A great vocal recording is composed of a number of important factors and techniques. The method by which each of these individual techniques is implemented determines the quality of the end result. Paying close attention to the production and recording stage gives you the best platform for post-production and mixing. The following list highlights some of the most important aspects to consider at the recording stage and the concepts are applicable whether you are a home recordist or an engineer working in a professional studio:
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PREPARATION & REHEARSAL
It’s important to feel confident and ready when the time comes to hit the record button. Confidence comes from being well rehearsed and warmed up prior to the session. The little things such as being well rested and hydrated go a long way. Also, have your lyric sheet ready and in a format that is easy to read and follow.
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COMFORT
If you are a producer or engineer managing a recording session, it is important to make the artist comfortable in the surroundings. Pay attention to the room temperature, ambience and lighting, have a variety of beverages available also. If you’re a home recordist, it might be something as simple as a quiet space with your favourite cup of tea.
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HEADPHONE SELECTION & MIX
A singer needs to be able to hear themselves clearly and in a way that creates the vibe for the desired performance. Take the time to ask the artist what is important to them in the headphone mix to bring out their best take. A touch of reverb is a great way to build confidence when recording vocals and helps create the right atmosphere. Also, a good set of closed-back (preferably isolation) headphones are perfect for getting a clean recording without any headphone spill. Nobody wants to hear a click track in their resultant recording!
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MICROPHONE SELECTION & TECHNIQUE
If you are recording in a professional studio, it’s likely you will have a wide variety of microphones to choose from. An experienced engineer will understand the tonal characteristics of each individual microphone and should be able to select the best one for the vocalist. Quite often, trial and error is an important part of this process and you may try a few different microphones before settling on the right one. For the home recordist or self-producing artist, a good large diaphragm condenser microphone is a great all-rounder. It’s important to also experiment with microphone technique and distance during recording. For example, an intimate song may call for the singer to be closer to the microphone (which creates a warmer feel, otherwise known as the ‘proximity effect’). By contrast, a screaming heavy metal vocal would definitely call for a greater distance from the microphone. Experiment to find the ideal placement to bring out the best in the vocals.
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POP FILTER
A pop filter is essential for taming plosives and sibilance from a vocal recording. There are a number of different types of filters ranging from standard cloth-type materials to aluminium screen filters. When used correctly, a decent pop filter will reduce the amount of post-production work required after recording.
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LEVELS
Setting your levels and gain structure in the recording chain is also a critical step in the process. It starts with the microphone (which polar pattern are you using and is there a low-cut filter built-in?), then if you have a pre-amp you need to set the correct level to avoid clipping. You may also wish to introduce a compressor to tame some of the peaks and prevent clipping. Then you have the levels on your audio interface/DAW, all of which need to be set appropriately.
Until next time,
Mike
Very useful as usual. Thanks Mic Nix Productions!