Production Tips
• Triggering Logic from an AKAI MPC
• Reverse reverb effect
• Breakbeats
• Recording vocals
• Working with acapellas
• Getting started
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Recording Vocals in the Home Studio
Level: Advanced
Posted: 20.08.07
The cost of quality microphones is coming closer and closer into the hands of the bedroom producers. There are two main types of Microphones – Dynamic and Condenser. Dynamic Mics tend to be cheaper and more durable, this is why they are always used for live performance. They can withstand high SPL (Sound Pressure Levels), and can be generally thrown around a lot more. The best example of a dynamic mic is the world favourite Shure SM58, which I'm sure you will have seen used in clubs and on the television.
Condenser microphones on the other hand are not suitable for loud clubs or concerts. They are much more sensitive, and you will damage a condenser by using one in a noisy environment. I learnt the hard way when purchasing my new Rode NT1 condenser mic, decided it would be fine to use on a drum kit! It was damaged immediately! So take care!
What condensers lose out in rugged use, they make up for in sound quality. This makes condensor mics the natural choice for recording in the studio. The price range of a condensor mic can be anywhere from £50 to £5000, but good sounding condensors can be picked up for as little as £150. Some good names to look out for are AKG, Rode NT series, SE Electronics; go to your local music store and find out what they have on offer. Another thing to remember with condensors is that they require power (48v or Phantom power). Most soundcards should be able to provide this if they have a Microphone input, if not you will have to buy a small mixer or pre-amp to get the job done.
The next thing I would advise to purchase after the microphone would be a good stand and a popper stopper! A popper stopper is one of those things that looks like a pair of tights wrapped round a metal coat hanger that covers the mic. This is to stop certain words (anything containing begining with B's or P's) hitting the mic and resulting in a pop. Put your hand in front of your mouth and say B or P, you will feel a little gust of wind hit your hand, its this that we are aiming to eliminate hitting the mic! A popper stopper costs about £15, as does a stand, although you can make your own popper stoppers (Look on the net for guides).
Ok, so you're ready to record, the track is sounding good, the vocalist is ready, here are some useful tips to make the session go smoothly!
1) First thing you should do is go into your DAW, and change your buffer setting on your audio hardware to 64 or 128. This will give you minimal latency, so you can monitor thru your DAW in real time. When working on your tunes you can have the buffer quite high at 512 or 1024 this will give you quite high latency (the time it takes from hitting a key to your computer producing the sound) but maximum CPU power, so you can use more instruments etc. But for recording the computer needs a lot of power to monitor with minimal latency, so a buffer setting 64 or 128 is best for this.
2) You need to make sure you get decent enough acoustics in room, you want the vocal to be captured as dry as possible! Try putting a thick duvet over a door and have the vocalist sing with their back towards the door. This will help a lot to cut down some of the reflections around the room, you can also buy small vocal booths from a company called whisper room. Another solution could be a special invention called a reflexion filter by SE Electronics, it attaches to your mic stand and provideds isolation from the rooms acoustics.
3) Next you want to turn off your speakers (to avoid feedback) and get the singer to use a pair of headphones. You want to position the stand so the mic is just above the singers lips, so they have to lift their neck to sing. This always produces a better performance and doesnt restrict the vocal chords! Play the track and let the singer get used to the headphone level.
4) When setting up recording levels get the singer to sing the loudest they possibly can. This will send the signal into the red on your soundcard, now ease off this quite a bit. As the singer warms up thru out the session and they gain confidence they will get louder and louder. So make sure you remember this and give them enough headroom.
5) There are many things you can do with the vocals when they have been recorded but we will leave that till another installment, but generally try and make the vocalist feel as at home as possible. Set everything up before they arrive so there is no time waiting around and killing the vibe! And also have luke warm water on hand for the singer!
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Production Tips and Tricks
Date Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 April 2008
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