Performance anxiety

While the technical quality of any recording is important, it’s also vital that the performance is as good as it can be.

The first thing to consider when trying to extract the best performance from a vocalist is their level of relaxation. Before they arrive, ensure that the room is at a comfortable temperature, the equipment is set up ready to do a line test, and a rough headphone mix is established. The singer should be able to pretty much jump straight into recording once the headphone mix has been tweaked to their satisfaction, making the session flow more smoothly. Having some drinks handy – herbal tea and water, ideally – can also help to keep things moving, but make sure the water is at room temperature, so it doesn’t shock the singer’s vocal chords.

A major consideration when working with any artist is their personality – will they need an arm around the shoulder, or a kick up the backside to fully realise their potential on the day? It’s often worth discussing all of this subtly with your vocalist before you start recording, as a sensitive soul will typically deliver better results with praise and encouragement, while a more confident or experienced singer might prefer to be spoken to in a more direct manner if it encourages them to perform at their best.

This particular part of the puzzle becomes more complicated, however, when you’re recording yourself. In that situation, record absolutely everything, including warm-ups, as you might find the first few takes end up being the best ones, even if they don’t feel like it at the time. Work through all the material you’ve put down and pick the best parts to comp together as a final take.