Tips and Tricks for Recording Your Voice

It's finally time to put the voice into sound wave format. Before you start singing your favorite notes, you will want to make sure that everything is set up correctly. The voice is the trickiest part of recording as well as the very last step to getting everything in correctly. Before you begin, know exactly how to approach your notes.

Your first step to recording your voice is to not record your voice. This means that you will want to have everything else exactly like it should be. The rest of your instrumentation should be completed, including everything from the layering of instruments to the mixing. Putting the voice in before you have anything else done will cause slight confusion in the end from all musicians and may cause some parts of the track to be off.

After you have everything set, prepare your recording studio in the correct way for voice. This means that you should have an enclosed space to record, which doesn't cause the voice to bounce off the walls from the resonance. The microphone should be set in place to pick up all sides of the voice, but should be able to muffle the rest of the sounds in the room. The more enclosed and deadened the sound, the easier it will be to capture the voice.

One of the important parts of recording the voice is linked to the peaks in the voice. It is easy for a vocal sound to peak, meaning that the sound wave goes past the maximum and into a 'red zone' of volume. You will want to prevent this from happening and keep the voice condensed in a specific area. Remember, it is always easier to get louder, but it is harder to get softer. For this purpose, compressors have been created. This is set into the microphone and compresses the sound wave before it is recorded into the software. Always check the compression of the voice and the peaks that it has so that you have room to work with the volume.

From this point, it is a matter of putting the right mixes in for the voice. Equalizers, or EQs will help to get the right sounds of the high and low frequencies in and should always be set on the mixer as well as within the software. You will also want to consider things such as noise gates, which stops the sound from resonating before it is recorded. If the voice naturally resonates, the noise gate will have a cut off point where the resonance will stop, making everything clear instead of sounding like it echoes.

After the voice is recorded, you can use it like you would any other instrument. This means that you can normalize the sound waves so that it matches with the other instruments in volume and gain. This also means that you can allow the volume to mix properly.

One of the greatest sets of tools for the voice is being able to manipulate the sound, which can be done after the normalization is complete. Reverb, flanges and other vocal tools can add back into the voice what is taken out for compression. This will depend on the type of voice and the effect that you want to have. For example, if the voice has a slight accent or already has a strong resonance, reverb will make it sound like an echo. A clearer voice; however, will add in a little sparkle to the mix. You will want to analyze the type of voice you are working with before you add in the mix and will want to take some time to experiment with your options.

If you follow this simple sets of rules, recording the voice can move from being the hardest and most complex part of recording to being the simplest step in putting together all of the sounds. Giving yourself room to experiment with the voice and understanding what it needs in order to work right will allow you to get the exact results every time.

Turn Up the Volume! Industry Standards for Recording Volumes

Many of you have been in a situation where you are watching your favorite program. It is interrupted by a commercial break where you have to turn down the volume of what you are listening to. Then, when the show comes back on, you have to turn the volume back up.

This scenario is not a mistake of the television program. This is a controlled function in the industry to control volume levels at different ratios. The result is that it causes individuals to listen to the music differently. At this point, many are calling the industry standards for volume at a louder frequency, which is changing the instrumentation, the way that the music is played and even the listening capabilities of those who are tuning into their favorite CD.

When the recording industry started, the volume levels were closer to negative numbers, around 2 or 3. Records would be at this lower volume because it was considered to be more pleasant listening. It would also allow for the ranges of the instruments to be heard, such as loud and softer dynamic levels and high and low instruments that would blend together.

The use of these lower levels for volume allowed the industry not only to show off the instrumentation, but it also gave them room. When you are recording, your volume is a space where the noise can be increased or decreased. When you are moving into the negative numbers, usually -6 to -1, you have room to increase the volume in order to allow it to balance out. This is always a part of the volume levels within instrumentation.

As time went on, the frequencies of these volumes continued to increase. The industry standard now is close to 0 for music. This means that they are at one of the loudest points of volume that they can get to. Most don't notice, and simply turn down the volume on their stereo or in their car. However, this particular decision by the industry to change the volume levels to the maximum is changing everything within music.

Not only is it changing the musical concepts, such as dynamics, range and instrumentation, but it is taking out a lot of the traditional and innovative ideas that are musically based. If you listen closely to music, you will notice that the music does not usually have a lot of ranges, changes in musical instruments or pace that is going. This is because the volume level has been maxed out. Because this has changed, there is no room to put anything else in that is musical.

Of course, the volume controls and the mastering process that causes this will also differ according to the format that you get. For instance, there is a standard for radio playing that is very different than CDs, which is also different than MP3 players. For Indie musicians and those with specialized and custom recording studios, there is also a difference in preferences according to their musical tastes and style with volume as well as the arrangement that is being used. If you are recording, deciding on your preferences for volume that fits to different formats and style will be important before going to the industry standard or producing the CD.

One of the main concepts that should be kept in mind with recording is to know the volume capabilities and the differences that they make in music. You don't want to compromise the music for the volume, but you want to get close to industry standards. Knowing what you need to do with your volume, how it relates to your instrumentation and your concepts within music will help you to create a volume that is worth turning up and listening to.

The History of Recording

The abilities to record may seem to be more recent, especially with the capabilities of technology and the understanding of how sounds are used within a recording studio. However, there is a longer time frame of recording that has been used in order to document audio areas and to put music on track. By understanding the progression of recording, you can also find ways to implement similar characteristics and routines within your own studio.

The beginning of recording dates back to the 1890s. During this time, most of the recording was done through acoustic means. Recording equipment consisted of a tape that would allow for the audio to be documented into the tape. This would then go through a horn which would record the sound frequencies that were being played. This would then be documented by putting grooves into the recording through the waves and how they were translated.

This type of recording also included limitations on the sound rooms and how the sound was recorded. Upper scale recording studios consisted only of a sound proof wall so that the audio noise would not bounce. The ability to mix, master and edit the audio information; however, was not available. Those who were interested in recording would also take the records outside of the studios to do things such as field recordings, where natural sounds would be placed onto audio. This became a second popular means of creating recordings to share with the public.

By the 1930s, different options and equipment began to be popular for recording. This started with amplifiers and microphones that were added to record more sound frequencies. This was followed by a mixing board and by loud speakers so that the sounds could be manipulated and changed while recording. This caused for most of the acoustic recording that was done in the past to be replaced by the new technology so that more accurate recordings could be done.

Up until the 1970s, these combined methods were the popular way of recording musicians and artists in the studio. The acoustic rooms were combined with the microphones and were recorded live through the mixing board and straight into the disc or recording tape. This left little room to re-record or edit. Most of the recording that was done would be done with complete bands, orchestras or groups that would place everything onto the disc at one time.

The change that occurred during this time combined the ability to monitor the sounds more effectively and to move into editing. It was during the late 1960s and 1970s that analog recording moved into the field, allowing for more complex machinery to be at the forefront of recording. The analog recording consisted of a magnetic tape that would carry the sound waves and read them back through the recording. This could then be written over and revised according to what was recorded.

This time period not only allowed for advancement within recording, but also created experimentation with new equipment, sounds and effects that became popular for individual recording studios, now considered to be signatures of various recording industries. Those who were working within the industry found not only new technologies for recording, but also developed sounds that were unique because of the ability to process the mixing and mastering in a different way.

It was the movement into analog recording that changed recording into an electronic and digital set of capabilities as well as industry standards that are now accepted as the normal setting among all recording studios. Because of this experimentation and new technology, those working within the industry came to certain conclusions about what worked better with recording and how the production could be effective.

This progression shows how recording has become a mainstream through innovations, creativity and experimentation. By the recording industry creating the effects of recording, it has allowed for new arenas of development in recording music to be explored.

Getting the Right Mix: Mixing Boards and Recording

The most important step from the instrument to the recording software is the mixing board. This particular part of recording is one that allows you to put everything together the correct way, before you have to manipulate it in the computer software. If you want to make sure that you are putting together everything right, you will also want to know exactly how the mixing board can benefit you.

A mixing board is also referred to as a sound board and is responsible for taking the instruments and mixing and routing them into the computer. As soon as an instrument is plugged into a mixer, it will then turn into a digital signal, which creates sound waves.

A mixer works by allowing each instrument being recorded to have one area in which the signal is received. These individual instruments can be changed with volume levels, depth of the sound and other features through the mixing board. For example, if you are playing with a piano and a bass, they can both have a different input area in the mixer. One can be louder and the other can be softer, with the bass having less treble, or high end sound, with the piano balancing out with more mid-range sounds. It is these volume levels that then move into the software and allow for the sound waves to be recorded with a specific balance.

When defining the different parts of the mixer, there is also the ability to combine different types of volumes, depending on the knobs that are being used for the right mix. These are known as input controls, and contain everything that allows for the specific sound of the instrument. This starts with defining the volume through this one instrument. There is also a trim or gain control, which defines the level of sound within each wave.

From here, the mixing board will allow for details of the sound waves to be defined through an EQ, which means equalization. The main responsibility of this part of the mixing board is to change the frequencies within each range. For example, if the EQ of the bass is too high, the higher frequencies can be boosted in order to balance out both ranges. The EQ frequencies can be referred to with some general preferences that work within instrumentation as well as personal preference to allow the sound to be as low or high as you want.

When the instrumentation is received into the mixer and begins to be balanced, other options can also be put into the mix. For example, the amplitude of the sounds can be defined through specific parts of the board. There are also noise gates, which stops the sound from echoing before it goes into the recording area, or allows for some resonance to be in the mix. There is also the ability with some mixers to compress the instruments, meaning that the sound waves will be shortened if they reach or go over a certain peak number, allowing you to keep control of the volume before it gets into the computer program as a sound wave.

After all of these options for individual instruments, the mixing board will then move into mixing the physical space. Main volume areas as well as controls for outputs are used in order to ensure that everything is balanced while recording and remains equal in sound to those who are listening while recording. Like the instrumentation that is moving into the software as sound waves, these areas have a variety of options for making the sound balance within the studio.

The idea with a mixing board is to make the right mix for both the internal software so that the sound files can sound the same, as well as the external area, so that all of the instruments can blend together while recording. The different devices that are used within the mixing board help to achieve this through the different options for volume control and mixing options.

When you are looking into a sound board, you should always consider the options for getting the mix right, including the number of instruments that you can hook up to the different functions that the mixing board contains. When you start to put together the recording with the right mix board, you will have a better blend of sounds and will allow the end result of the recording to mix together exactly right.

The Complete Process of Recording

Even though it seems like we only learn about the actual recording of instruments, then see the result through the CD, there is an entire process that is hidden behind the curtains in order to get the sound of the CD exactly right. This includes a variety of steps that are linked to engineering a CD and producing the right sounds after the instrumentation is complete.

The first step of the process after the recording is the pre-mixing. This is the point in which the instruments will become neutral and even. The main part of this particular step is to determine the sound waves and what their peak points of loud and soft is. This can be automatically set up through a normalization tool, which will average out the sound frequencies for the individual instruments. You can also find mathematical formulas if you want to customize the normalization tool to build the top and bottom peaks of the recording.

Within this part is also the ability to make the instrumentation sound just a little bit better. You can add in the extra sounds as well as the effects that you want with additional instruments. This will take the deadened sound that was created from the recording and move it into a live sounding performance as well as a space which is more effective in defining what is being played.

After this point, you will move into the mixing stage. This will focus on the individual instruments and what they need in order to be completely enhanced. The first part of this is to move through each of the individual instruments and create envelopes for them. These are areas in which they will have lows or highs as an individual instrument. You can add in dynamic effects during this point in time as well as things such as compression, which will help to normalize the peak points of the piece even more. During this time, you want to make sure that everything is even and sounds right when picked out individually.

This will then move you into the pre-mastering stage. During this point, you will move from working with individual instruments and into the arrangement of all of the instruments. You will want to make sure that the low and high frequencies of all of the instruments are balanced at the same level. This should move not only into the peak points of the sound waves, but also into the volume control.

The pre-mastering stage will include industry standards as well as individual preferences for balancing out. Many software packages will come with analysis components so that you can look at the amount of low frequencies to high frequencies and adjust it to balance out. This will depend on the software that you use, as well as the preferences that you have for the blending of the instruments. As long as you keep in mind that the most important part of this is blending together all of the instruments with high and low sounds, you will easily be able to maneuver with the pre-mastering stage.

The last step in putting together the mix for recording is the mastering. This will take the songs that have been made over all of the tracks and make sure that they balance out evenly. Like pre-mastering, this can be done by checking all of the levels and making sure that all of the songs balance out and are even in their volume levels as well as high and low frequencies. You can check your volume levels not only by the mathematical formulas, but also by comparing your volume levels on CD players. The sounds should reach the industry standard volumes, unless you have an alternative preference for your blend of songs and instruments.

Once you know the major concepts for each step of placing a CD together, you can find the best way to blend and change everything that is needed within the CD and songs that you are producing. If you are looking beyond recording, you want to look into the engineering of a CD and how you can effectively put together the instruments, every step of the way.

Software Options for Recording

Once you get into the recording studio, there are several options for software that you can use in order to get your sound exactly right. Knowing what your options are for software and finding those that best fit what you need can help you to produce the CD that you want and get your sound waves in the right order. Following are options that you can use when deciding what the best software is for your recording.

1. MIDI. This is a basic software application that is used for recording needs as well as for sound fonts. It comes with the sounds and orchestration patches for the recording with a digital audio area that is built into the system. Because this is lower budgeting, it has some inabilities for editing and for the stereo sounds that you might need.

2.Adobe Audition. This is a basic application that can be used for the entire process of recording. While this specific software option also has some limitations, it is accessible with it's ease of use and can provide accurate results for professional mixing and mastering.

3.Band in a Box. This is a Macintosh application that is known to work well for beginners or for those who are limited in what is being recorded. This is because it has the capability of creating immediate tracks once a certain chord or set of chords is entered. This allows those who have not put together arrangements to use these basic structures before progressing to the next part of the recording.

4.Cakewalk. This specific type of software was created for Macintosh, then evolved into a separate application for Windows. This is known to have the basics for mixing and mastering as well, and carries it's audio options through MIDI.

5.Fruity Loops. If you are into DJ tracks, loops and patterns, this is the specific program to use. While this has some recording capabilities, it works better as a loop mixing area for the musical pieces you are putting together.

6.Vegas. This program is similar to Adobe Audition in the way that it pieces together separate tracks as well as the capabilities for mixing and mastering. The tracks in this program are easy to pre-mix and mix, especially with individual track options and configurations that you can use for the program.

7.Cubase. The large benefit of this particular program is the ability to have unlimited numbers of VSTs, or orchestration patches. It also offers more tracks than the programs such as Cakewalk. One of the other benefits of this program is the ability to add on other programs in order to make it more conducive to your particular music.

8.Studio Vision. This is another Macintosh program and is known to be one of the high end options in software. It's capabilities include a variety of writing for music and allow you to control every part of your musical pieces.

9.Reason. This is another program that is built around finding rhythms, loops and specific tracks. While it offers a wide range of capabilities in placing together pieces of music, it has become more popular among Djs and those who are looking for defined back beats.

10.Pro Tools. This particular choice is one that is known among most professionals as the best software out there. It contains a wide variety of VST options as well as the ability to completely control and manipulate the music that is being worked on. If you move into Pro Tools, you can expect to go through a longer learning curve as there are a wider variety of details and choices for recording.

It can be seen that each of these options carries choices in terms of how much you control the music you are making, strengths and weaknesses, sound options and tools that work the best. By knowing the applications, you can easily begin to use the software in a way that best fits your production.

Getting Rehearsals Ready for Recording

Going into a studio is something that is different than practicing or from performing. It's a different art form in music and takes some different steps in order to get your tracks exactly right. In fact, it's become such an art form, that there are now several musicians who are simply studio musicians because of the different techniques that are used. If you are getting ready to record, you will want to make sure that you rehearse in a way that gets you ready to record.

The number one rule to remember about recording is that you can't miss a beat. If you do, it will cause everything else to be off. Because everything is typically recorded in layers, it combines the need to stay exactly on tempo with the song that is being recorded. Make sure that you know the tempo and don't miss it when you are practicing to record.

The second rule of thumb for recording is to rehearse with layers as one of the options in mind. While most studios will allow you to record all of the instruments at once, your instrument will still be singled out in order to get the rest of the process right. This means that you want to make sure that you can move around with your instrument and know the song forwards and backwards.

Along those lines, always have starting and stopping points that work well with you in one song. If there are any flaws while recording, they can be punched in. You will want to have specific points that you know you can start at again so that you can record over any mistakes that you did make. Dividing up your pieces and learning them in segments will help while you are recording.

Another aspect to keep in mind with the rehearsal before recording is to know what to practice and know what can be plugged in. For example, getting louder or software can be manipulated by the production process, as well as the sound and resonance of what you are playing. It's not necessary to put in the extra ornaments and marks that are often times found in music for a performance or practice, unless you definitely know you want it to stand out.

With all of these concepts in mind as an individual, you can then begin to think about how the blend will change when it moves into the studio. Even though every instrument will be on a different track, you will want to determine how this will best fit in, what the possibilities are for balance and what you want the end product to sound like. This will help you to get used to the right sound and build the correct balance from the concepts that you think fit best.

With these different tips and tricks, your recordings will go much smoother and you will simply be able to follow your musical script to get what you want laid out on the right track. If you prepare in this way, you will find that your abilities to record will be much easier than if you go in without having any preparation. It will save time and space, and will allow those who are producing the CD to have an easier time putting your CD together.

Getting Your Recording Right

You finally have finished recording your piece, front to back and think that you are ready to mix everything together. But, before you start, you notice that there is one little glitch right in the middle. Before you start over again, or start to give up with your song, find the tools that will work so that you can get the recording right.

Software that is designed in recording is always designed with the human element in mind. This means that you can play the instrument the way that you best know how, then create a way to get the exact sound that you want later. While you want to be exact while you record, you can be somewhat merciful in knowing that this sometimes doesn't happen, then find the right tools to put it back together again.

One of the greatest software tools that can be used are punch ins. This allows you to flag a certain area that you want to re-do. You will be able to go back a certain number of seconds and replay. You will then move into the area that needs re-done and record over what was already recorded. You will be able to continue to play afterwards in order to fade back out and put everything together right.

With this option, you want to make sure that you can put all of the sound waves next to each other. With some programs, the punch ins will slightly divide once starting. Giving yourself enough room to prepare for the punch in as well as creating a seamless tie together of the two will help you to put everything together.

Once you have all of the instrumentation exactly right, you can start putting in the right sounds. This is often times called the pre-mixing stage and is used in order to make your instrumentation have the right effects and resonance within your instrument. You always want to do this before you reach the mixing stage as it will often times make a difference in the volume as well as the way in which the instrument mixes with other instruments.

The pre-mixing stage will always begin with the normalization process. This is simply taking the setting of the waves and making it so that it peaks out in both ends. When you normalize something, the frequencies will go up or down. You should see the waves change in order to reach maximum and minimum peaks at both ends. If you have your volume set correctly, everything will normalize to be around the same peaks, allowing you to mix together the sounds easier.

After this, you can set the sound that you want in the end for your instrumentation. This moves into reverb options, flange, effects, fades and other instrumentation effects that adds in extra color to your instrumentation. When you do this, you should make sure that you work with what will sound the best with your instrument and how it will change the sounds within your song. Once you start to hear the right sounds for your instrumentation, you can preset this part and allow for time saving options when getting ready to mix.

After this stage, you will be ready to start your mixing of instruments. Your check list for the pre-mixing stage is to simply make sure that your individual instruments has the right sound that you want for the entire mix. This starts with the smoothness you will want from the song and moves into the options for getting the sounds that add a little bit extra into the mix of your individual instrument.

Newer Options for Recording Studios

Recording is moving above and beyond the old fashioned tapes and the need to perform everything live. The recording industry as well as technology individuals are beginning to produce new capabilities within the industry that are creating opportunities, not only in the sound technology, but also in the abilities to record.

Overall, recording capacities are moving into better and simpler characteristics. Before, having a recording studio would take thousands of dollars worth of equipment, each which was specialized and would not offer all of the capabilities. Today, recording equipment is moving into condensed capabilities with sharper abilities to use equipment in an effective way that captures sound.

One of the innovations that is at the forefront of recording is digital capabilities. This includes the ability to record everything through a digital sound, typically produced from the mixing board. The concept of digital sound is one that captures the sound waves at a faster rate. The result is that it creates a clearer sound and allows for more to be picked up with the sounds that are being captured in the area.

With the digital capacities are also new mixing boards that are being used. This is effective for those who are building home recording studios and need compact options. Some of the mixing boards contain capabilities to record, mix and master without the software or computer. This allows for remote capabilities in recording and the possibility to have a simpler process in the recording process.

Not only are these options growing in recording, but so are the electronic capacities of instrumentation and instrumental sounds. As more is found out about the way in which recording works, newer options for capturing the right types of sounds that sound either electronic or digital are also coming into place. There are continuously newer options to get the correct sound, grow with the right capacities and have more options for putting together an arrangement.

Along these lines of improvement are the new capacities for equipment. Microphones, amplifiers, pre-amps and the equipment that stabilizes the sounds, both in the recording studio and to capture the sounds, are now coming in more condensed packages as well. You can now find all in one amps or microphones, all which are built specifically to record and to capture the right sounds without the problems of playing live.

The way in which the equipment is being built is becoming divided into two categories. This is either for the studio or for performance. This is occurring because of the acoustics that apply to both. In a studio, you want to dampen and deaden all of the extra sound vibrations that occur. With performance; however, you want to capture the smaller sounds and allow for resonance. This, as well as capacities among electronic instruments with easy to use options are quickly moving into the market.

If you are building a recording studio, keeping the newer options in mind and how they can affect your recording process will help you to build the right type of studio with the best capacities. You will then be able to create more options in capturing the correct sounds, putting together the right mix and saving on time with the CDs that you are able to put together.

Setting Up A Recording Studio

Having the right equipment for a recording studio isn't enough in order to get the right sounds for your CD. If you want to make sure that everything is in the right place, you will also want to think about the way in which things are spaced out and how you can work with that in your recording studio.

The first thing you will want to consider with setting up a recording studio is how much room you will need in order for everyone to be comfortable. This means that you will need to have plenty of room to fit an average of five to ten people. If you want more people to come in, space out how much room each one will need in order to feel comfortable within your space. The size of the room as far as feet will not change the way that anything sounds, so if you think bigger space, it is probably better.

The second part to this is dividing the space between the engineering and the playing. While this is not as important as it used to be, it helps for monitoring as well as mixing the sounds while others are playing. Typically, you will see one room that is divided in two. One space is for the musicians while the other is for the sound board, mixing and mastering while those who are working are playing. This creates a better sound proof area for your recording.

With the engineering area, it is expected that everything will be in a range where you can quickly get to it and change the sounds as it is going. Having everything within your arms reach, such as the mix board and the software, will help you to be more consistent and effective while recording other instrumentation.

The area in which the musicians are will then need to be built in a specific way. It is best to have very thin carpeting or wood floors, as this causes the sound to not be absorbed. Lower ceilings will also help to keep the sound compacted. If you have wood flooring or no carpet, you will want to consider buffering the ceiling or placing an area rug around the space which the musicians are working. This will help to keep the sound from bouncing. On the side of the walls should be foam in order to keep the sound deadened as well. You will only want to foam certain sides, depending on the shape of the room, it's size and how it is built. If the noise becomes to deadened, it will be harder to get the right mix when recording.

Another part that should be kept in mind with the musicians area is with the voices. If you are planning on putting vocals on any CD, you will need to have a separate area for the microphones, again, depending on the size of the room. Often times, vocal boxes will be used in order to trap all of the sound. For home recorders with a minimum budget, things such as closets will work in order to keep the sound in the right space.

Of course, each recording studio will differ according to the best way that you work, the type of instrumentation that you have, who you plan on recording and what your needs are at the time. Before you start with your recording studio, it is best to plan out the most legitimate way to organize your equipment and your needs so that everything can be effective once it is set up.

No matter what your budget, needs or playing capacities, having a recording studio that allows you to produce professional CDs is an important factor in creating the right sounds and mixes. The more you plan out for your studio, and the more capacities that you have with dividing the spaces correctly and with having the right equipment, the easier it will be to create the right sounds.