Recording Vocals the Right Way

We are going to record 4 different microphones and compare the results.  Choosing the right microphone to compliment a singer's voice can make a big difference in the quality of a recording.

In this lecture, we go over the specifics of each of the four microphones that we use for our mic shootout lecture.  The principles covered will apply to whatever microphone you decide to use.  A few of the microphone features covered are:

- Frequency Response

- Polar Pattern

- Condenser vs. Dynamic

- Pad Switch

In this lecture we record each microphone separately.  

Playback and analysis of each microphone's recording.  We critically listen, and then choose which microphone to use.  

This lecture covers how to setup your DAW to quickly and efficiently record vocals.  We are using Pro Tools in this studio, but these concepts can be applied to most music software.  The use of a template can speed up and improve your workflow if it is done properly.

Before we can capture a quality recording, the artist needs to have a good sounding mix in their headphones.  This lecture introduces a couple of techniques commonly used.

In this lecture we go over how to set your preamp when recording vocals step by step, from the input gain and various options on the preamp, all the way through the output trim.

Compression is one of the most important tools to perfect when recording and mixing.  It can take a vocal that is too loud and tame it, bring up low breathy parts that might be too quiet otherwise, and make a good song sound like a record.  In this lecture, we cover setting the compressor in real time, and how to control settings such as attack, release, ratio, and threshold, and output gain.

How to record vocals into your DAW, (Pro Tools in this lecture) and also how to set up vocal tracks, stack vocals, and some vocal editing are covered in this lecture.

Many vocalists prefer to record through Antares' Auto-Tune plugin.  In this video we talk about how to set this up in "pre-tape" routing.  It records the pitch correction from Auto-Tune directly in to the audio file.  

Current technology makes editing audio simple and precise, and modern music production utilizes a great deal of digital manipulation and copy/paste editing.  This lecture covers some basic editing, as well as how to copy the recorded chorus vocals to play every time the chorus music plays.

This lecture covers how to combine multiple vocal takes in to one perfect track.  We listen to each take one line at a time, choosing the best take for each one of the lines.  This is usually done shortly after recording is finished.

Part 1 of the mixing lecture.  

Before finishing a recording session, it is a good idea to put a quick mix on the vocals and bounce the song out.  That way you and the client can listen to it later.  EQ, compression, expanders, delay, automation, and bouncing are all covered.

Part 2 of the mixing lecture.  

Before finishing a recording session, it is a good idea to put a quick mix on the vocals and bounce the song out.  That way you and the client can listen to it later.  EQ, compression, expanders, delay, automation, and bouncing are all covered.