Mix and master R&B vocals in your browser
To mix and master R&B vocals, put your vocal and your beat side by side in Lyro’s studio, which runs in your browser. Start the vocal on the “Vocal, warm” preset and the beat on “Beat, under a vocal”, balance the two, then master to the Streaming target (-14 LUFS) and export WAV.
Mixing and mastering run on your own device, so they cost no credits, on every plan.
At a glanceR&B
| Tempo (BPM) | 60 to 100, most often 65 to 90 |
|---|---|
| Keys | minor keys with extended chords (sevenths, ninths, elevenths), often E minor or F minor |
| Feel | laid-back and swung, snare or snap on two and four, hi-hats often in triplets or rolls |
| Signature sounds | a close, breathy lead with melisma, stacked harmonies and ad-libs, extended electric piano chords, a deep 808 or sub bass, and slow swung drums with snaps |
| Song form | usually verse, pre-chorus and chorus with subtle changes between them, a bridge that strips back to keys and voice, and a last chorus full of ad-libs |
| Vocal preset | Vocal, warm |
| Beat preset | Beat, under a vocal |
| Master target | Streaming, -14 LUFS |
How it goesThree steps
- Drop in your vocal and beatLyro reads the tempo, so the waveforms snap to the beat grid and timed effects land on the beat.
- Shape and balanceStart from the suggested presets in the table, then adjust the low cut, EQ, compression, reverb and delay until the R&B vocal sits where it should.
- Master to a target and exportPick the loudness target, compare before and after, and export WAV with its loudness and true peak shown.
Tips for this genre
The voice is the main instrument in R&B: a close, breathy lead with melisma (several notes on one syllable), falsetto, stacked harmonies and ad-libs that answer the main line.
- Use “Vocal, warm” and keep the lead close: little reverb on the lead itself, more on the harmonies and ad-libs.
- Pan the stacked harmonies apart and set them several dB under the lead, so the lead keeps its intimacy.
Where the limits are
- This is a mixer you operate, not an automatic mix; the presets are starting points.
- It shifts pitch but does not correct it: apply pitch correction (auto-tune) before you upload, if you want it.
- It has no de-esser and does not load third-party plug-ins.
- Phones have less memory than computers; long projects with many tracks belong on a laptop.
Questions
What loudness should I master R&B to?
Start at the Streaming target, -14 LUFS. R&B lives on dynamics and space; a calmer target keeps the breaths and the quiet lines that make it intimate. The studio shows the measured loudness and true peak when you export.
Does mixing or mastering cost credits?
No. The studio runs in your browser, so nothing is sent to a model while you mix, and it costs no credits on any plan.
Can I mix a beat and a vocal I made somewhere else?
Yes. Upload any vocal and beat, or stems, and mix them in the studio. You need the rights to what you upload.
Can the studio auto-tune my vocal?
No. It shifts pitch by semitones and fits a clip to the project tempo, but it does not correct pitch. If you want that sound, apply it before you upload.
Related
More for this genre: A beat for your vocal, A vocal for your beat, Remix your song
Other genres: Hip-hop, Trap, Drill, Pop, Afrobeats, Reggaeton, Rock, Acoustic folk, Lo-fi