8/27/2013

How To Record Vocals For Hip Hop Instrumentals

By Delroy Wilkins


Hip hop music is expressionism in popular language, where words groove to the rhythm of a series of beats. Since it is a leading music genre, the entire hip hop production led to beats for sale and silver-tongued vocalists for hire. Despite the booming professional hip hop industry, home studios are still popular and some of the best songs were produced at one of these makeshift recording studios.

You might have the perfect vocals paired with beats and instrumentals available for sale. However, you might not be able to get the right quality production. In music, having the perfect vocals calls for professional recording. In most cases, you will have enough money to book studio time. However, even with this limitation, you can still improve on your hip hop tracks vocals in your home studio. It does not necessarily mean investing in the latest analog to digital converter. You simply have to apply these three tricks.

Tip #1. Keep Your Recording Environment Quiet. Common sense will dictate that a recording room should be noise-free but this is often forgotten. Some people also think that a bit of noise won't matter because no one will catch a whiff of it in the final mix. Contrary to that belief, mixing, mastering and EQ'ing enforces these noises and they clutter up your final mix. Hence, you should control the noise that you can, the lower the noise the better. Every source of noise such as police sirens, snapping fingers, road traffic, construction, rattling chains and lawn mowing can all spoil your hip hop vocals even if your mix involves professional beats for sale. Better yet, time your recording at the quietest hour to reduce your background noise.

Tip #2. Do Right By The Mic. Great vocals are audible, comprehensible, and have a level volume. One of the best ways to achieve this is to treat the mic like your best friend. Ideally, you need to be 6 to 12 inches from the mic and you should maintain the same distance throughout the recording. As opposed to holding the mic, use a stand. This will help minimize noise from the cable or your hand's movement. A pop filter is vital for clean vocals. Hip hop, by nature is rhythmic but your final mix should be free from hisses, plosives and pops as it can be distracting.

Tip #3. Find The Recording Spot in Your Home. Every home has a recording spot; you just have to find it! Find that spot that makes your voice sound natural on your recording but stay out of small rooms. Don't even get hooked to the idea of recording in your closet, aside from being uncomfortable and cramped, it is a bad idea as far as acoustic, experience and physics are concerned. In a small room, the vocals thin out in the frequency spectrum's middle range. This comb filtering effect is hard to correct in the mixing stage. In finding the spot, clap your hands and listen whether the walls echo back. If it does, grab some blankets or beddings to absorb the reflection. Keep in mind that reverb and delays can be added while mixing so don't fret about the lack of sense of environment and space.




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