Vocal Intelligibility
Last newsletter we looked at Speech Intelligibility. In this issue we are considering the intelligibility of the lyrics of songs that are sung in a House of Worship.
Secular music may have words, but understanding all the words is often less important to our enjoyment of the music than other factors such as a catchy tune, or a rhythm that is good for dancing. By contrast what separates sacred music from secular are the words. They may be prayers, or thanksgiving, or encouragement, but in all cases they are important. Even instrumental versions of favorite hymns are sacred only because they remind us of the words that are often sung to that music, and we sing along either out loud or just in our heads.
However, the fact that we can listen to a familiar tune and “hear” the words in our heads can lead us to perform and mix music in such a way that the words are not clear and intelligible to those who are not familiar with the song in question. It is critical that both the musicians and those running the sound system consciously keep this factor in mind, and play and mix with an ear to how those new to the HOW will hear the lyrics. Just because you can follow the lyrics as they are sung does not mean that anyone unfamiliar with the music will be able to do the same.
Hearing degrades with age, and the older members of the congregation will have a more difficult time distinguishing the words in the presence of music than the young. When a young person with excellent hearing is mixing, they need to constantly remind themselves that not everyone hears as well as they do.
So what can be done to improve vocal intelligibility? First the musicians need to consider how the music is arranged. Instruments that play in the critical vocal intelligibility range starting around an octave above middle C and going up need to consider how and when they should play. First they should not overpower the vocalists with level. They may consider playing around the lyrics filling the spaces between the words. They may even consider transposing the part they are playing down an octave or two so their instrument does not “mask” the lyrics.
Singers need to pay attention to their diction and pronunciation. Words that are not sung clearly may get by in a vocal solo, but once the voice has to compete against the other instruments, diction becomes much more important.
The mix musician needs to properly balance the instruments and voices, paying particular attention that the instruments do not mask the voices and degrade intelligibility. Just as for the spoken word, using high pass filters on vocal mics is important. Boosting the intelligibility frequency range from 1000 to 4000 Hz in moderation can help vocals stick out a bit in the mix. Likewise applying a broad but moderate dip in that range to instruments can sometimes help reduce the amount they mask the voices.
Most important is the level balance of voices and instruments. Properly done the lyrics will be clear, with the instruments around them supporting but never masking the words.
Ray A. Rayburn
Ray@K2Audio.com
http://www.K2Audio.com/
