Recording your voice in the studio means putting it under a microscope. It can be stressful for many reasons. It costs a fortune to rent a studio for one or two hours. It also takes a lot of pressure to get the best result in a short time. To make your experience more delightful, you may need some assistance.
Every recording situation is different so certain things may be out of your control. But the following tips will help you achieve a better result.
1. Record by Yourself to Have Some Practice
Technological innovations have made it possible to record your voice whenever and wherever you feel like it. Just buy a good-quality microphone, a laptop, an audio interface, headphones, and special software to practice recording your voice at home and then check it. If you are not satisfied with the result, you will know what you need to work on. Being familiar with the sound of your recorded voice helps you practice various recording techniques before you record in a professional studio. There are many online tutorials and courses that teach you how to record and produce.
2. Love Your Sound
Recording your voice is a huge challenge for many people. Interestingly, not everyone can stand their recorded voice. Well, this doesn’t seem to be the right attitude. You should start loving your voice. Or think about a way of making it more pleasing to the ear. How about experimenting with the tone of your voice? What technique can be used to add more “colors” to your voice sound? Play a bit with your voice to find the right sounding. Eventually, you should fall in love with the way you sing.
3. Warm up!
Warming up your voice before the studio session begins will surely help you get a better result. Even if you are good at hitting high notes, you will need some warm-up. This will help you show your best performance with ease.
4. Make Some Preparations
No matter how good at singing you are, you won’t be able to reveal your whole potential without sufficient practice. So you should learn the song extremely well and practice it as often as you can. It would be helpful if you also perform it live in front of an audience. Knowing the lyrics by heart can help you deliver the right emotion and focus on the dynamics that will make the song sound better.
5. Learn How to Deliver the Right Emotion
Many singers are trying to achieve a state of perfection when delivering a song. This is a unique skill that takes time to develop. Removing all the imperfections in the voice is not enough. You should also focus on the lyrics. Knowing what you are singing is important to involve the right emotions and deliver the right message to the audience.
6. Don’t Book a Studio for a Short Time
Having a time restriction can hardly affect your studio experience. Knowing that you have little time to record your voice, you will be rushing to deliver the material. And it won’t have a positive impact on the final result. At the same time, spending 3 or more hours in the studio can’t do any good to your voice either. So you can book several short sessions instead of a long one.
7. Rest and Vocal Health
Just like anything important, you should have good rest before having a vocal recording session in a studio. Make sure you have a sufficient night’s sleep for at least several nights before your session. Maintaining good vocal health is also crucial. It is hardly recommended that you refrain from talking too much or practicing actively two days before the session. Giving up on alcohol, coffee, and dairy products can end up with numerous benefits for your voice as they can face dehydration, reflux, or excess mucus. Make sure to drink enough water.
8. Reach the Right Balance
Getting the proper balance in a headphone mix matters a lot. You need to hear both your voice and the track very well. This is the only way you can have the overall mix at a good volume. Some singers want to have reverb on their voice in their mix, as it eliminates possible imperfections. Your personal preference should involve no reverb at all. That way you should feel more in control of your own performance because you can hear all the details.
9. Book the Studio at the Right Tim
If you actually have a choice, it’s good to book the studio at a time when you usually have most of your energy. Early morning sessions are usually hard to handle, as you need some time to warm up your voice.
Voice recording in a studio is an art in itself. It can’t be mastered just like that, without proper preparations. So the more you practice it, the better you become at it. Make sure to devote enough time to voice recording so you can enjoy a smooth experience!