Learning to lay down a solid recording comes with experience. Spending time in the studio being hands on is therefore the only way to develop these skills. With that said, knowing how to apply your voice will get you where you want to be a lot quicker. Here are 7 ways to improve the quality of your vocal recordings:

Find your voice

One of the most challenging aspects of recording is producing vocals that sound natural. Many artists, particularly those who are inexperienced, find themselves using what is commonly referred to as a “fake voice,” which can be described as sounding like an imitation of someone else. This is in part due to the fact that our voice is prone to distortion when we use tonal registers we’re not accustomed to. In other instances, it may be true that the vocalist is mimicking characteristics of another artist (for whatever reason). In any case, the solution is to use our voice as we would when we’re having an everyday conversation. One way to find your voice is to talk out your lyrics in order to get comfortable in your natural voice.

Training and care

Treat your voice as a muscle: if you want to build strength and tone, you need to develop a strategic training program. Ideally, it should be designed to cater to your individual goals and capabilities. Getting good rest and staying hydrated is equally important. Additionally, taking time to warm up before recording can help you save considerable time in the studio. Avoid straining or causing injury to your voice, as recovery could take several weeks.

Memorize lyrics

It’s essential to have the lyrics memorized before recording. Learning the words as you go along may work for karaoke singers, but it rarely does for recording artists. Fumbling on lyrics not only takes up valuable time, but it can become frustrating for the vocalist the more it happens. Sounding like you’re reading from a script isn’t desirable either. Be sure to remeber all lyrics beforehand in order to optimize your performance in the studio.

Maintain good distance

Being too close to the mic can cause your voice to pop, meaning plosive sounds become more apparent. Position yourself too far and you may need to push your voice harder than necessary, which can cause strain and wear you out quickly. A popular technique is to place your thumb on the tip of your nose and extend your pinky finger out towards the pop filter (like this🤙). This will practically guarantee you’re in the right spot. The mic can also pick up swaying or any other dramatic movement so try your best to maintain the same position throughout each take.

Project your voice

Getting the right volume doesn’t come easy for many vocalists. Pushing your voice too hard causes it to sound hoarse and loose subtleties, taking away from its overall quality. On the other hand, if you’re not using enough power you’ll end up sounding dull or weak. Finding the right balance will allow you to gain better control over your voice. Again, you’ll need to spend a fair amount of time practicing this one in order to get the hang of it.

Use a consistent tone

Controlling the tone of your voice is key to obtaining a clear and cohesive sound. Too much variation can cause the recording to sound disjointed. Try your best to record each section of the song straight through where possible to avoid the need to chop up multiple recordings. Unless it’s possible to record using the exact settings with the same voice, it’s not recommend to punch in on a separate day.

Take your time

Wouldn’t it be ideal to lay down the perfect recording on the first try? Chances are you’ll need several takes to get it right. Don’t worry what the engineer might think about doing it over, or feel pressured to settle for good enough. Feeling rushed can hurt your focus and timing. Be patient with yourself and work at it until you’re truly satisfied. The time you take will be reflected in the quality of your work.