How to Get Ready to Record Your Vocals
You’d think that preparing to record vocals might be the same as preparing your voice to go on stage. But it’s actually different. As a musician myself, I have had to prep my voice for stage and recording sessions. As a producer and a voice teacher, I help people prepare for both.
If you think of it in sports terms, you could think of them as two different athletic events. There is some overlap, but there are also a lot of differences. On stage, you have to think about your stage presence, your connection to the crowd, your volume, your mic technique, your positioning... everything.
But when you’re recording your vocals, you can be in your sweatpants, and take lots of breaks. Even 30 seconds makes a huge difference. But you want to maximize the time you have to record. There are some things you want to take care of before that clock starts.
Are you ready to make some sweet music with that beautiful voice of yours? Great. We want you to be as prepared as possible.
Understand Your Voice
What do you sound like at different times of the day? What are some of your vocal tendencies? Are you more dynamic, breathy, raspy? Before recording, take the time to really understand your voice. You can do this by listening to recordings you make of yourself (either at home or during lessons).
Know your voice well enough that you can maintain stamina throughout the recording session. Your voice will naturally wake up and sound clearer as you go throughout your day. So if your recording session is on the earlier side, you might have to wake up earlier, increase your warm-up length, eat a dairy-free breakfast. If you want to capitalize on a raspier sound, earlier might be better for you.
Practicing your specific vocal techniques with your teacher before your recording session will make you sound better. But it will also help you test your placements so you don’t hurt yourself during the actual recording.
Check out my post on protecting your voice for gigs. The same tips on being healthy and getting good sleep apply. Have good techniques. Hydrate and warm up. Make sure that you’re well rested before your recording session. Drink plenty of room temperature water.
Know the Material
We can’t always control when we need to have a recording of our music, or how far along our song is when that happens. Sometimes, your song isn’t fully written and that’s ok, at Amber Light, we can totally help you with that. Because you can have the lyrics to your song handy while you record there can be a temptation to prepare less.
In an ideal world, you’d come into your recording session having written your song and practiced it over and over in several voice lessons. You’ll want to know it like the back of your hand so you can focus on being inside the song.
Think about how you want it to sound. Internalize it if you have that luxury. It makes a big difference. Think about how you’re going to deliver it. Once you’ve practiced it until it’s second nature, you can really play around with different versions. Your producer will have the most variety to play with while editing.
Don’t Overthink it
First off, you can relax. The recording does not have to be as nerve-wracking as performing. Because you can take all the breaks you need, and re-do parts over and over, you have more time to get it just right. You’re not even recording an entire lead vocal all the way through. You record a verse, then a chorus, etc. You break it down over several sessions.
But our nerves can still get the best of us. The recording process is expensive, and it’s the culmination of a lot of hard work. It can feel crippling. Sometimes, in an attempt to get the perfect recording, we stifle ourselves.
You should have a general idea of how you want it to sound, but don’t be too precious about it. The idea of practicing a bunch is so you can be really free when you’re recording. Don’t be afraid to let go. Have fun! You’re making art. You’re making stuff for people to enjoy.
Understand Microphones
It’s good to go into your recording session knowing a little bit about microphones. That way you know how you can use them and what they can do for you. If you understand microphones, you can play around with microphone techniques. You will begin to understand how far to stand for your voice, and different parts of the song, etc.
Depending on the sensitivity, size, and shape, you may want to sing closer or further away. Everyone’s particular voice interacts with the microphone differently as well. That’s something that your audio engineer can help you with.
Microphones come in different shapes and sizes. You may have seen the large-diaphragm condenser mic before. If you have a softer, airier, breathier voice, you might like this one. It makes the airiness seem even “sweeter” than it is in the room. But the diaphragm is sensitive, so your placement matters.
Another common type of mic is the dynamic microphone it’s more “true.” It gathers more information from a variety of voices. They can take a ton of volume, and are a lot less sensitive. They’re a beginner favorite because they’re much more forgiving for someone who’s still learning.
Pick the Right Producer
The right producer will walk you through everything. They can help you figure out who you are as an artist, what your sound is, what your strongest songs are, and help you deliver the best possible performance. Here at Amber Light, we have two experienced producers that can help with all these things - and if they aren’t right for you - we will help guide you to someone who is!
From lessons to recording sessions, we want help you accomplish your wildest dreams. Give us a call or an email to book a production consult!
323-391-6093
AmberLightVoiceStudios@gmail.com