Vocals Revisited

In the large majority of music we listen to today, the lead vocals tend to play the biggest role.  One trend (especially in Country recordings) is to have the lead vocal completely at the forefront in contrast to past trends where it may have been blended more with the musical accompaniment.  With so much emphasis placed on the lead vocals, much has been written about the recording chain (mic choice, preamp, processing, FX, etc).  Since I've visited some of that information as well, what follows here are simply some tips for recording vocals from the perspective of the vocalist.  In other words, if you do the engineering part right you're set to capture the performance but how can you help the vocalist deliver a great performance to begin with?     

The comfort zone.  All of us like to be comfortable for the most part.  While there's something to be said for achieving great things by pushing people out of their comfort zone, it still stands to reason that performers in the studio should feel comfortable and relaxed so that they can concentrate only on their performance.  This is very true when it comes to vocals.  The human voice is not an instrument that can be tuned like a guitar.  Some days you have it, some not.  It's important to make sure that a vocalist has what they need in order to deliver their best.  Comfort is often key to that success.

-Sessions:  Find out what works for the vocalist.  If they're uncomfortable with headphones then try the handheld or stand-mounted dynamic mic approach in the control room.  Sometimes sacrificing bleed for a great vocal is the right thing to do.  If they like people around then having a few friends hanging out could be great.  Keep the number small however, you're looking for inspiration and support, not a party and a distraction.  If they like intimacy then keep the session down to you and the vocalist if possible.  Reassure them that what they do in the studio is safe - the world outside only hears the finished result. 

-Be ready:  Inspiration can strike at any time.  The practice run-through that the vocalist does while you're tweaking knobs might be "the" take so make sure you capture it.  It would be a shame if you missed it and repeated takes never come close to the magic of that first take.

-Be flexible:  What works for one vocalist may not work for another so be willing to adjust as needed.  Some may like a loud mix whereas others may prefer a quieter, stripped-down mix.  Take the time to accommodate them.

-Hearing:  No vocalist will give you a great take if they can't hear what they need to hear.  As part of being flexible, ask them what they need to hear for monitoring and do your best to give it to them. 

Realize that as an engineer or producer, you're goals should typically include a) getting the best performances out of vocalists and musicians and b) making sure the client is happy with the results.  When it comes to vocals, being patient and accommodating can go a long way towards making a vocalist happy and trust me, if the vocalist is happy, you'll be happy in the end with a great result as well.