Record Great Vocals – no matter what kind of music you produce, at some point you will need to record vocals.
Vocals are usually front and centre in any song, so getting a good recording is critical. In this music production tutorial I discuss what I think are the five key things to consider when recording vocals.
Again you don’t need loads of expensive gear to record great vocals… just a little bit of know-how.
Record Great Vocals
In this video I go into detail
- Microphone Type (I’m using a Neuman TLM-103). Whilst you don’t need an amazing microphone to record a great vocal performance, different mics will impart different characteristics on a voice. However I’m convinced (although never tested) that I could hear the difference between an entry level mic and a more pro mic. But the fact remains that as with any recording, the quality of the performance is the critical factor. The best mic in the world won’t make a shit performance good.
- Microphone position – A lot of people record vocals in home studios. You want to position you mic to reduce the chnces of picking up background noises but also reduce the amount of natural room reverb. In order to have maxim control over your vocal sound in the mix, you want the recording to be as dry as possible.
- Plosives – This is the sudden rush of wind created by saying Ps and Bs. Get yourself a pop shield
- Singer Position – You need to think about where you want your singer to stand in relation to the microphone. Do you want an intimate vocal recording? Are you singing backing vocals?
- Singer State of Mind – This is maybe the most important part as singers can be delicate flowers. Again this goes back to vocal performance. The singer needs to feel relaxed, comfortable and confident and it is your role as a music producer to make that happen.
If you are starting out and a little unsure about what equipment you might need see this artcile about becoming a music producer
