Vocal recording

As a music producer, capturing raw and emotive vocal performances is at the heart of what I do. Over the years, I've developed a specific approach to vocal recording that allows me to get the best possible takes from the artists I work with. Here's a peek into my process:

Creating a Comfortable Environment

Before we even hit record, I make sure the vocalist feels completely at ease in the studio. This means keeping things relaxed, having good vibes, and fostering an atmosphere of creativity and openness. I'm a firm believer that a singer's mental and emotional state directly impacts their performance, so creating the right environment is crucial.

Getting the Right Sound Source

Once the singer is feeling good, I spend time dialing in the right microphone and positioning it optimally. Every voice is unique, so I experiment with different mics and placements until I find the setup that best captures the singer's natural tone and presence. This initial step lays the foundation for a great-sounding vocal take.

Embracing the Flaws

When it comes to vocals, I don't believe in perfection. In fact, I actively embrace the little imperfections and quirks that make a singer's voice human and relatable. Whether it's a slight breathiness, a subtle crack, or a spontaneous embellishment, these elements often become the magic ingredients that give a vocal track its character and emotion.

Layering and Comping

Rarely do I settle for just a single take. Instead, I encourage artists to do multiple passes, exploring different emotional levels and deliveries with each run-through. This gives me a wealth of material to work with during the editing and comping process, where I meticulously stitch together the best sections from various takes to create one cohesive, powerful vocal performance.

Letting the Music Inspire

Sometimes, the best vocal moments happen spontaneously when the singer is feeding off the energy of the music. That's why I often have artists track their vocals while the instrumental bed is playing back. This allows them to get lost in the groove, resulting in inspired, in-the-moment performances that might not have occurred in a dry, isolated environment.

Adding the Right Effects

Once I've got a solid vocal take, I carefully apply processing and effects to enhance and refine the sound. This could involve anything from subtle compression and EQ to creative uses of reverb, delay, and other atmospheric effects. The key is to augment the natural quality of the voice without overpowering or masking its inherent character.

Every singer, every song, and every session is unique, which is what makes vocal recording such an exciting and rewarding process for me. By following this approach and constantly adapting to the needs of the project and the artist, I'm able to capture vocal performances that are raw, powerful, and truly memorable.