How Loud Should You Record Vocals?
Record vocals so your loudest line peaks between minus 12 and minus 6 dBFS on the DAW meter, with the average around minus 18 dBFS. That leaves about 10 dB of headroom for a singer who gets louder than in soundcheck, and 24-bit recording keeps the quiet parts clean.
What the manufacturers recommend
Every source below puts recorded peaks at or below minus 6 dBFS, not near 0.
| Source | Peak target | Average target |
|---|---|---|
| Avid gain staging guide | Max minus 6 dBFS | About minus 18 dBFS (RMS) |
| Focusrite support | Around minus 12 dBFS | Not given |
| Neumann vocal guide | About 10 dB below 0 dBFS | Not given |
Focusrite adds that at 24-bit, you don't need to record as hot as possible. More on bit depth in sample rate and bit depth.
How to set the level
- Have the singer sing the loudest section, not the verse.
- Raise interface gain until those peaks land between minus 12 and minus 6 dBFS.
- Recheck after the first real take. Neumann says singers usually sing louder once recording starts.
- Turn up the headphones, not the gain, if the singer wants to hear more of themselves, as Neumann advises.
If peaks still hit 0, follow how to record loud vocals without clipping. The full chain from preamp to master is in gain staging, and the rest of the session in how to record music at home.
Related questions
Is it bad to record vocals too quiet?
Slightly quiet is fine at 24-bit. Very low levels bring up noise once you turn the track up in the mix, which Avid's gain staging guide warns about.
Should vocals hit 0 dBFS when recording?
No. 0 dBFS is the digital ceiling, and anything above it clips. Keep the loudest peaks at minus 6 dBFS or lower.
What is minus 18 dBFS in VU?
Avid's gain staging guide says an average of about minus 18 dBFS on the RMS meter corresponds approximately to 0 VU, mirroring analog metering practice.
More answers: Home recording FAQ