Here is a small list of things to make sure you have before recording vocals, particularly for music. The list is organized from things easiest to hardest to fix in post-production, through mixing, mastering, or just general edits. Whether you’re an artist or a producer, it’s always a good idea to make sure you have these ideas in check before starting a recording session.
Volume
The first thing to check before you start recording vocals is also the easiest thing to fix in post-production, but will save you some trouble if you sort it out before you even start recording. Ensuring that the volume levels are satisfactory can help out with the rest of the session, and will save you some time in post-production.
Pitch
The next thing to check is pitch. Singers and vocalists range on their pitch abilities, but warming up the voice and to try and hit the proper notes is an important step. Certain notes and pitches can be fixed in post-production using auto-tune, however, a great performance that has some off notes doesn’t compare to an empty one with perfect pitch.
Sonics
Sonics is really the one thing that is mostly fixed in post production, however there are some aspects that can be fixed or adjusted during a recording session. For example, the vocalist standing too close to the mic can make the sound too “boomy”, or other noises interferences can make the sound seem unnatural and distorted. For the most part however, things such as “boomy-ness”, resonance, and distortion can be fixed in post-production.
Tone and Intensity
The tone, intensity, and sound of a vocalist's voice can only be fixed in post-production to a certain extent. A vocalist’s voice is the spirit of the recording, and the tone of the voice makes up a large part of the performance. Make sure that you have the right voice tones and intensity down before starting a recording session, it will save you a lot of trouble in post-production.
Groove and Rhythm
Groove and rhythm is another aspect of recording that is difficult to fix in post-production. A vocalist should be able to get into the mood of the song, and reflect that mood back into their voice.
Pronunciation and Diction
If you want listeners to be able to really understand and recognize the words you are singing or speaking, then your pronunciation of those words are really important. Diction in general is not something you can generally fix in post-production, so be sure to take the necessary steps to hone in on your enunciation of your lyrics or script.
Emotions
The hardest thing to get right during a recording session, but also one of the most important, is the emotions. The attitude or vibe or your song is something that can really only be sorted out during production, and it makes up for a lot. Successful musicians can use emotions to really enhance the feeling and quality of a song, so make sure you have the emotions down during a session.
Conclusion
Overall, make sure to always check back during a recording session to make sure you like the initial demo, and ensure that all the mistakes are things that can be fixed during post-production. Remember to give recording sessions your all, so you can be extremely satisfied with the end result after editing, mixing, and mastering.
If you need any help recording or creating a song of your own, contact us here. We look forward to adding massive value to your music.
So did any of these tips help? Let us know!
- By Julianna Martinek
