The vocal is arguably the most important part of your recording session. If the vocals of the song are compelling, the recording can be powerfully irresistible.
Every singer has a different style and delivery. David Lee Roth used to smoke cigarettes and eat cheeseburgers to get his voice to sound how he wanted it to. But, we’re not all David Lee Roth. Most of us need to take proper care of our voice at all times.
One of the most important components of effective voice care is hydration. If your body is hydrated so are your vocal chords. Try to drink plenty of liquid at least one hour before you cut your track and bring liquids into the studio with you. Water is best, but anything that provides hydration will work. Remember, caffeine has a diuretic effect, meaning it actually dehydrates you so minimize your caffeine intake before a recording session.
Don’t forget to warm up your voice with some vocal exercises for about ten to fifteen minutes before heading into the booth.
When I’m in the booth singing, I like to have someone in the control room who is focused solely on me and my vocal. I use them as a sounding board as it can be difficult to discern if a take sounds good or bad. The first thing to listen for is pitch. If you can’t hit the pitch, you need to modify the line. I believe it’s more important to hit the pitch, than to “emote”. Of course, if you can hit the pitch and emote at the same time, that’s ideal, but pitch always comes first for me. So, work with your partner to make sure everything sounds perfectly in pitch. If that isn’t a problem, work on the emotional value as well. If it’s a good song with a good lyric, being in tune might be the only thing the song requires.
Photo: Sound Isolation Booth for Vocal Recording at Taylor Sound
Bonus tip:
Always save the first take. I’ve been in a lot of recording sessions. The first vocal take is almost always the best of the day. There is a freshness that happens in the first take. The emotion is there. The voice isn’t fatigued. Go ahead and sing it a few times, but you might find that you come back to first take, so make sure it’s saved. You can make a couple edits and call it a wrap.
Rock On! -Perry
