RECORDING May 2024 - 26
RECORDING
Field Notes
Recording
Vocals
For Your Consideration, a Collection
of Vocal Recording Workflows
By Giles Reaves
And the Nominees Are...
There isn't just one way to approach
recording vocals because there isn't
just one type of vocalist. Some folks are
ready to go from the first take and could
sing all day, while others need time to
warm up and may prefer to work in
smaller chunks of time.
What is ultimately important is that
the chosen workflow actually produces
the desired results. In other words,
if your workflow isn't " working, " try a
different approach.
For your consideration in the " Best
Vocal Recording Workflow " category...
W
hile I will never win any awards as a singer, I have recorded many
singers at all levels of experience and skill. Early on, I noticed that a
few common approaches to recording vocals kept popping up over and
over. Here are a few of the most common.
Four Takes and Comp
I adopted this approach from various studio friends starting in the 1980s, and it still
works for me most of the time, at least as a starting point. The basic idea is the vocalist
gets warmed up and then tries to deliver three inspired takes back-to-back. Then, for
the last take, you get " picky " and focus on any rough spots from the past takes, and
maybe even punch in a few lines to ensure everything is covered. This track is the one
that has to deliver if the first three fail.
The idea here is based on how often two to three tracks are not enough, but five to six
tracks begin to feel like too many options to consider when comping. Four is right in the
sweet spot in most cases.
The Comp
Once you have four solid tracks, you " Comp " (short for composite). Comping is the
act of combining multiple separate parts into one new " whole. " There are many ways
to comp vocals, and I've focused on two popular approaches.
The first is to listen to all takes and make notes as you go, then assemble the final
take from your notes, trying other options if your first choice doesn't work.
The second and my preferred method
is to listen to one line or phrase at a
time from each take and choose right
then and there. Paste the chosen take
into the new comp track for that line,
then listen. This allows you to immediately
hear the line " in place " and make
a change if necessary.
It's as helpful to
be able to make it all
the way through a
song as it is to know
how to punch in.
26 RECORDING May 2024
"
"
RECORDING May 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RECORDING May 2024
Fade In
Fast Forward
LEWITT RAY
Vanguard Audio Labs V24
Crafting Modern Vocals
SPL Channel One Mk3 and Track One Mk3
RECORDING’s Field Notes: Recording Vocals
Ohma World Ribbon Microphone
API TCS-II Channel Strip
Studio 101: Delay-Based Effects, Part 1
TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik Alchemy Series TF17 FET
Soundware Showcase: Toontrack Session Organ EKX
Flock Audio PATCH VT + PATCH APP DX V1.1.0 + DX BRIDGE
Plugin Outlet: oeksound Bloom
Earthworks DM6
Soundware Showcase: Baby Audio Atoms
RØDE NT1 Signature Series Condenser Mic
Korg Keystage
Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby
Readers’ Tracks
Monheim Crème Tube Condenser Microphone
Fade Out
RECORDING May 2024 - Intro
RECORDING May 2024 - Cover1
RECORDING May 2024 - Cover2
RECORDING May 2024 - 1
RECORDING May 2024 - 2
RECORDING May 2024 - 3
RECORDING May 2024 - Fade In
RECORDING May 2024 - 5
RECORDING May 2024 - 6
RECORDING May 2024 - 7
RECORDING May 2024 - Fast Forward
RECORDING May 2024 - 9
RECORDING May 2024 - LEWITT RAY
RECORDING May 2024 - 11
RECORDING May 2024 - 12
RECORDING May 2024 - 13
RECORDING May 2024 - Vanguard Audio Labs V24
RECORDING May 2024 - 15
RECORDING May 2024 - 16
RECORDING May 2024 - 17
RECORDING May 2024 - Crafting Modern Vocals
RECORDING May 2024 - 19
RECORDING May 2024 - 20
RECORDING May 2024 - 21
RECORDING May 2024 - SPL Channel One Mk3 and Track One Mk3
RECORDING May 2024 - 23
RECORDING May 2024 - 24
RECORDING May 2024 - 25
RECORDING May 2024 - RECORDING’s Field Notes: Recording Vocals
RECORDING May 2024 - 27
RECORDING May 2024 - 28
RECORDING May 2024 - 29
RECORDING May 2024 - Ohma World Ribbon Microphone
RECORDING May 2024 - 31
RECORDING May 2024 - 32
RECORDING May 2024 - 33
RECORDING May 2024 - API TCS-II Channel Strip
RECORDING May 2024 - 35
RECORDING May 2024 - Studio 101: Delay-Based Effects, Part 1
RECORDING May 2024 - 37
RECORDING May 2024 - 38
RECORDING May 2024 - 39
RECORDING May 2024 - TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik Alchemy Series TF17 FET
RECORDING May 2024 - 41
RECORDING May 2024 - Soundware Showcase: Toontrack Session Organ EKX
RECORDING May 2024 - 43
RECORDING May 2024 - Flock Audio PATCH VT + PATCH APP DX V1.1.0 + DX BRIDGE
RECORDING May 2024 - 45
RECORDING May 2024 - Plugin Outlet: oeksound Bloom
RECORDING May 2024 - 47
RECORDING May 2024 - Earthworks DM6
RECORDING May 2024 - 49
RECORDING May 2024 - Soundware Showcase: Baby Audio Atoms
RECORDING May 2024 - 51
RECORDING May 2024 - RØDE NT1 Signature Series Condenser Mic
RECORDING May 2024 - 53
RECORDING May 2024 - Korg Keystage
RECORDING May 2024 - 55
RECORDING May 2024 - Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby
RECORDING May 2024 - 57
RECORDING May 2024 - 58
RECORDING May 2024 - 59
RECORDING May 2024 - 60
RECORDING May 2024 - 61
RECORDING May 2024 - 62
RECORDING May 2024 - 63
RECORDING May 2024 - 64
RECORDING May 2024 - 65
RECORDING May 2024 - Readers’ Tracks
RECORDING May 2024 - 67
RECORDING May 2024 - Monheim Crème Tube Condenser Microphone
RECORDING May 2024 - 69
RECORDING May 2024 - 70
RECORDING May 2024 - 71
RECORDING May 2024 - Fade Out
RECORDING May 2024 - Cover3
RECORDING May 2024 - Cover4
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