Let's get this out of the way, because some of you go into every session with a skewed mindset. I'm not going to teach you how to make average singers sound like world class singers. You can't squeeze blood out of a turnip and you can't make an average vocalist Whitney Houston. But...you can get the best that they're capable of and that might be easier than you think.
The secret to great vocal takes is; a singer who understands their limits, positive reinforcement, and staying in the zone.
Understanding the Limits
An average singer who knows how to work their voice for a given song is a powerful thing. Sometimes part of the key is just lowering the key of the song or if it's a female...raising it...finding where the singer can sing comfortably. Sometimes it's knowing that they can't do that particular run they're going for and as the producer advising toward a less tricky one. Knowing your limits is key and the first step to capturing a great vocal take.
Make the Initial Investment
Let's put ourselves 'in the shoes' of the vocalist...
They're at a new studio they've never been to before, they're having to perform and sing passionately into the mic in front of a stranger, and somewhere in their mind they're a bit stressed about how much the session costs.
The first thing I'd advise if you're the engineer is...before the session starts tell your client that the clock's not running, this isn't going to cost them anything, but that you'd like to get to know them a little. Ask about them, what path led them to your studio, do they have any hobbies aside from music, do they perform anywhere in town regularly, etc...
You want to put them at ease with you. Share things about yourself as well. Tell them how you came to open your studio. Do some research before they get there and listen to some of their prior music. Tell them which of their songs you like best and why. Invest into them so you can earn the right to be there when they're vulnerable enough to give you a killer vocal take.
Positive Reinforcement
"DON'T sing so sharp..."
"NO, you're off key again..."
"When you get to the chorus DON'T hold back..."
"DON'T worry about the clock"
What are you thinking about right now? Most likely you're thinking about the clock right?! You may have looked up at the time after you read that to check what hour it was. But why is that? I told you DON'T look at the clock. Did you do it again?...
Most people think in pictures, especially creatives. If I tell you to not picture a cherry red Corvette, now you're thinking of a Corvette. Same with someone telling a singer NOT to sing flat. Now, all they can think of is 'sing flat'. They might be thinking to themselves to 'not sing flat', but that's not what's registering...the only concrete thing you've given their mind to grasp to is 'sing flat'. Now, what if you inverse your thinking on how you coach the artist?
"Let's try singing it a bit more sharp this time around. You're doing great!"
Now, you've given them positive reinforcement that when they do that take again, they're probably going to sing it more sharp like you wanted.
It's not a complicated idea, but it makes a world of difference.
Head Vs the Heart
Every time I've ever let a performer think too much in a vocal session, I've gotten cold sterile vocal takes that don't make it on the record. But when their mind has been busy with something else and they were performing from instinct or passion, I've preferred those takes much more.
A great tip is to have the vocalist tell you in detail why they wrote the song or why they wanted to record it (if they didn't write it). Maybe their boyfriend broke up with them last month leaving them with the kids, maybe it's a song about following your dreams and this singer just took a risky step moving to a big city to pursue their's, perhaps it's about overcoming the struggle of not falling into the trap of poverty of their neighborhood...you won't know if you don't ask and them telling you does something special. Like I said...creatives think in images. So, as they're telling you they're reliving it. They're going back to that place where they felt those things. Hit record quick! You're going to capture gold.
When you can distract the mind with experience of emotion it yields better results than when it wanders outside of the task at hand. This is important to recognize because after the vocalist has veered off into calculation and is no longer in that moment, you might as well take a break. Help them find that inspiration again, but if you continue to record you'll only be wasting time.
So, get back to your session. Stop worrying if you have the right mic in your mic locker and worry more about the vocalist and I promise you today you'll get the best takes you've ever received from them! And by going about it this way, by the time you get to the mastering process you'll know you have something special that doesn't need to be dressed up to be appealing, because you captured something great in the performance.
Hope that helps!
