In this series, we are going to use a resource put together by Audio Technica to cover how to record a wide range of sound sources from a solo vocal through guitars, bass, piano strings, brass woodwind, and percussion, before moving onto the drum kit. In part 1 we are going to start with vocals both solo and group vocals.

Throughout this series, we are using some excellent videos produced by Audio Technica and they naturally profile their own mics. But of course, you don’t have to use the specific Audio Technica mics they recommend. Take note of the type of microphone they recommend, like a large-diaphragm cardioid condenser or a hyper-cardioid dynamic microphone, and chose one of that type that you prefer and'/or own. What makes the biggest difference to the sound is where you place the microphone, not the particular brand and model of the microphone.

The most complex and dynamic musical instrument of all is the human voice. Here is everything you need to know to capture a vocal worthy of being the centerpiece of any recording.

Solo Vocals

You’ve got a great track down and now it’s time to get those all-important vocals recorded to make this a killer hit. If there’s anything that seems to get more people stressed, it’s recording the vocals.

The longer you spend trying to get a vocal performance right in the studio the harder it can get, so the sooner you get the killer performance better.

The key to a great vocal recording is a great vocalist performing at their best. Remember recording vocals is not an exercise is seeing how many takes and edits you can get down in a marathon session, it’s trying to capture the emotion and passion, with the least amount of stress.

So here are our top 5 tricks for getting a great vocal performance.

Know The Song

Make sure whoever is singing the vocals knows the song, word-for-word and note-for-note. Recording studios are never a good place to practise in, so make sure whoever is singing has prepared.

Your Preparation Is Just As Important

Make sure you have everything ready for when they arrive. For those who rarely use studios, sitting and waiting while you set up the mics, stands, DAW, etc. just adds to their stress levels. It might be fun for you to mess around with studio gear, but for a singer, it’s a turn-off.

What’s The Story?

Talk through the song before you hit record. Agree on what you are trying to achieve first in terms of the story and the emotion, then you’ll have a better idea of what technique is needed.

Prepare The Instrument

Relax the singer’s voice; get them a drink of something to relax their voice. Hot water with a little lemon is great. Stay away from stuff that clags up their throat, a full-strength latte may boost the energy engines, but it has the potential to stop the vocal in its tracks.

Record Everything

My top trick is to get them to sing the song a few times through while I check the levels before the real takes. It’s a blatant lie; I’m recording from the very first note and often because they don’t know it I get a great performance. The minute you say it’s for real, many singers fall apart.

Group Vocals

When recording a small vocal group, sometimes placing the singers around a single mic can allow them to naturally control the blend and balance in a way recording one-at-a-time can't. Here are a few ways to record a small vocal group as a single unit.

There’s nothing better than an amazing lead vocal, we all have our favourite vocalists, but often the unsung heroes (forgive the pun) are the backing vocal performances.

If you are yet to attempt backing vocals or struggling to get them right, then follow these tips to getting better backing vocals.

Create Backing Vocals That Suit The Song

If you have an intimate ballad then the BV may simply need to be a shadow vocal sitting behind the main vocal. This will often be a simple double, or a basic harmony, which can thicken or add extra weight to the main vocal. If it’s a full-blown rock ballad then it might need the full choir effect, but as with any other instruments in a track make sure they fit - sometimes a track may need no BVs at all, sometimes backing vocals make the song. If you listen to someone like Imogen Heap she uses vocals like an instrument creating otherworldly sounds.

Decide On The Language

Some backing vocals simply sing same part as the main vocals but adding harmonies, in other cases, they highlight certain parts of the vocal.

There’s still a place in music for Oohs, Ahhs and Doobie, Doobie Doos, not to be confused with the Hanna Barbera talking dog, who might sound cool on a track but costs a fortune to keep fed.

Tracking Tips

When tracking your own overdubs through headphones, then here are a couple of things that might help keep you in tune and in time. Firstly try panning the original into one ear and have your live monitor in the other, secondly, if you don’t like doing that then just feed the original through your headphones and take one of the ears off so you can hear yourself - be careful not to have it too loud to prevent spillage when recording, panning it to the ear you are using can help prevent that too. Check out the handy video below from backing singer John Perry, it has some handy tips for those getting started.

What’s Next?

In the next episode, we look at bass, both electric bass and upright bass.