A few weeks ago, my group, Satellite Lane, recorded their first
EP with The Vocal Company. While the experience was incredibly worthwhile and
satisfying, there were things we discovered during the recording process that I
wish we had known, which probably would have helped us better prepare for
the weekend. There are also a lot of things I discovered about recording that I
never knew before.
If you’re part of a group that has already put out multiple
albums, won multiple CARAs, appeared on many compilations, etc., then this post will
probably not be very helpful. In that case, since you’re already here,
here’s a lovely video of a sloth crossing a road:
For those of you struggling to make an album, thinking about
making your first album, or disappointed with the albums you’ve already made,
try these tips on for size…
1) Where you record doesn’t matter…sort of…
We recorded in my mother’s house, in the den. True story.
Do you need a fancy recording booth or lots of heavy
equipment? No. You need a dead room (more on that in a second), a microphone,
an interface, and a laptop. True, those things are still very expensive, but
they are far less expensive than the big machines you probably think you need.
A dead room is any room with little or no echo. Our vocal
percussionsit, Evan Feist, taught me a simple trick for determining dead rooms-
Clap your hands and listen to the echo. If there is no echo, you have a dead
room.
Also be careful that building machines (heating grates, air
conditioners, etc.) aren’t making noise either.
2) The Vocal Company has many microphones.
Not every microphone is built the same. They each use
different materials, different parts, different blueprints, etc. Just like a
different type of car suits a different kind of a driver, a different kind of
microphone suits a different kind of voice.
Did you know you can walk into any Sam Ash and try out their
microphones? It’s true. If you’re looking to buy a microphone, try them out and
see which one sounds the best. Do some
research…don’t just buy any microphone and feel like it will work best for
everything you record.
If you don’t have the money for several microphones, then
you need to find one that accommodates as many vocal styles as it can.
The microphone I use to record my Docacappella music is an
Audio-Technica AT 4040.
Now that’s not the one Vocal Company uses. They use
something much better and much more expensive. But if you’re looking for a good
overall model that’s not too expensive, I recommend that one.
3) Don’t be afraid to think outside the box .
For one of our tracks, we needed our vocal percussionist to
sound like he was playing a washboard, like in a country jug band. After
several takes of sounds that didn’t quite do it justice, the engineer
suggested chewing an apple and projecting that into the microphone.
Hey…whatever works.
4) MIDI matters.
MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is the key to
getting a good track. A MIDI file keeps the singers in tune and is the best way
for the engineer to keep track of what the right and wrong notes are.
I always felt like MIDI tracks were just a guide to help me
stay in tune, nothing more. But after watching our engineer Mel utilize MIDI in
fascinating ways, I realized how important MIDI was to the recording process.
It helped her learn the songs without knowing them in advance, and created a
helpful roadmap for the editor and mixer.
To create a MIDI file, you need a notation program like
Finale or Sibelius. You simply input the music into the program and then export
the file as a MIDI file. When you export it, use “Type 1.”
5) Be flexible.
Some people record faster or slower than others. Just
because you make a schedule doesn’t mean you will be able to stick to it. In
fact, there’s a 100% chance you won’t stick to it. Make sure everyone in your
group has extra time blocked off in case things change (which they will…trust
me).
6) The engineer is and isn’t God.
The engineer does not know your music, nor do they know your
arrangements. They are learning this on the fly, so you need someone to be in
the room with them to answer questions they might have. Other than that, you
need to stay out of the engineer’s way. They know how to get the best takes and
how to get the best out of singers. You may want to “direct” the recording, but
believe me, they have it covered.
7) Triple track
Did you know that a cappella groups triple track their
parts? I sure didn’t. What is triple tracking? It’s making sure that every note
sung by each singer has two additional tracks with the same notes. Basically,
everything you sing has to be done three times, so that when they are mixed
together, it creates a “fuller” sound.
I’d like to end this post by personally thanking The Vocal
Company for a productive and fun weekend, especially our engineer Mel Daenke.
Marc Silverberg
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One of the most important things I've learning through recording is that you can (basically) fix tuning and timing but CANNOT fix vibe or energy.
ReplyDeleteSo have fun, try both things and stuff and match the room's energy to the vibe you want to capture!