In this guide, you will learn how to record clean and dry vocal recordings at home, which are an important foundation for a professional-sounding mix.
Technical Setup
Room Acoustics
The best way is to record in an acoustically treated room. Acoustic panels are fairly easy to build, and the materials are not expensive. If you have no option to acoustically treat your room, there are a few other techniques you can use to get better recordings.
When picking a room to record in, a room with furniture, shelves, a carpet, and similar things is better than an empty room, as some furniture absorbs the reflections and some spread them, similar to a diffuser. When recording, you should place the mic as far away from reflecting surfaces as possible. You will find the optimal spot by doing some test recordings in different spots and comparing the recordings.
If you have some mattresses, you could put them up around the microphone and place a blanket above them. Even big artists have recorded this way.
For instance, Travis Scott recorded his song “NO BYSTANDERS” using just a blanket over his head. Drake also recorded parts of his album “So Far Gone” in a hotel room, where he stood in an area with textile armchairs and curtains to help the acoustics. Both of these recordings became very successful records. Note that this is not a “fix it in the mix” scenario. They have used the techniques and items available to get the acoustics to sound as good as possible, given the current situation.
Gear
You will need a microphone (typically a condenser), a shock mount (often comes with the mic), a mic stand, a pop filter, an XLR cable, an audio interface, some headphones, and a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to record vocals. This sounds like a lot, but most of the items in this list are just accessories for the microphone and are oftentimes available in bundles.
I can recommend the following gear, as I have worked with it before:
Microphones
Microphone Stands
Microphone Cable
Audio Interfaces
Digital Audio Workstations (DAW)
Headphones
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Recording Process
DAW Templates
In your DAW (your audio software), set up a template for your recording sessions. This way you won’t have to think about many small things to adjust and possibly forget something. Moreover, a template gives you a great starting point to improve from, making your template more efficient and useful over time. To keep this article tidy, I’ve created a separate article to show you my recording template, which you can see (and download for free) here.
Level / Gain
Leave enough headroom so as not to distort your recording (because you can’t fix it afterward). Make sure to leave around 6 to 12 dB of headroom when your fader is at 0. You can easily achieve a lower recording level by also turning down your beat/music for the recording process. I typically set my beat to -14 dBFS or lower. You can always adjust your headphone gain to get your desired level.
Distance
Position yourself 5–12 inches away from the mic, depending on the desired sound. A smaller distance results in a more intimate sound, which also comes with more low end in the recording (this is known as the proximity effect).
Timing
Good timing and rhythm are essential for making the vocals glue with the music. Some mistakes could be fixed after recording, but this will not result in the best possible sound and should only be done when something has happened unnoticed. If the timing of your take doesn’t sound right, record another take.
Editing
Comping
Good timing and rhythm are essential for making the vocals glue with the music. Some mistakes could be fixed after recording, but this will not result in the best possible sound and should only be done when something has happened unnoticed. If the timing of your take doesn’t sound right, record another take.
Fades
Good timing and rhythm are essential for making the vocals glue with the music. Some mistakes could be fixed after recording, but this will not result in the best possible sound and should only be done when something has happened unnoticed. If the timing of your take doesn’t sound right, record another take.
Breaths
Good timing and rhythm are essential for making the vocals glue with the music. Some mistakes could be fixed after recording, but this will not result in the best possible sound and should only be done when something has happened unnoticed. If the timing of your take doesn’t sound right, record another take.
Exporting Stems
Exporting Stems
After recording and editing your vocals, preparing them correctly for your mixing engineer is a key step. This involves exporting your tracks as “stems.” Stems are individual audio files for each vocal track, ensuring the engineer has all the parts they need in a clean and organized format.
Here’s how to prepare and export your vocal stems:
- Consolidate Clips: For each vocal track, ensure all edited clips are combined into one continuous audio file that starts at the very beginning of the song (Bar 1, Beat 1) and runs to the song’s end. Most DAWs have a “consolidate” or “merge” function for this. This guarantees all stems will align perfectly.
- Track Naming: Use clear and descriptive names for your tracks (e.g., “Lead Vocal Verse,” “Harmony 1 Chorus,” “Adlib Bridge”). These names will typically be used for the exported files, helping with organization.
- Effects: Generally, mixing engineers prefer to receive “dry” stems, meaning vocals without any effects like reverb, delay, or compression printed onto them. They will add these during the mix. If you’ve used effects for monitoring (like reverb in your headphones for comfort), make sure they are turned off before exporting. If a specific creative effect is an integral part of the vocal’s sound, discuss this with your engineer; you might provide a version with the effect and one without.
- Levels and Panning: Before exporting, set the volume fader for each vocal track to 0 dB (unity gain). This means the fader isn’t adding or subtracting volume. Also, set the pan controls (left/right balance) to the center for all vocal tracks. The mixing engineer will handle the balancing and stereo placement.
- Export Settings:
- File Format: Export your stems as WAV or AIFF files. These are uncompressed, high-quality formats. Avoid MP3 or other lossy formats.
- Bit Depth: Use the same bit depth as your recording session (e.g., 24-bit is standard for good quality).
- Sample Rate: Use the same sample rate as your recording session (e.g., 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz are common).
- Dithering: Do not apply dither when exporting stems for mixing, especially if you are maintaining the session’s bit depth. Dithering is a process usually applied only at the final mastering stage.
- Mono/Stereo: Individual vocal tracks are typically mono. If you have a specific stereo recording or a stereo effect that the engineer has requested, then a stereo file is appropriate. When in doubt, mono is generally preferred for single vocal sources.
- Export Range: Ensure every stem is exported from the exact same start point (Bar 1, Beat 1 of the song) and extends to the end of the song, even if there are silent sections within a track.
- Organization: Create a dedicated folder for your stems. Name the folder clearly (e.g., “Song Title – Vocal Stems – BPM”). Including a text file with the song’s tempo (BPM) and key is also helpful.
Consult your DAW’s manual for specific instructions on exporting multiple tracks, often found under “Export Audio,” “Bounce,” or “Render.”
Summary
Achieving clean, well-recorded vocals at home sets a strong stage for a professional mix. Pay attention to your room acoustics, utilizing simple methods to reduce unwanted reflections. Ensure you have the necessary gear and understand its basic operation. During the recording process, maintain proper levels to avoid distortion, experiment with microphone distance, and focus on accurate timing. In the editing phase, techniques like comping can help create a polished performance, while careful use of fades and management of breaths contribute to a cleaner sound. Finally, correctly exporting stems ensures your mixing engineer receives well-prepared files, ready for them to work their magic. These steps, though seemingly small, collectively make a significant difference in the final quality of your song.
