Dr. R On Tuning Vocals With Revoice Pro

Ryosuke Sakai has always been a music lover. 

He’s played the piano from the age of 6, learnt the guitar aged 15, and the bass and drums as a late-teen when his musical foundations were built.

After a brief spell as a dentist, he started networking in Japan’s music scene, meeting many people involved in A&R and music production. 

In 2005, he landed an instrumental programming job for SMAP, one of the biggest boy bands in Japan before writing two singles for Crystal Kay. That same year, Crystal Kay’s album ‘All Yours’ reached the number one spot in the Japanese charts and was the turning point in his career.

But over the years, Ryosuke’s way of thinking has changed. When he started making music, he was really only interested in composing backing tracks. But as his love for his craft grew deeper, his curiosity pointed towards the entire song - including melodies, lyrics and artistic personalities. 

This change in musical perspective brings him to where he is now.

Tell us a bit about your current projects

Right now, I’m working with a Japanese boy band making RnB music similar to the likes of Dru Hill, 112 and Jagged Edge.  It’s really exciting to mash-up beautiful harmonies and modern sounds and I really enjoy it.

I’m also challenging the worldwide market and often travel to LA for writing sessions. Next year, an Australian artist’s single I co-wrote and co-produced will be released. There are no borders with music.

What are the main challenges facing audio professionals and the music industry in Japan at the moment?

The main challenge is the shrinkage of the music market. The ways to enjoy music are changing and there are many kinds of entertainment besides music nowadays. We as music creators have to make impressive music that can attract people’s attention. It’s simple, but tough. 

What do you find most useful about working with Revoice Pro?

I always edit a lot of vocal tracks during the songwriting and production phase and Revoice Pro really makes it easier, providing accurate edits. The processed sound is truly natural and its compatibility with Pro Tools is outstanding. Both functionality and quality-wise, Revoice Pro is amazing.

Is there a particular ‘go-to’ feature you keep going back to Revoice Pro for?

I often use the ‘Vocal - Slightly Loose Time and Pitch’ preset when I double/triple vocal tracks. The algorithm is great. It is obviously always important to record a great vocal performance in the studio, but that preset gives a very natural feel. It makes the vocals tighten without them sounding too mechanical. The process is literally automatic, but I always feel a natural groove.

After working with various well-known artists over the years, what’s the most valuable piece of advice you would pass on to those starting out in your field? 

I think having faith in what you want to express with music is the most important thing. You’ll also need to have a unique characteristic, but be able to work within diverse situations.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the audio community?

The possibility of music is unlimited. I have had many wonderful experiences through music. We ourselves should enjoy music more!

Find our more about Ryosuke "Dr. R" Sakai over on his website here.

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