Whether you're creating a song or a podcast, recording vocals can be one of the most challenging components of any audio production project. In every memorable pop song, podcast, or voiceover, the quality of the vocal recordings needs to be clear, smooth, and distinctive.
To achieve this level of quality while you’re recording vocals, you need to use the right recording tools. In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to set up your studio equipment and how to use recording software and techniques to record the kind of clear and crisp vocals you need to make your masterpiece stand out.
What is vocal recording?
Vocal recording is a key part of vocal production and the process by which audio producers capture a person's voice using audio recording software in the most effective way possible. However, there are different challenges in each type of vocal performance.
Challenges faced by vocal recording engineers
A vocalist’s main objective is to have their vocal performance resonate with their audience. The audio engineer recording a singer, rapper, or voiceover artist must approach their recording methods in distinct ways, each type comes with its own set of challenges.
Singing challenges: In singing, recording vocals means pulling from one’s diaphragm. Although it’s an excellent technique to belt out a chorus, singers often fall victim to microphone popping. In recordings, popping occurs when a big breath of air is expelled and strikes the microphone, leading to a lower level of professional quality.
Rapping challenges: Rapping is usually an explosive intense form of vocal performance. That naturally leads to the same popping problems as singers face, sometimes even more so. Another big challenge rappers face during recording is breath control. Because of the density between the words and bars in rapping, the performer sometimes has a hard time catching their breath in between the sentences.
Another challenge when recording rappers is the proximity of the vocalist. Rappers tend to move around more in their performance, even in the studio. This can lead to inconsistencies in the vocal signal, making it hard to get a good vocal mix later.
Voiceover challenges: Unlike musicians, voiceover artists aren’t typically working with background noise. The lack of background noise can be great because they don’t have to compete with an instrumental in their headphones. However, in voiceovers, the vocal is the only part that the listener will hear, which makes it that much more important to get a quality recording. Proximity to the mic and room acoustics are factors that can have big impacts on the quality of a voiceover and should be considered.
Removing background noise from vocals
If you happen to capture disturbing background noise in your vocal take, there are tools to help you remedy this. Soundtrap's Vocal Cleanup (Powered by AI) offers a smooth noise reduction processing that surgically removes any unwanted audio in vocal recordings.
Simply right-click on the vocal region and pull up the Vocal Cleanup in the Soundtrap studio. Let the AI software identify the disturbance and automatically remove it with the click of a button.
There are numerous other challenges that each type of vocal performer can face. From sibilance to poor room acoustics, mic placement, and even keeping the recording levels of the incoming signal too hot.
Recording vocals that are pleasing to the ear is a talent in its own right. Luckily, you can overcome many of these challenges with the right vocal recording equipment, great DAW software, and a few tips and tricks that we will cover in this post.
