Get the right mic levelsĪfter the mic warms up for a few minutes, quickly get the level into the preamp and on the DAW. If you don’t own a pop filter, you can make one from scratch with a sock or stocking cap stretched over a wire hanger. Always use a pop filter in front of the mic to tame your “P” and “T” sounds. Try close (two or three inches) or mid-distance (one foot) mic’ing, depending on which sound works best for your track. Listen with your headphones for the subtle differences. Place the mic diaphragm facing your lips (sometimes off axis, if necessary). Position your mic and pop filter correctly Remember, the most important thing to avoid is those reflections and echoes typical of hard floors, empty rooms and large rooms. You could even add a few rough wood panels to create a more natural sound. In any case, you can build a simple vocal booth using old blankets, curtains, mattresses and pillows. Keep in mind that there’s no way to go back to "dry" from a "wet" sound, so make sure the room has a controlled sound, leaning towards dry (not "dead" though).Ī bedroom works well because your mattress, blankets, cupboard and even curtains are all good sound absorbers.
You’ll want to avoid cavernous rooms with reflections and reverberated sound because it will affect the quality and the control later in the mixing process. In order to accomplish a great lead vocal sound in a non-professional environment, it’s a good idea to record in a neutral, dry room. Once you’re feeling comfortable, make sure your headphone levels are nice and you’ll be ready to go. If the vibe is off and you’re in an environment where you can’t relax, you’re already off to a less than ideal start. Get in the zoneĪs obvious as it sounds, the first step to getting a good recording is to set the right ambience.
One of the biggest telltale signs that a track wasn’t recorded professionally is how the vocals sound, so I’m going to let you in on a few pro tips to nail your vocal tracks with the gear you already have at home. Fortunately, with a couple of easy hacks, some production knowledge and little bit of patience, you can get your home recordings sounding extraordinarily close to what a professional studio might deliver.
Filippo is the founder/CEO of the Recording Festival, which gives artists the opportunity to record for free in the same studios as Michael Jackson, Muse and Bonnie Raitt.Įvery musician dreams of recording in a big, fancy studio with a world-renowned producer, but the honest truth is that most of us are getting by on a pretty tight budget. Guest post by producer, sound engineer and composer Filippo Gaetani, with contributions by Roshmond "Sum" Patten.