How to get pro vocal tracks at home

Many artists think that quality music can’t be made unless it is recorded in a professional studio.

We live in an era where you can start a millionaire business from home!

There are no excuses for not making good music. Because great music is not determined by the equipment used by us.

Yes, there are some essential elements to creating music. But recording in a professional studio is not exactly one of them. Many of the artists I have worked with; recorded at home using a computer, an audio interface, and a microphone.

Obviously, with quality equipment, you can achieve better recordings. But the quality of the recording doesn’t determine the success of a song. That is already more than proven.

The main thing is to meet the standards demand by the music industry. Everything else is added value. Believe me when I tell you that by taking care of your recording, even in your bedroom, you can obtain results worthy of a Grammy Award.

Proof of this is Billy Ellish, whose first album won 7 Grammy Awards, including RECORD OF THE YEAR. And this was recorded entirely in his brother’s bedroom.

THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WAS SHOCKED!😱

Trust me… You can. Here are some tips with which you will improve the quality of your recordings:

The equipment you need:

You need a computer (with a recording application), a microphone, an audio interface, a microphone stand, headphones and, a pop filter.

Whatever equipment you use, the most important thing is knowing its features and its correct set-up. That will help you get the best performance from it, achieving a better recording.

Setting up the mic:

This is one of the keys to get a good record. Place the mic according to your height. The average distance between your mouth and the mic may be around 10 and 15 centimeters. Although this distance may vary depending on the strength of your voice, the type of microphone and, the sound you want to give to your performance.

Getting closer, you will get a more “intimate” sound, with more bass and letting you notice more details such as the breath and the articulation of your mouth. Farther away, you’ll get a brighter, more spaced sound. Do all the necessary tests until you get the sound you are looking for.

You can also zoom in or out in certain parts to regulate the dynamics of your performance. That’s normal. But you must be careful to keep the reference throughout the session regarding your location and posture.

Never hold the mic in your hand. The microphone must be in a fixed position. To do this, use a stand or pedestal.

Always use a pop filter. This is a racket-like thing, which is placed between the microphone and the singer. It helps to reduce the blows of air and loud noises that some consonants usually generate when articulating, especially the P, but also the B, K, S, C, and Z.

Find a quiet place:

The goal is to avoid any noise unrelated to the recording. And I’m not just talking about street noise. I’m tired of listening to recordings where you hear cell phone tones, dog barking, air conditioners, hairdryers, and even computer fans. Once I received a recording where you could listen to the narration of a game between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

It’s important to use closed headphones so the track doesn’t slip into the recording. More if a subsequent Auto-Tune process is going to be used. IN-EARs are highly recommended for this.

Some electronic equipment such as fluorescent light bulbs and cell phones can generate random noises and static. Watch out!

Try to reduce reverberations in the room:

Natural reverbs or echo can make a recording sounds dope, but they can also destroy it.

One of the advantages of recording in a professional studio is that they tend to have acoustic conditioning. This makes the reverb somewhat controllable. Not so our bedroom or our garage.

Therefore, it’s advisable to try to “dry” the room. In other words, eliminate reverberations (echo) as much as possible. Try to cover the walls with blankets or cushions. That the sound has nowhere to bounce. In this sense, never record looking at a nearby uncovered wall. The bouncing of your voice on it can ruin the recording.

Never record in the middle of the room. This is where all reverbs tend to come together. Ideally, do it by looking at a spot covered with a curtain or something like that. A great place to record is a dressing room. Hanging clothes tend to absorb a lot. In case you don’t have one, sing while looking into an open closet. In both cases, you must be careful to keep a certain distance between the microphone and your clothes to avoid a boxy recording.

Close the curtains or blinds. Glasses, crystals, and mirrors are deadly. Try as you can to cover them.

Something that can help us is a MIC-SCREEN. It is a curved, U-shaped screen, covered with absorbent foam, placed around the microphone. If the room where we are going to record has little reverb, it will finish controlling it.

Find the right moment to record:

Try to record at a time where your voice can give its best. I don’t recommend doing it in the morning because the vocal cords are usually still very relaxed. Not at the end of a busy day either. But that depends on you and when you feel better.

Take it easy; it is your time. Of course, always try to complete the recording session on the same day. Believe it or not, the human voice never sounds the same. Recording at different times can make you have very different voice sounds in the same recording. Unless you want it to sound like a duo or trio, it is not recommended. In this sense, if you’re short of time, it’s better to leave it for another day.

Warm-up your voice before recording, but only what is necessary. Overheating can wear you out early.

Never record alone:

It doesn’t matter how much experience or knowledge we have. One second set of ears is helpful. Even more so if these ears are from a musician or person with experience in music production.

Sometimes we get out of focus of what we want or what we need, especially in very long sessions. This is when someone’s company is of great value. Either to guide us, to encourage or simply to calm our frustration.

If you are not satisfied, do it again:

If you don’t like the result of a recording, then do it again. There is nothing worse than being dissatisfied with something you know you could have done better.

But in my country, we have a saying that says: “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” You have to be thoughtful and aware to know how far you can go.

I always recommend practicing a lot before recording. So, you’ll have a clearer idea of what you want and, you will be able to develop a better interpretation.