Vocals on Ayreon's Human Equation

[Irish]

First off, I'd like to say that I just got this album and it's one of the most incredible things I've ever heard.

Secondly, I'm curious about some of the vocal techniques used, it sounds like 90% of the album is either multiple people singing together or a whole lot of overdubbing.. Anyone familiar with sound engineering and can explain how this effect was achieved? All the vocals sound very powerful, and I have a feeling that if this was performed live it wouldn't sound so "epic". But then again, I could be wrong.

If anyone has any thoughts, feel free to share.

[salty]

I've got a thought.

That album is amazing!

How's that for a thought? \m/

[Nick]

well..probably both, lots of vocalists and plenty of over dubbing too.

theres about 10 or so vocalists on that album and they're all awesome.

[lighthouse]

Well...I`ve seen the Star One DVD and they achieve a really powerful sound live with just five singers.....imagine what they can do with 11.......!
hmmmm.......well maybe you couldn´t do it with Devin Townsend`s parts
but anyway......



Juan Pablo

[Liquid Shadow]

Yeah, there's tons of layering through the whole album.

Devin Townsend is so awesome...as is everybody else on it. Clayton was the only one I wasn't too fond of at first...sounds weird on Day 2...kinda goofy low opera voice...but on the rest of the album his parts fits pretty well. All the singers did a fantastic job, and Arjen picked the perfect people for the emotions they each played.

This album = your master.

[Irish]

Agreed.. I'd never heard of Devin Townsend before this album, but he absolutely rocks!

Arjen is my hero. 8)

[Georges]

As for your engineering related question, in the case of this album it's not actually an effect but rather a layering of multiple vocals, each recorded seperately - cutting and pasting, maybe some time slicing with the computer is not a problem anyways. However, there are also special vocal effects allowing to hear intervals or chords when only one vocalist sings at one time and only once - they sound more artificial though...

Regarding Devin Townsend, he's absolutely amazing, the power and expressiveness (rage!) of his voice is quite unique. He also sang on Steve Vai's Sex&Religion, excellent performance as well, not to mention his own band under his name.

But there are also other great vocalists on this album (Ayreon) such as JLB, "Anger", "Pain", etc. The only one I miss is DC Cooper. :wink:

As for the female vocals, it really depends on the songs; I don't like e.g. Day 4 because the female vocals sound too much like choir, whereas the real expressiveness of those voices comes way too short. In rock music (or in whatever derivated style), expression and dirt is more important than technical proficiency and clarity - it's like the difference of dirt between analog/VA synths and the same sounds on a contemporary digital workstation. Rock needs dirt!

[Kurzweilfreak]

I agree, DC Cooper has an incredible voice, and some pretty damn cool songs from the ones I've heard. :)

I definitely need to pick up some of the Ayreon albums. All the stuff I've downloaded and listened to is awesome. Just need to save up some money first. :( I want them now!

Let's start a "Get Brett some Ayreon albums" donation fund. Email me to know where to send money. :P

[Keyplayer]

I definitely need to pick up some of the Ayreon albums. All the stuff I've downloaded and listened to is awesome. Just need to save up some money first. :( I want them now!

Let's start a "Get Brett some Ayreon albums" donation fund. Email me to know where to send money. :P

I even don't have the money to buy Rhythm of time, so I'd say start a foundation fund for that first! :lol:

[Kurzweilfreak]

Nah, I'll just get that from Jordan. ;)

[Irish]

Speaking of Ayreon and how great it is, I don't suppose anyone knows how to play any of this album? I'm eager to learn, but my ears are terrible and I know it'll be awhile before anything comes out. I really want to learn the riff in Hope, because that has such a great key sound.

Also the guitar part of Loser, because it's so catchy. :)

[rifaa]

This is definitely a very good album, haven´t tried to play anything of it yet. Especially like the vocals of Devon Graves and Eric Clayton. I´ve always been a great fan of Psychotic Waltz, so I knew Devon´s incredible vocals, but since listening to Ayreon´s album, I´m also a big fan of Eric Clayton and Saviour Machine, they have some incredible songs (check out "American Babylon", that is SO beautiful!), though their Old Testament Show is probably not everyone´s cup of tea. Only Mike Baker is a bit disappointing IMO.
Also most of the instruments on the album (except the keys and the drums - but especially the guitars) are not blowing me away, though they still contribute to the good overall quality of the album.