Working with recording artists is not always easy. Some of them are perfectionists while others are very sloppy with their work, and one of the biggest challenges of recording vocals is managing egos and making sure that everyone sticks to the plan. You as an engineer will also be responsible for building the perfect environment for recording and helping a singer prepare for their session, so your work will start way before the singer and their team step through the door. Let’s take a look at a few tips to help you record vocals professionally.
Use the Proper Equipment
The number one most important part of recording professional vocals is not the skill of the singer or your skill as an engineer. It all starts and ends with the equipment that you use. You can always work around issues with a vocalist, but bad equipment will always produce bad results. So, you will either need to invest in top-of-the-line equipment and accessories or book a studio that has everything you need.
Finding an affordable studio in the heart of a big city might be difficult, however. If you live in New York, for instance, then you might want to consider booking a studio in the outer boroughs instead of going for one straight in the middle of Manhattan.
You could also get a studio in Brooklyn and get the same level of quality as any top studio in Manhattan as long as they have good equipment. A Brooklyn recording studio will give you all the benefits of a major studio and will make the logistics easier for everyone involved too.
Create a Relaxing Environment for the Artist
The way the room is set up will also affect the quality of the artist’s performance, so try to learn what the artist’s preferences are and try to cater to them. Some people like to have lots of people around during their sessions, and you should accommodate them even if it’s not your style. You have to vet who they’re coming with for your safety and to make sure that no one is too disruptive, however.
You also want to keep things like refreshments available for them. If they have a drink or spirit of choice, have it on hand too. You have to make the space as comfortable as possible with proper seating for everyone who’ll be there as well.
Don’t Be Afraid of Criticism or Compliments
While artists may have fragile egos sometimes, your goal is to soothe them. You need to give them pointers and constructive criticism when needed. If they’re singing too loud or too close to the mic, or they’re not enunciating their words correctly, you have to tell them even at the risk of offending them. If the mix comes out and the vocals sound muffled, then you’re the one this is going to fall back on, so be as clear and direct as you possibly can.
You also shouldn’t be afraid to let the artist know when they’re doing something good. This will create positive reinforcement and help them develop the proper technique.
Set Your Levels Correctly
If you set your levels properly at the beginning of the session you won’t have to keep playing with them the whole time. Have the singer sing a particularly loud part of their recording to see how hot the signal is and start with the levels as low as possible. Remember, you can always boost a low signal, but you can’t do anything with a clipped one. Once you have your levels right, everything else will be smooth sailing.
Record Everything
Some artists will perform better when they’re not being recorded, and this is actually very common. It’s usually because the recording process and the pressure to perform well may get to them. So, we suggest that you get the artist in the booth as soon as they get in and have them do their practice rounds there. Don’t tell them that you are recording either. You might get their very best performance of the day right there.
Record Dry
One of the worst mistakes you could make when recording is applying effects right on the source recording. You can always add effects later, so there’s no point in doing that. If you use effects from the beginning, then you won’t be able to edit these effects out later, so always record dry. You will need to lessen the room reflections to get nice dry recordings, however, so look for a good filter like Aston’s Halo or sE’s Reflexion Filter.
Recording professional vocals take time and talent, but also patience and the right equipment. If you constantly work on your craft and learn how to work on the personal aspect of recording, your mixes will pop, and you’ll eventually start building a reputation as a top-notch engineer.