The Key Element of the Recording
by Ivan Valles
Vocal production plays a very important role in the music we listen to. No matter what style of music, vocals are a key element in recordings. Given the importance of the vocal performance, it is critical for an artist and producer to spend enough time perfecting them.
To start, it's always a good idea to listen to an artist singing live with just a guitar or piano. This is particularly true if this is the first time you're working together. I use this jam session to determine his/her vocal range. There are other exercises that help me determine the artist's vocal range. I'll start as low as the artist can sing, then move up in the piano until I hear his/her voice struggling (cracking) in the high register. This will help me figure out if an artist is soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, etc. A producer must then start arranging the songs to match a comfortable key for the artist. There are two main sections in a voice. One is the chest voice, which is the range in which we normally speak and sing. The second is normally known as the head voice. You'll realize that the vocalist is performing in their head voice when the quality of the voice becomes much thinner and "squeaky." Most experienced vocalists can perform comfortably in both, but most of the melody in a song should happen within the chest voice.
Once you have recorded the first harmonic track (guitar, piano, etc.), it's time to lay the first reference vocal. A reference vocal is extremely important, as it helps when you're making the rest of the song's arrangement. Producers like to accentuate different parts of the melody by making musical arrangements to support the vocals. Also, the reference vocal will greatly help the artist realize challenging parts on the melody of the songs. It will also help in making the first step in finding the right vibe for the vocal performance of each song. From this moment, each time that I get together with the artist, I'll normally record a new reference track so that the artist can have as many chances to practice before we attempt the recording of the final vocals. I'll also try different microphones to find the best available for his/her voice. At this point I give the artist suggestions on where the vocals need to improve. Make sure that you don't offend the artist when making such comments, though; you want artists to be encouraged by the fact that they're creating art, not discouraged by the fact that they can't perform certain sections of the song correctly. Artists should play on their own time with the song to find the right phrasing.
After several reference vocals, it's time to focus on the final vocal tracking. For this, it is very important that the artist is as relaxed as possible. He/she should record at a time when they feel their voice is at its best. They should also feel comfortable recording at the studio, and they should have all the necessary elements to track vocals, such as water, honey, tea, etc. Some artists prefer low lights, others like to have no visual contact with the control room. No matter what the requests, try to make artists feel at home when they're recording. This will translate into a better vocal performance.
Besides tuning, several aspects need to be addressed when producing vocals. The overall vibe of the performance is key to getting through to the listener. In many ways, artists become actors, as it is important to sing a song as if it were a story. It is important to have a good story, but it is just as important to express it with the right emphasis and emotion. You must make sure that words are pronounced the right way, as you want each phrase to sound as clear as possible. Also watch for too many "esses," or popping sounds, in the recording. A DeEsser at mix time and a popper stopper during recording time will diminish these unwanted effects.
Normally, it is good to work on vocal tracking by sections, concentrating on each section individually and later hearing it in context with the rest. I prefer recording with no reverb or effects at all, unless the artist specifically requests them. I'll normally work on each section, punching in specific parts that need to be redone. I also often record a couple more takes to have as backup in case the track requires editing between the takes. Don't rely on technology to fix problems; try to get the best performance out of the artist. If you are stuck on a particular section for too long, try switching to a different section and later revisiting the problematic parts one by one. After tracking, listen to the tracks with fresh and rested ears, and see if any parts need to be redone.
Once you have the final edited vocals, you can use several tools available in the market to tune and align vocals. Backing vocals should be aligned with each other, and sometimes with the lead. Now you are ready to start mixing. Make sure vocals not only have the right volume but also the right amount of reverb and effects in the mix. Vocal production makes a strong impression in the end result, so treat it accordingly.
