As some of you may know, recording vocals can be a challenging task, and even more so if the singer or performer is not experienced. Some people may have the knowledge of how to record vocals but not the means and some of you may have the means but are not . So here are 5 tips I came up with to make the process smoother.
1. The Singer Matters!
You can have the best equipment in the world but if a person does not know how to sing then that is just that. If someone has never sung before and never took lessons it might be a challenge to record a great vocal take. That doesn’t mean that you cannot record a good track sonically but if we are trying to achieve a good recording that would sit just right in a song, you need a good singer period.
2. Finding the Right Microphone
To get the right microphone for the vocalist you may have to experiment a bit. Setup two or three microphones in front of the singer and record a line or two into separate tracks. Later you can compare the takes before recording the actual vocal tracks.
3. Create the Right Atmosphere
Atmosphere is a very unique and important tool that effects how a singer can sound, besides just having the right acoustics. A nice light can totally effect how an artist feels at the moment and can make them more at ease to perform better.
4. YOU
…yes you! If you are the actual engineer, you have to make the performer feel very relaxed and comfortable. No matter how well of a singer the vocalist is, if you make them uncomfortable that would effect their ability to perform the best they can. Try to relax yourself and make the whole process fun. Dont be afraid to give them direction but make the process enjoyable.
5. Have Friend Help Out
If you are the vocalist performing and you are the engineer, I would recommend not to record yourself. Go to another studio or have a friend or someone you trust to record you properly. When artists create, having to worry about technical stuff can totally gets in the way. Also it would be great to get a second perspective since sometimes we are bias of our own performance.
I hope these 5 tips are helpful to you and always remember to keep an open mind and trust your ears, absolutely trust your ears!
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