If you want vocals to sound good, you need to record them in a space that has minimal reflections from walls and other objects. Reverb can sound really cool in the initial recording but when you start to process the vocal to fit into the mix, it’ll sound awful because, as you apply compression, the quiet reverb will be amplified and the core part of the vocal will effectively be turned down. It is much easier to add reverb when mixing later.
That said, you don’t want the space to be totally dead as that can reduce some of the excitement in the voice but close to dead is good. Semi-dead is what you're after!
“Oh Dan, You can’t do that in a home studio, with no acoustic engineering skills and no DIY skills for less than £250!” The naysayers (2019)
Well to all the naysayers… Take a look at this beast!
This is an easy way to do it that won’t cost you a bomb, won’t take up loads of space in your house and won’t require any DIY skills. All of the vocals in my tracks have been recorded in here.
You will need:
- changing room frame (£90) - click to be taken to the one I used
- 3 acoustic blankets 2m x 2m (£135) - click to be taken to the ones I used
- Shower curtain hooks (£5) – you can find these anywhere, Ikea do some…
All you have to do is build the changing room frame (no tools required) and then hook the acoustic blankets round the sides and over the top with the curtain hooks. Those acoustic blankets have holes for the hooks built into them already as they are designed to be hung. It's almost like it was meant to be.
Then set up your mic and headphones inside. Perhaps add some lighting to help create the right mood for the vocal artist and you’re good to go. And at a third of the price of the next best thing...
Buzzin’