to one side (say, the left), the listener hears the louder, cleaner vocal in the left ear. However, the right ear predominantly picks up the centered delay and reverb tails. As the vocal pans back or to the other side, this perspective shifts.
• This creates a Doppler-like effect, making the panning feel smoother, more spatial, and less like a simple left-right shift. It’s a fantastic way to soften a panning vocal and make it feel more immersive.

Why These Vocal Techniques Work

Tilian’s vocal style, often featuring complex melodies and fewer traditional chorus harmonies, benefits immensely from these carefully crafted effects. The combination of the signature distorted doubler, the atmospheric delays, and dynamic automation helps his vocals:

• Establish a unique identity.
• Occupy a defined and engaging space in the mix.
• Maintain interest and fill gaps effectively.
• Move dynamically within the stereo field without sounding artificial.

These techniques, from the custom “Tilian identity” effect to the sophisticated use of delays and automation, showcase how thoughtful vocal processing can elevate a track. It’s about more than just slapping on a reverb; it’s about creating a cohesive and compelling sonic signature.

Want to see exactly how Kris Crummett dials in these sounds and integrates them into a full mix? You can watch him mix Tilian’s track “Ghost” from Sleeping With Sirens from scratch, explaining every decision, exclusively on Nail The Mix. If you’re serious about taking your rock and metal productions to the next level, seeing pros like Kris work their magic on real sessions is invaluable. Dive deeper into mixing modern metal and unlock your sound beyond presets with access to multitracks from top artists and detailed tutorials. Check out Nail The Mix to learn from the best in the business and get the full session with Kris and Tilian here.