How to Record Clean Vocals
Recording clean vocals takes several steps but is always worth it, as no background sounds will distort your recording. Removing background sounds is done by making your environment as soundproof as possible and ensuring that your singer is singing properly. Some simple strategies can be used to achieve the cleanest possible vocal recordings, and these apply for both home and studio settings.
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Instructions
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Soundproof your environment as best you can. Use filler material, such as blankets and cushions, to cover areas of the room where sound might leak in from outside. This will also help absorb the sound of the vocalist so that the recording is dry with less reverberation.
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Use a dynamic microphone if you are in a noisy environment. Though ultra clean studios may prefer a condenser microphone for its warmer sound, a dynamic microphone is less likely to pick up unwanted background sounds.
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Use a pop filter, always. A pop filter is a thin screen that is placed between the vocalist and the microphone. This will reduce pops and clicks in the recording and make a cleaner sound recording.
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Instruct your vocalist on proper posture. Have him or her stand straight and sing directly into the microphone. If the vocalist is singing especially loud notes, have him or her pull back from the microphone so that the signal does not peak.
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Stop recording and start over if you hear a loud, unwanted sound. Use your best judgment. It may be harder than it at first appears to later remove this disturbance.
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Tips & Warnings
Record a vocalist as dry as possible and later add effects such as reverberation.
Do not record near a window unless it is properly soundproof. This is a major source of noise disturbance.
References
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
