Recording Vocals Part III

So last week I talked to you about making the singer comfortable before you get started with the recording process. Here are some tips to make the recording go smoothly once you hit record.

Once you actually get rolling with the recording, be sure to talk to the singer. There is nothing more nerve-racking than being a vocalist by yourself in a quiet studio while the engineer and possibly the rest of the band are all in the control room. Even if you need a minute or two to set up a new track hold down the talk-back button and let them know, give them advice for the next take, let them know you're there.

If you are not getting the performance you are looking for, it is time to coach the talent. Do this in a constructive and productive manner. If you need to do another take don't just tell the singer: "Okay, we are just going to do another take of that verse". This gives the singer nothing to work with.. was the last take bad? Should they change something about the way they sang it? Were they out of tune in a section? These unanswered questions make the singer unsure of themselves and results in less than confident vocal performances.

Instead tell the singer things like: "You did a great job on the beginning of that verse, but it seemed like your energy was falling the further you went through. Try and keep that energy up all the way through, or we can try and break up the verse into two takes if that makes it easier." This gives the singer all the information, tells them how they can get a better performance, and gives them the option to control how they will perform the section.

Every singer is different and prefers different techniques. Some may want to get  in there and not mess around, while others want that personal touch to their experience. You can usually feel out what type of singer you've got in your initial conversation when they first arrive.

There will be one more part to the Recording Vocals series coming up where I will discuss techniques used during the mixing portion to bring vocals out in a mix that might be a little bit buried.

What are some experiences you have working with vocalists? Do you find vocals easier or harder to record than instrumentation, and why? Is there anything that I may have left out? Let me know in the comments below!