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Vocal Recording Tips and Techniques

The best vocal recording tips and vocal recording techniques are not what you may expect.
Because of technology, it doesn’t matter where you are recording vocals.

I have recorded vocals in the middle of a room, in a hallway, bedroom, practically anywhere and always end up with great results.
Here are some Vocal Recording Tips and Techniques that will dramatically improve your vocal recording quality and give you the same results:

The secret is having a hardware preamp, hardware compressor and a condenser mic. They don’t need to be expensive. From there, have a popper stopper about 2″ away from the mic and make sure the vocalist is always an inch from the popper stopper. By using this method, you can record vocals anywhere so that you capture that great performance. This gives you the option to be creative and inspired anywhere the creative vibe chooses you. After everything is recorded, then you add compression, maybe some limiting and EQ to boost them just right.

The goal is to make sure you get the hottest recording signal level without clipping or any vocal distortion. Many clients who sent us their project to mix have vocal recordings that are distorted, noisy or clipping. Something ‘just wasn’t hitting’ but they couldn’t explain it. The goal is to have the preamp input set to where no clipping can happen on the input, through the compressor and into the recording system. Once that was explained to the client, they re-recorded the vocals and the mix and master came out great.

If you use a mic directly plugged into an interface, you don’t get enough volume and end up with a lot of noise. When the signal gets compressed after recording, more noise is heard while increasing the volume of the vocal.

When using a preamp and compressor while close miking the vocals, you’re getting nothing but voice. In most sound proofed rooms, they don’t close mic but instead get the room sound in the recording with the vocalist sometimes a foot away from the mic and many others in the same room too. This works and sounds great but its not the only way to get a great vocal sound.

On a final note, I do not recommend USB mics. While having a USB mic is a great advantage, if the mic doesn’t have an XLR connection to use with the preamp and compressor, don’t go for it. The limitation is not worth the investment. For the condenser mic, what to look for is a mic that has the hi pass filter on it and then the 3 recording modes – Directional, Omnidirectional and Figure 8. Getting a mic with all these features will give you advantage in any recording situation to get the best results for minimal price.

Presonus makes some of the most affordable and great sounding mic preamp and compressors for next to nothing. These are great to start with at any level. I also recommend Art too. The main difference between inexpensive and overpriced compressors and preamps is this: inexpensive units do their work. They process the sound, boost it, add warmth and are very transparent – what you hear is what you get. Expensive units add a ‘sheen’ to it. They ‘color’ the sound in a way that only that specific piece of gear can. At the end of the day, having that ‘sheen’ is great but really, if the vocals are crisp, clear and the performance is on it, thats all that matters. Music is getting released way too fast to get hung up on validating your music by what equipment is used..

Here are a few inexpensive options to start practicing this vocal recording tutorial.

Single Channel:
$100 PreSonus Comp 16 mic compressor
$100 PreSonus TubePre mic preamp

Dual Channel:
$179 ART TPSII 2 Channel Preamp
$289.95 ART MPA Gold Mic Preamp (2 channel digital ins and outs)
$399.95 DBX 1066 Dual Compressor Limiter Gate (2 channel)

Tutorial: Vocal Recording Tips and Techniques
1) Research a hardware mic preamp, mic compressor and condenser mic in your price range. You can always upgrade later down the road but having this combination will make a HUGE difference at any level.
2) Benchmark your mic recording setup. Test the settings, tweak the preamp and compressor with one vocalist until you get a good solid sound consistently. Afterwards, test 1-2 different vocalists to make final tweaks.

If you need specific details on vocal recording and settings, setup a free training consultation below.

Best of Music Production School Articles

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Now its time to prepare for the new year and get your engine running.. From music production, music business, music creativity, audio software tutorials and audio recording tutorials, here are the best music production school articles.

How to Finish the Music you Start
7 Steps on how to see the light at the end of the tunnel with your song or album.

How to Detect a Poser in the Music Business
5 ways to find who in your circle is holding you back from your dreams.

Music is Meant to Inspire – are you?
No matter where you are in life and what you’re going through, the world needs to hear your unique contribution

Mixing and Mastering Myths
When myths spread like fire across music professionals and music hobbyists, lack of creativity, inspiration and a misguided focus results..

Talent is Never Enough
Pass this on to anyone who needs some encouragement and direction with their music goals and dreams.

EQ Settings, Music Production Equalizer Settings
This article will give you instant results as soon as you apply these principles.

Bass Drum Compression; Compressing a Kick Drum
Compression takes only one tutorial and then application until your ears here it. This is what you need to get started unlocking compression.

Selling Beats and Getting your Music in the Right Hands
As the music industry gets crowded, many people have asked how do I get my beats in the right hands, how do I meet big time producers, how do I get a manager, how do I get on radio, what’s the best way to get signed and many other similar questions…. All of these questions can be aligned with one simple and crazy answer…

If you need additional help in any of these music production school topics, please take a moment and signup for a free consultation.

Unblocking Creativity during Thanksgiving

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If you are frustrated, stressed or extremely busy, all these can hinder your creativity for a few days or for a few months. Especially around the holiday season, it can be very challenging. The goal is to prevent any type of creative hinderance so you can keep moving forward in your pursuits.

Here are 5 tips on how to stay creative during the holidays:

1) Comparison – Being in the information age with constant updates, tweets, facebook and more, it’s so easy to think that someone else’s life is better than yours. If we get too busy looking at what the next person has, we can forget to be thankful for what we have. There’s always going to be someone who has more and someone who has less. Instead of comparison, think on ‘what makes your life special and unique to you and only you’? Be thankful and think on those things instead. This ultimately will help keep you focused and creative to get you where you want to go on a daily basis.

2) Attitude of Entitlement – It’s easy to think we should be further along than where we’re at. Other times its easy to slip into being ungrateful for what we have. This tends to follow comparison. When comparing yourself to others in where they are at in life or what they have, the attitude of entitlement can tempt you into becoming discontent. Shake this off. Instead, look around your studio, your friends and family and focus on the good things. Truly give thanks for the bare necessities that are easily taken for granted. You’ll soon find a new found source of energy and creativity.

3) Think about What You’re Thinking About – Anyone who’s worried all day long knows how to meditate – that is, meditation on worry.. So what have you been meditating on lately? Are you keeping your mind on positive things as soon as you get out of bed…and throughout the day? Or are you sabotaging yourself with negative thoughts? Spend 15 minutes thinking about what you’re thinking about. Be honest with yourself and let it be ok to have negative thoughts. Process them and then move on. Think about what you’re thinking about… see how much better you feel and turn your negative thoughts around to thanksgiving.

4) Relationships – Relationships can make or break the holiday season. Focus on bringing new life and love into your relationships this Thanksgiving. Surprise that special someone with flowers or jewelry…bring your mom a sweet potato pie. We can’t go through life with catcher’s mitts on both hands. You’ve gotta be able to throw something back once in a while. Thinking of others can lift heaviness or irritation and introduce a new found spark of creativity.

5) Watch what you Speak: – So what do you hear yourself speaking about? Are you speaking your dreams and goals or do you gripe and complain to anyone who will listen? What you say knowingly or unknowingly effects your creativity. Do a test on this. Speak good things about yourself and music for 15 minutes and see how much more inspired and creativity you feel.

In summary, think about what you’re thinking about. If focused on negativity or pessimism scares away creativity and the ‘good vibes’ you need to transfer to your music and inspiration. If you’re having trouble getting a music kick start during the holidays, take 15 minutes and try a few of these steps to get back into your creative vibe.

Computer Music Production School Interview on America’s Web Radio

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Listen to the interview as we discuss how the Computer Music Production School started, how it works and why the school is becoming more favorable than typical music colleges and audio institutes.

America’s Web Radio (AWR)/Radio Sandy Springs AWR can be heard locally, Sandy Springs at 1620 LPAM. AWR produces over 45 live shows a week in their 3 studios. Cumulatively they have over 300,000 iTunes downloads monthly, their rss feed is over half a million monthly.

Visit America’s Web Radio Show Website

Listen to the Interview

If there is anything we can help you with, setup a free training consultation below.