Recording Vocals

Lots of subject matter has been written about recording vocals.  From microphone choice to mic preamps, the options are many.  We’re going to take a look at some basics of vocal recording to get the best results for your situation.

Considering mic choice and preamp – great results can come from trying different combinations.  The low-end preamp sitting mostly unused in your studio might be just the thing to give a great sound for a particular project.  That said, vocals typically benefit from a good condenser mic coupled with a nice preamp.  Large-diaphragm condensers work well with vocalists in most cases.  However, if the singer isn’t comfortable without holding a mic or has a very bold, loud voice, then a dynamic mic like an SM57 might be a good choice to try.   Some great recordings have come from singers holding an SM57 in the control room without headphones.  Keep in mind the goal of your recording though as a quieter, dynamic song might suffer from bleed coming through the vocal mic if headphones aren’t in use.  It’s a good idea to use a pop-screen in front of a condenser mic to help reduce plosives as well.  Have the singer around 6” away from the mic and you’ll have a good starting point.For the preamp, consider this, preamps typically fall into one of two categories; clear and transparent or slightly to dramatically colored.  A preamp that offers its own character or ‘color’ might be what you need whereas a more transparent one can deliver the detail and articulation that is required perhaps for a more dynamic song.  Trying different combinations of the mic and preamp is definitely a process worth taking the time to do in order to arrive at the right blend for a particular song or project.  Give yourself time in advance of vocal sessions and have different combinations ready to go in case your first choice doesn’t deliver the result you want. 

Some other considerations

-The room can affect the sound in a very subtle or dramatic way.  You can minimize the effect the room has by putting up isolation panels or sound-absorbing blankets behind the mic and behind the vocalist.  A device like the SE Electronics Reflexion Filter can help tame room reflections for a dry “vocal booth” sound allowing you to add ambience later during mixing.

-Comfort and vibe: The best performances are going to come from vocalists who are relaxed and comfortable.  Maybe a cool vibe with some colored lighting will be just what the singer needs to help deliver a great performance.  Working with the singer to provide them with an optimal mix in their headphones is critical to performance as well.

-Levels: Make sure you take care of the signal level before you start recording.  A digital “over” can ruin a great take and you want to be sure you’re able to capture even the rough run-throughs as they may end up as the keeper track. 

-Comping (making one take from multiple performances) is commonly performed on vocal recordings.  A good approach to getting a great take is to have the singer sing through the song 3-4 times. 

Like all recording processes, great results can come from accidental combinations so don’t be afraid to toss out the rules and experiment!