BEDROOM VOCAL RECORDING
RECORDING VOCALS Armed with only a mic, a computer and a DIY ethic, we’ll show you how to record pro-sounding vocal tracks even in the most modest of environments
How to make perfect vocal recordings in your home
Vocals, along with acoustic drum kits, are without doubt among the hardest musical components to record to a professional standard, particularly if you don’t have access to a professional recording space. Yet vocals are a vital element in a vast number of modern productions.
Whether sung, whispered, spoken, shouted or rapped, a catchy vocal line can turn a fairly good track into a truly great one. It’s the one sound to which our ears are naturally attuned, and it tends to be the most dominant lead part in all manner of different tunes across a variety of genres. This all makes the process of recording the human voice absolutely critical.
Of course, there are many things that can be done to a vocal recording to give it some more depth, presence or sparkle, but the bottom line is that getting the recording right in the first place is probably 90% of the battle.
Recording singers and MCs used to be the preserve of full-blown commercial studios, with their dedicated vocal booths, rooms full of quality microphones and racks of high-end hardware processors. Nowadays, however, with some of the more affordable recording gear on the market, along with the sheer power of modern computers and just a little bit of DIY know-how on your part, it’s perfectly possible to get release-worthy results without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home.
Over the next few pages, we’ll cover everything you need to know about preparing your bedroom or spare-room studio for recording vocals or using the space you have created – or are just about to – from our feature on p18. We’ll give you tips on taming an overly reverberant space, crafting a homemade pop shield and minimising background noise, and the best ways to set up your mic, interface and DAW. We’ll also go over how to monitor during the recording process in order to get the best performance out of your vocalist. We’ll then show you how to find the best sound, record multiple takes, and comp vocals using Ableton Live (but the tutorial works with any DAW). So, without further ado, let’s get vocal!