The voice is just as much of an instrument as any other in the band. That means that it must be looked after the same way before and during a session to ensure that the singer provides their best vocal performance. While vocalists that have lots of studio experience know this already, they often concentrate so hard on their singing that they forget some of the basics, and that’s where the producer’s guidance can be crucial.
Here are a few quick and easy tricks compiled from the latest edition of my Music Producer’s Handbook to not only get the best vocal performance, but to keep the vocalist away from that dreaded sore throat as well.
1. Remember the 3 P’s – Pitch, Passion, Pocket. You need all three for a great vocal. While pitch and pocket can be manipulated with DAW trickery, passion can only come from a great performance.
2. The singer has to hear herself at the correct level to stay in tune. Unless the vocalist has a lot of experience, they’ll most likely sing sharp if not loud enough in the headphone mix, or go flat if they hear too much of themselves.
3. Ask the singer to avoid alcohol, dairy products, tea, coffee and cola before recording. All of the above will make it more difficult to sing by either drying your throat or increasing your phlegm production.
4. Choose the best key for the song. Better to change the key than have a singer hurt themself or sound bad trying to sing something that they’re not capable of.
5. Be sure that the singer takes good basic care of themself. That means getting lots of sleep and drinking plenty of water before recording.
6. Pay attention to background vocals. If they don’t sound good, then neither does the rest of the track!
7. Rehearse harmonies without the band or track playing first. This is almost a given during overdubs, since it’s much easier to learn parts that way, but many vocalists feel confident enough to jump right in using their ear. A few minutes of rehearsal beforehand can save time later.
8. Phrasing is everything in background vocals. Concentrate on the attacks and releases to stay tight.
9. Monitor the vocalist’s voices throughout the recording regarding the condition of their throats. If they indicate they’re getting dry, offer some warm water, tea with honey and lemon, or something like Entertainer’s Secret or Superior Vocal Health’s Throat Saver to keep them hydrated.
You can’t have a great song without a great vocal performance, and the above tips will help get you at least part way there.
You can read more from The Music Producer’s Handbook and my other books on the excerpt section of bobbyowsinski.com.
