The Ultimate Vocal Recording Guide: Techniques for Great Sound Every Time

How many times has a musician felt great about their sound in the studio - only to listen back and realize that they totally missed the mark? Luckily, this doesn’t have to be you. Getting great sound from your recording efforts doesn’t have to be a hit-or-miss operation. This guide does focus on vocal recording specifically, but principles can be applied to other types of music as well. Vocal recording has its own challenges and opportunities that we’ll dive into here.

Get Ready Intentionally

Not all recording projects are created equal; that’s a given. But regardless of the specific nature of the project, getting ready intentionally makes all the difference. A variety of powerful techniques go into this practice. For example, vocalists need to warm up before singing for a recording. In order for that step to be most effective, you first have to consider what the proper singing technique would be for this genre or recording style. Consider aspects such as posture, breathing, tone, diction, and tension for your vocalists, and get intentional about what you want before they even open their mouths to start singing.

That process of getting ready intentionally really goes to evaluating the sound you want. You may ask these questions to get ready for recording:

• Do you want background vocals?
• How are you going to stack vocals?
• Do you need to make composite tracks?
• How much tuning do you want for the vocal tracks?
• Are you going to add effects such as EQ, compressors, and reverb?

Of course, you can’t fully predict what sounds you’ll get in your recording. But the intention beforehand to consider what results you want will guide your recording process. The right preparation can bring you the great sound you hope to find each time you press “record.”

The Right Equipment Makes a Difference

If you want great sound output, you need great recording equipment and it can be tempting to assume that investing in the best equipment isn’t necessary. Think back to the junior high choir concert, where the grandpa who lovingly records his granddaughter’s solo on his video camera didn’t get close to the quality of the sound playback of the professional recording his wife purchased in the lobby at intermission. Both he and the cameraman recorded the same solo at the same time, but the difference was in their equipment: a difference anyone could hear.

So, how do you find the best equipment for your recording efforts? Here’s an idea: you don’t have to! Working out of a music recording studio has a variety of benefits, including the right atmosphere and acoustics, but a quality studio will offer one of the most important aspects of your vocal recording success: top-of-the-line equipment. When you partner with the right studio, they'll provide all the right equipment, so all you have to do is record.

Little equipment add-ins can make all the difference, too. For example, a vocalist can greatly improve the sound by singing the same way through a tiny but mighty pop filter. This important piece of equipment minimizes the effects of “explosive consonants” for a smoother sound. That’s just one small example of how your recording experience directly depends on the equipment you use.

Consider the Recording Process

When you’re ready, and you have the right equipment, the next stage is the recording process itself. There are a variety of aspects that come into play here. For example, a vocalist who feels disconnected from the sound engineer will typically not produce the same quality of sound as one who feels the unity of the singer, producer, recorder, and engineer. That intentional readiness step becomes relevant again because, with clarity of goals and preparation, everyone is on the same page regarding what the desired results are, which makes it more likely that the recording process will tend toward that end.

The comfort of a singer in the space can have more effect on the vocal recording than even the room’s acoustics (although obviously, you should choose a space with acoustics meant for recording). Mic positioning, similarly, can be extremely impactful on sound production. Small details of your process will determine what vocal recording you get in the end.

Editing is Everything

While it is crucial to maximize the quality of your input with recording in terms of readiness, equipment, and process management, your recording will always need to be edited. Mixing sounds is an essential part of your process, so don’t shortcut your way out of this crucial element of recording. There are many programs for mixing, but a virtual DJ experience may not be as powerful for your sound as an in-studio one - especially with the help of a qualified sound engineer. Take the time to mix and edit right: then your recording can be in its best shape possible.

It is possible to get great sound every time! Follow these techniques to transform your vocal recording experience.