Synthwave Tutorial: How to Create a Whisper Track

Whisper tracks are a well guarded secret that top producers use to add high frequency content to Synthwave music. Without a doubt, the technique has been used in countless RnB, Pop and Soul records to brighten the top end of a given track. Rather than boosting a shelving equalizer’s gain control, a whisper track is a vocal line that is whispered, high passed and subsequently deployed at key points during a chorus or drop. In this Synthwave tutorial, we’ll look at how to create a whisper track and use it to make tracks shimmer and shine. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll discover just how easy it is to add excitement to your Synthwave productions with a whisper track.

What is a whisper track?

Answer: During the recording process, vocalists whisper song lyrics into the microphone onto separate tracks that, when mixed together, brighten a chorus, verse and specific passage of an arrangement.

The Benefits of the Whisper Track

The whisper track lets you add high frequency shimmer without using shelving EQ boosts that add harshness to a mix. Overemphasized boosts beyond 4kHz can sound abrasive. When used correctly, the whisper track adds shine to your top end without excessive harshness.

Who Uses Whisper Tracks?

For years, top vocalists, background singers, and producers would whisper song lyrics on a separate track and add them to key sections of a song. Despite most Synthwave music being instrumentals, the technique is also applicable.

How to Create a Whisper Track?

Step 1

To create a whisper track sing a single note for a 1 bar (4/4 count.)
Be sure to use chord tones that compliment the key of your song. For instance, if you’re song is in the key of C minor, then sing a C, Eb or G. Feel free to experiment with other chord tones that use extensions such as the minor 7th Bb and 9th D.

Step 2

Next, select and crop a segment of the held note and import it to Ableton’s Sampler device.

Step 3

With your sample now imported to the Sampler, set up loop braces and adjust the device’s fades to create a seamless loop.

Step 4

Next use Ableton’s EQ 8 and activate a node to a high pass filter set at 10 kHZ. Add your preferred saturation plugin and saturate to taste. Widen the sound with the chorus plugin. Lastly, pan the sound from left to right with Ableton’s autopan plugin or Soundtoys Pan Man.
Finally, add sidechain compression if desired.

When to Use a Whisper Track?

With our whisper track now set up, you can deploy it during a chorus or drop. Be sure to roll off some top end of your synthesizers to accommodate its high frequency-rich sonic quality. Boost the whisper track’s fader until it adds shimmer to your musical passage. Use the A/B (toggle track on and off) technique and compare the difference. When the channel is muted, you should detect the noticeable drop in high frequency content.
Finally, ride the fader via automation to ensure it doesn’t interfere with instruments whose high frequencies reside in the same range.

How do I Create a Whisper Track if I Can’t Sing?

There are plenty vst’s on the market that let you incorporate vocals to your tracks. Finding one that spits out a single note shouldn’t be a problem.
Alternatively, you can always rely on vocal sample packs to hone in on a specific area to select, extract and crop, subsequently making it easy to import to Ableton’s Sampler device.

Conclusion

Although not every Synthwave track requires a whisper track you’re free to experiment with the technique. While equalization is still the most popular way to boost high frequency content in a song, whisper tracks can add a dynamic touch to your production. Have fun!