Singers are all different, and they’re all picky.
In this video, Alexa explains 5 tips for recording the best performance from your singer.
Keep your vocalist sounding happy, healthy, and confident by creating the ideal recording environment before they walk into your studio.
To remember these tips and more Download the Studio Vocal Recording Cheatsheet.
1. X Marks the Spot
Put a rug or marker on the floor for your singer they will stay there! They’re like cats! Give them a box and the’ll be happy to stay put.
That way you’re in control of the distance between the singer and the mic.
Untrained or primarily live singers tend to stand too close to condenser mics.
Dynamic mics, which are often used in live performances are less sensitive, which requires the vocalist to sing closer to the mic.
When using condenser microphones, your vocalist could be up to 1-5 feet away when finding the right sound.
For untreated or cramped spaces, Use a vocal shield to eliminate room reflections before they reach the mic.
2. Dynamic Breakdown
Break down your song by dynamics.
Record louder sections with a greater distance between the vocalist and the microphone.
Louder sounds will excite the space they’re in and can be a great source of realism if you have a nice space to track in.
Record quiet sections closer to the mic for a more intimate sound. This is also helpful when recording in small or untreated spaces where the room sound is undesirable.
Breaking up these sections by dynamics allows the vocalist to be at the best distance for each vocal delivery.
Record multiple takes of each section before moving on.
This will give you similar takes to make your vocal easier to comp.
3. Thirsty Singers are Bad Singers
Water helps hydrate your vocal cords, and keep the fullness to your singer’s voice
When possible have hot + cold liquids available for your singer to sip on.
stay away from dairy and sugary drinks as they increase mucous production, and cause voice cracks and pleghm.
Water and tea are the safest choices.
depending on where you live humidifiers are a cheap easy way to add more moisture to the air. Just remember to turn it off before recording.
4. Never Playback a Dry Solo’d Vocal
A little reverb goes a long way because many singers aren’t used to hearing their vocal isolated.
Quickly choose a reverb or delay before they come in to listen to the playback
Whenever possible, take notes while tracking to easily choose an acceptable take.
5. Match the Microphone to your Singer
Just because a Microphone sounded good on someone else doesn’t mean it will sound good on your vocalist.
Experiment with mic options, If you CAN set up 2 mics and save them both for editing Options.
But choose one for playback in the session.
You may find another use for the 2nd mic, for an effect, a harmony part, Or a blend between both mics
some singers have mics that contribute to ‘their sound’
Keep exploring to find which mics work best with your singer.
And remember, there are no wrong answers.
For me, I prefer an Advanced Audio CM47LE. It’s the perfect balance of quality sound, solid construction, and an unbeatable price.
For these tips and more, Remember to Download the Studio Vocal Recording Cheatsheet.
I’m Alexa, Thanks for Watching and happy tracking!
