First off, let me provide a SLIGHTLY different perspective on this topic than I’ve seen on the internet before. Otherwise, what’s the point of adding to the noise, right?
This list will NOT be about technical things. Let’s assume you know how to plug in a microphone, use a preamp to set the proper gain, etc. There are COUNTLESS videos on how to do all of those things, so I have zero insight in that regard.
Instead, I plan to share my philosophy on capturing emotive vocals in the studio, regardless of what equipment you’re using. I would ALWAYS take an amazing vocal captured into subpar equipment than the other way around. With that said, here are my Top 7 Tips for Recording Great Vocals.
Create a VIBE in your studio that makes the singer feel relaxed.
For me, this generally means lighting candles, turning off the overhead lights and maybe even putting the singer’s favorite color on my Phillips light bulbs that are in all of my lamps. I also usually have a little coffee table with water, tea, and whiskey if they’re over 21 and feeling like they need a little liquid courage.
INSPIRE them with an incredible “headphone mix”.
First off, don’t buy the cheapest headphones for you OR your singer. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in them, especially if you’re in a home studio. I’m way too small time to be endorsed by Beyerdynamic, so this is not an advertisement, but just go ahead and spend the money on some of their headphones. Singers say things like “wow these feel like pillows on my ears” (a quote from my sister Lanessa). They also sound phenomenal.
Secondly, give the singer some reverb, a good balance between their voice and the music, and make sure they feel good about it BEFORE you start.
2. Be PATIENT, POSITIVE, and HONEST
This is a three-for-one and I make no apologies.
Have you ever been the “artist” recording vocals? If not, you need to try it so you can better empathize with what that is like. The human voice the single most intimate and magical source you can capture (in my 100% factual opinion.) This truth is further dramatized when the artist is vocalizing their own lyrics (which is more common than not.)
With this for context, we as engineers/producers need to understand that it is OUR job to create a space for this magic to be harnessed. We also need to be competent enough to punch in on the recordings and splice different takes together (otherwise known as comping.) And MOST importantly, we need to do ALL of this with a patient, positive attitude. If you strip away the confidence of your vocalist, then go ahead and end the session there. It’s only going to get worse.
Lastly, when I say be “positive”, that does NOT mean to overly praise the singer either. People know when you’re bullshitting them. Don’t do that. Instead, make an effort to find what TRULY is positive about their performance (there’s usually something), and approach criticism with great care and compassion, NEVER forgetting the fact that this artist is putting themself on a limb.
3. Take a BREAK
When you’ve hit a wall, BREAK. Then break THROUGH it. Whoa, see what I did there?
4. Know when you “HAVE IT”
As a producer/engineer, how do you know when you “have it” if you don’t know what you’re listening for in the first place? Have a clear idea in your mind of what you’d like the end result to be, then find a way to get there without destroying the singer’s confidence in the meantime. In the process of having a “plan”, be adaptive and willing to adjust on the fly. If the singer has a “crazy” idea to try, then track it and decide later whether it sucks or not.
5. Know when to “QUIT”
I’ve noticed that when I spend more than an hour recording a lead vocal with an artist, it’s probably not going to get much better. Conversely, it will likely get worse. In this case, keep calm and MOVE the F*CK on! Figure out what YOU can do differently to facilitate the right performance next time. There are a million ways to get out of a bind.
6. RECORD EVERYTHING
I’ll be honest, some of the best vocal performances I’ve ever captured are from “demo” takes of myself and others. This is why I keep a quality microphone set up at all times. There’s something magical that can happen when you’re not THINKING too much, you’re just singing. Did you know that “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele is a DEMO vocal?? Thank heavens they hit record. BONUS TIP: When you say you’re “getting levels”, RECORD that take too. Literally, I mean RECORD EVERYTHING. DON’T MISS THE MAGIC. Okay I’m done yelling now.
7. Sacrifice sonic perfection for emotional perfection
Some singers (like Bono from a little band known as U2) don’t always like to wear headphones when they sing. Did you know that a lot of Bono’s vocals were recorded with a handheld SM57 (a cheap mic) with the music blaring through the speakers in the control room? This method of recording vocals is probably a nightmare for many engineers, but it seemed to work out alright for U2 didn’t it?
I’m not telling you to copy Bono (that’s not possible.) But what I AM telling you is to have multiple solutions for capturing magic. I have personally used this method before, and I’m ready to capture it in the best way possible when I need to pull out this trick. I turn the speakers as low as I can. I use an extremely “directional” dynamic mic rather than a condenser. I turn the click OFF or WAY down. And to be honest, it sounds great! It really doesn’t have that much more bleed than using headphones, you just have to approach it differently.
ANYWAY, I hope these 7 stream-of-conscious tips and my philosophy behind them were helpful to you. If you disagree with anything, I’d love to read your thoughts! Leave a comment below. I’d also be curious to know if any of these tips have worked for you as well as they have worked for me.
- Jeremy