This document provides tips for preparing to record vocals and keyboards. For vocals, it recommends that singers practice parts, remain healthy, and establish sincere delivery. It also suggests recording multiple takes and comping the best parts. For keyboards, it discusses recording directly or through an amp/mic and experimenting with EQ, reverb and panning to find the best sound. Panning is also recommended to avoid clashes with other instruments.

1. Music Performance & Ensemble
Preparing to Record Pt 2 Vocals & Keyboards
musicstudentinfo.com
Chris Baker

2. Preparing to Record Singers
• In Popular Music vocals are the focus of the recording.
• They tell the story.
• They have to be in front.
• Few vocalists understand mechanics of their instrument.
• it's impossible to outline all that goes into having a strong
vocal technique.
• Singers should take lessons with a good coach.

3. Preparing to Record Vocals
• Singers need rest.
• Singers should remain healthy.
• Practice parts & work out phrasing in rehearsal.
• Practice harmony parts beforehand.
• Singers should establish a vibe.
• Turn off the lights, light candles WHATEVER is needed to get
into the lyric.
• Sincere delivery overrides most technical aspects in the
studio.

4. Preparing to Record Lead Vocals
• Keep hydrated.
• Determine what is needed in the headphones.
• If necessary record about 4-5 takes of a song and then
"comp” (short for composite track) the best phrases into a
take.
• Listening for continuity and problem spots.
• It's important also to pace yourself in the studio.
• Do not sing too much and lose your voice.

5. Preparing to Record Background Vocals
• With background vocals the big issue is tuning.
• Every part has to be on pitch - perfect, or they won't stack.
• Phrasing - make sure consonants hit at the same points, and
the phrases end at the same time.
• In a digital audio workstation environment, this is easy to
edit.

6. Preparing to Record Vocal Production 1
• Layering.
• Use of special effects as talking tracks, whisper tracks, and
shouting tracks.
• How you layer vocals can depend on your preferred style, you
might use up 16 tracks.
• Experiment with vocal doublings in choruses for added
strength.

7. Preparing to Record Vocal Production 2
• Try doubling harmonies and panning them opposite each
other for a natural chorusing feel.
• Vocals take time, harmonies take time, and doublings take
time.
• You cannot rush vocal takes.

8. Preparing to Record Keyboards
• Direct In by running a line into a multitrack recorder.
• Using mixer, you'll have more control over the signal.
• Keyboard Amp - mike a keyboard or guitar amp and run your
electric keyboard through that.
• This can sometimes give a warmer, sound.
• Plug the keyboard into the keyboard or guitar amp, as you'd
normally do, and place microphone (such as a Shure SM57)
about 1-3 inches from the speaker cone, pointed slightly off
from the center.
• Or try both & blend the two signals.

9. Recording & Mixing Keyboards
• Boost around the lows really makes the piano sound more
realistic.
• If you're using a synth or electric keyboard sound, you might
be happy with the direct-in.
• Experiment with boosting and cutting the mids and highs to
see if you can get a better sound.
• Add a little reverb, depending on the song type.

10. Mixing Keyboards
• You will probably want to pan the keyboard or piano if there
are a lot of other instruments.
• You don't want the keyboard taking up a space occupied by
another instruments.
• Panning - Keyboard or Piano to the left and anything
occupying the same frequencies to the right.
• If you've got two outputs it might automatically pan the high
end to the left and the low end to the right.