Voice effects done right

Effects are seasoning, not the dish. Here is what works in finished recordings — and what listeners immediately hear as cheap.

Effects that work

Subtle echo adds space; light distortion adds character; layered pitch doubling thickens a voice. The common thread: applied at levels where you notice the absence more than the presence.

Effects that break recordings

Heavy robot effects smear consonants until words are unclear. Deep monster shifts eat intelligibility. If the effect is the first thing a listener notices, it is too loud.

Frequently asked questions