Recording - February 2012 - 48

Some of the best advice can come from the most unlikely places. The direction we need may have been under our noses the whole time. Sesame Street cred When I was a kid, Sesame Street introduced me to the song “Sing”, which first was a big hit for the Carpenters in 1973. These days, the message of this song may seem naïve and simplistic, but it provides the answers to our quest for nabbing better vocals! There is something to be said for offloading most of what we think we know, and to revert to a more childlike, innocent approach. With the help of Joe Raposo’s very familiar lyrics, I will guide us through the often daunting task of recording singers who may be shy on studio experience and high on nothing more than enthusiasm. Sing out loud, sing out strong Confidence is essential. The human voice can be such an unpredictable instrument, even for the most veteran session singers! So those without the experience can easily crumble from the pressure brought on by that little red light. It’s your job to make sure that this does not happen.

By Frank Gryner

You’re responsible for creating an environment that is conducive to a singer’s best performance. This may require a field trip out of your comfort zone. If a singer is going to be more comfortable somewhere else, then that’s a good place to set up and record there. My laptop, an Mbox, a decent condenser mic and my trusty sE Electronics Reflexion Filter have recorded in rehearsal halls, penthouse apartments and many other lessthan-ideal recording spaces. In most cases, the biggest challenge here is to control the ambient noise typically found in a non-studio environment. The Reflexion Filter gets you most of the way there, but things like drawing curtains and positioning the mic off-axis from unavoidable traffic noise or electronic fan hum are essential in pulling off pro results. Remember that it’s more important to capture a great performance than it be sonically convenient for you.

Children do not need a fully equipped studio to express themselves through song, and we can learn something from this innocence.
Sing of good things, not bad Regardless of the song’s subject matter, the song you need to be singing should be one of encouragement. If you come off as a judgmental tyrant you will never get the vocal you’re looking for. Producers who work with session musicians are used to barking out orders and getting results. With a studio newbie, this approach will most definitely end in disaster. Most singers can pretty much give you something one way—the way they rehearsed it. If you suspect that the vocal direction of a song needs a radical overhaul, then the recording session is not the place to work through it. It’s not just about finding tactful ways to communicate with a singer; it’s all about building a rapport that will allow them to feel like you are on their side, even when things aren’t going so well. Make it simple... Recording can get complicated, but it shouldn’t be for the singer. Their job is simple: to sing the best they can. Your job is to insulate the performer from all of the technology. Monitoring may be one of the few places where the technology of recording and the singer’s performance collide. Singing properly while wearing headphones is an acquired skill, one that your singer may not have mastered. A lot of vocalists have trouble finding their pitch orientation with headphones on—even when pulling one earcup off. Again, your sonic convenience will have to take a back seat to the comfort of your singer... so can the cans.
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RECORDING FEBRUARY 2012

Recording - February 2012

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