by Julian Schmauch | 3,0 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 7 Minutes
Weekend Workshop: How to record vocals - Everything you need to know

Weekend Workshop: How to record vocals - Everything you need to know  ยท  Source: Marc Calleja, Shutterstock // Gearnews

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Recording vocals is one of the most important parts of music production, podcasts, and content creation. So how does it work? And what do you need? Weโ€™ll give you all the ins and outs about how to record vocals.

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How to record vocals – The basics

Whether youโ€™re at home recording a voice-over, in the project studio to record a singer, or in the basement with some friends for your next podcast episode – how to record vocals is inevitably one of the first questions that come up.ย 

Singing is a delicate thing when you're learning how to record vocals!

Singing is a delicate thing when you’re learning how to record vocals!

There is the technical side: you need a computer, either an audio interface, microphone, and an XLR cable, or a USB microphone,ย headphones, and a popfilter. Also, it is a good idea to install an an audio-editing software like Audacity or a DAW like Ableton Live to record and edit with.

Recording vocals at home

Recording vocals at home

Then there is the room. If youโ€™re recording at home with noisy neighbors, humming kitchen appliances, and kids playing outside, youโ€™ll be very busy editing your vocal recordings afterward to remove excess noise.ย And finally, there is the person in front of the mic. Especially when youโ€™re new to recording (thatโ€™s probably why you are reading this guide) yourself, it takes time and patience. (Almost) no one is born as a one-take wonder.

The microphone you need

Besides yourself (or the vocalist youโ€™re recording), the microphone is the most important piece of equipment. Here you can go two ways, depending on what you already have and how much you want to spend.ย 

If you already own an audio interface, and headphones and want to know how to record vocals, then a dynamic mic like the Shure’s SM7-B or SM-58 or a condenser mic like the Rode’s NT-1 or Lewitt’s LCT 440 is a good choice. The louder you plan on singing or speaking the better it is to use a dynamic mic.ย 

Shure SM58 LC

Shure SM58 LC

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Shure SM 7 B

Shure SM 7 B

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(1703)
Rode NT1-A Complete Vocal Bundle

Rode NT1-A Complete Vocal Bundle

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Lewitt LCT 440 PURE

Lewitt LCT 440 PURE

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If youโ€™re looking for an all-in-one solution, a USB microphone is worth a look. Here, the audio-interface is integrated. For simple voice-over or podcast recordings, models like the t.bone SC 420 or Shure MV 7 do an excellent job. Just make s(h)ure that the USB microphone you’re getting includes a headphone output for monitoring.

the t.bone SC 420 USB Silver Desktop-Set

the t.bone SC 420 USB Silver Desktop-Set

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Shure MV 7 Black

Shure MV 7 Black

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How to record vocals – The necessary accessories

Headphones are an absolute must for vocal recordings because you need to be able to hear yourself talking. You canโ€™t do that through your computerโ€™s speakers while recording because that would cause feedback noise! Unfortunately, Bluetooth headphones simply won’t do it, because the latency (=delay between speaking and hearing yourself) is just to high. Studio headphones like the AKG K-182 or the beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO (80 Ohm) also isolate you pretty well from your surroundings (they are closed-back models), so you can focus on your recording better.

AKG K-182

AKG K-182

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beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 80 Ohm

beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 80 Ohm

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(4259)

You also need a mic stand and a popfilter, if these things weren’t already included in the mic package you got. Both help prevent unwanted noise in your recordings. I highly advise against holding the mic in your hand while recording. The amount of rumbling and clicking the mic picks up while you are moving around is simply not worth it. So get either a standing mic stand like the Millenium MS-2003 or a table stand like the K&M 23325 if you prefer sitting while recording.

Millenium MS 2003

Millenium MS 2003

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(8650)
K&M 23325 Table Microphone Stand

K&M 23325 Table Microphone Stand

Customer rating:
(310)

A popfilter prevents too much build-up of air when you pronounce hard consonants like โ€žPโ€œ or โ€žTโ€œ while recording. If you donโ€™t use one, it can happen fast that your vocal recording is full of these annoying bumpy โ€žpโ€œ sounds. So get one to mount onto your mic stand like the the t.bone MS-180. Additionally, an XLR cable for connecting the microphone (If it is not a USB microphone) to the audio interface like the sssnake SM6BK is a good idea.

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the t.bone MS 180

the t.bone MS 180

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the sssnake SM6BK

the sssnake SM6BK

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(11132)

The audio interface connects your mic to the computer

We’re going to assume that you have access to some kind of computer (PC or Mac) in order to record vocals. If you opted for a microphone without a USB connection, you will also need an audio interface to connect the microphone to your computer. Entry-level interfaces like Steinberg UR12 or Focusrite Scarlett Solo offer more than enough features to achieve professional-sounding recordings.

Steinberg UR12

Steinberg UR12

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Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen

Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen

Customer rating:
(1988)

A big decision in your quest to learn how to record vocals is picking the right kind of software. There are either audio-editing programs like the free Audacity, which do nothing but help you record, edit and export audio. And then there are DAWs (=Digital Audio Workstations), which often bring more features and effects to work with. If you’re just starting out, the entry-level versions of popular DAWs like Ableton Live, Bitwig Studio, Studio One, FL Studio, or Cubase are your best bet.

Ableton Live 11 Intro Download

Ableton Live 11 Intro Download

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Image-Line FL Studio Fruity Edition Download

Image-Line FL Studio Fruity Edition Download

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(26)
Steinberg Cubase Elements 12 Download

Steinberg Cubase Elements 12 Download

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(8)
Presonus Studio One 6 Artist Download

Presonus Studio One 6 Artist Download

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Bitwig 16-Track Download

Bitwig 16-Track Download

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Room acoustics are crucial

You can use the best mic in the world with the most expensive audio interface, if your room isnโ€™t treated at all or you’re not using a mic shield, your recordings are not going to sound good. Of course, most of us donโ€™t have access to an acoustically treated studio, but there are a lot of things you can do.ย If youโ€™re recording at home and excess noise from outside and your surroundings is a problem, try recording at night! Or try to find a corner in your home where the noise is least noticeable.

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One thing that can improve the sound of your recordings quite significantly is a mic screen. Because room reflections are your enemy. A mic screen like the SE Electronics RF-X dampens at least part of your room reflections while youโ€™re recording. And if you donโ€™t want to rearrange your apartment and hang up acoustic panels everywhere, the combination of putting up a mic screen behind the microphone and recording with a rough surface like a bookshelf behind the vocalist can get you pretty good results.

SE Electronics RF-X Reflexion Filter

SE Electronics RF-X Reflexion Filter

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(309)

How to record vocals for the first time

When youโ€™re recording yourself for the first time, it will sound awkward, there is just no way around it. We all got used to it. So part of the practice of recording yourself is just that: getting used to hearing yourself outside yourself.

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Take some time to find the proper recording level (either the input gain on the audio interface or on the USB mic). Because, unless youโ€™re recording in 32-bit, as soon as you speak or sing too loud, there will be distortion (the bad kind) in your recordings. So do some test recordings speaking or singing nonsense to find a good average for your input level.ย 

Also, donโ€™t worry about mistakes. Hearing yourself stutter or misspeak can be brutal in the beginning. But the beauty of digital recording is that you canย repeat it endlessly, and fix a lot of things later during editing. Donโ€™t aim for the perfect one-take recording. Rather, record phrases often.

Conclusion on how to record vocals

Congratulations – now you know everything about how to record vocals. Weโ€™re not at the editing stage (yet). But if you get yourself a setup as we suggested and try to be as patient as possible with yourself or the person youโ€™re recording, then itโ€™s only a matter of days or weeks until you get good-sounding material to work with.ย 

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Image Sources:
  • Singing is a delicate thing when you're learning how to record vocals!: imtmphoto, Shutterstock
  • Recording vocals at home: Studio Romantic, Shutterstock
Weekend Workshop: How to record vocals - Everything you need to know

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