How to Make Recorded Vocals Sound Better
To make recorded vocals sound better, fix the source first: sing 8 to 12 inches from the mic, record in a dry spot, and leave about 10 dB of headroom above the loudest peak. Then clean up what's left in the mix: clicks, breaths, noise, and clipping.
Fix it at the source
Most of a vocal's quality is locked in before you hit record. Neumann's home studio vocal guide gives the targets: 8 to 12 inches from the capsule, out of room corners, closed-back headphones, and about 10 dB of headroom above the loudest peak.
| What you hear | Cause | Fix before the next take |
|---|---|---|
| Boomy, muddy | Too close, proximity effect | Back off to 8 to 12 inches |
| Hollow, roomy | Hard walls near the singer | Move out of corners, clothes behind the singer |
| Pops on P and B | Breath hitting the capsule | Pop filter, angled slightly |
| Distorted peaks | Gain set on a quiet line | Reset gain on the loudest line |
Shure explains that proximity effect adds bass as a directional mic gets closer, and that moving back a few inches tames it. Neumann's room guide calls an open closet of clothes a large absorber when it sits behind the singer.
Fix it in the mix
Repair software can rescue short or steady problems. iZotope's RX music production guide shows De-clip rebuilding clipped waveforms, Mouth De-click removing lip noise, Breath Control removing breaths, and Spectral De-noise reducing background noise.
Fixable after
Clicks, breaths, hiss, short clips
Repair tools target these without touching the rest of the take.
Re-record instead
Room echo, flat delivery, timing feel
These are baked into the whole take, so you'll get there faster with a new one.
EQ, compression, and reverb live on how to mix vocals. The full recording setup is on how to record vocals at home, and the rest of the process in how to record music at home.
Related questions
How do I fix a bad vocal recording?
Repair tools can rebuild clipped peaks, remove mouth clicks and breaths, and reduce steady background noise. Room echo and a weak performance are much harder to fix, so re-record if you can.
How do I get better at recording vocals?
Keep the same 8 to 12 inch distance, set gain on the loudest line with about 10 dB of headroom, and listen back after the first take before recording more.
Can you remove room echo from a vocal?
Only partly. Reverb recorded into the take is hard to remove cleanly, so it's better to record dry with soft furnishings behind the singer and add reverb in the mix.
More answers: Home recording FAQ