FINDING YOUR VOICE
Vocals make tracks memorable. Whether you fancy yourself as a secret beatboxer or take pride in screaming along with guitar solos and synth hooks, it’s difficult to deny that it’s the combination of melody and lyrics that provides the most natural and irresistible pull towards the world’s favourite tracks. In this feature, we’re looking at vocal production, and offering advice on how to capture sensational lead vocals, as well as how to create the kind of one-off tricks and harmonies that dominate the pop- and dance-music landscapes.
LET’S HEAR THAT AGAIN
Vocal recordings can only be as good as the sum of their parts, and there are many considerations and potential obstacles that lie between you, your performer and an A-grade beautiful-sounding vocal. Here, we’re going to follow the chain of events from start to finish but leave out the most important consideration, to which we’ll return shortly. We’re kicking off with one of the most significant decisions any engineer has to make. Before you can start recording and mixing your vocal, you’ll first have to select a suitable microphone.
Broadly speaking, studio-based vocal recordings will benefit from the use of a large-diaphragm condenser microphone. If you head to a professional studio to carry out your vocal recordings, you’ll likely find a microphone cupboard replete with bespoke mics from which you’re free to choose.
The message should be clear: there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to vocal recording. Different voices and performance styles lend themselves to different microphones. Some mics sound astonishing on softer, warmer, more intimate vocals, where others respond better to singers who like to open up and belt out their words and phrases. Some mics are better attuned to capturing lavish top end, others the richer, bolder midrange. All mics have their own sonic character. Below, we’ve highlighted some popular vocal microphones that should give you an idea of what’s on offer.
Even the world’s greatest gear and recording techniques can’t salvage a rotten take
After selecting your mic, you’ll need to decide whether or not to add a dedicated recording channel before your audio interface. Most audio interfaces allow you to enable phantom power (which you’ll need if you’re using a condenser microphone), as well as to configure recording levels. It’s possible, then, to record vocals directly into your DAW without adding a channel-strip stage before the interface. However, just as your microphone choice will have a significant bearing on the vocal sound, so
