Thomas Juth breaks down how he gets vocals to feel intimate, like the singer is right in front of you. His go-to move is smooth optical compression, using something like an LA-2A or the MHB Green Compressor.
Soft knee behavior lets these compressors control dynamics gently, without squeezing the life out of a performance.
The tube-like warmth in these units adds subtle harmonic richness, giving vocals more tone and a natural, upfront presence in the mix.