How To Record Pro-Quality Vocals at Home; Simple Beginners Guide To Recording Your Voice For Music, Podcasts, and Voice Overs

So you want to record your voice. Whether it's for your music, podcasts, voice overs, or audiobooks, recording your voice appears to be a daunting task. Especially when you want to achieve the level of quality that you hear all throughout your daily life and on social media. With the hundreds of interfaces, microphones, and DAW's to choose from, where do you even begin? Here is the ultimate simple beginners guide to recording your voice.

The Required Gear

The first thing required to solve your question of 'how to record vocals at home' is the geaThe gear you use can vary depending on the exact type of project you are taking on and desired sound you are looking for. Assuming you want an industry standard level audio quality while not initially breaking the bank, here are my suggestions.

Computer - Your computer doesn't need to be anything special. Starting off, you are going to want to use what you have available if you have one, or starting with something relatively cheap as most computers can handle audio recordings. Keep in mind, you want to make sure your DAW and interface are compatible. Otherwise you will run into unnecessary issues.

Interface - The interface is what bridges your microphone to you computer. Though, an audio interface isn't exactly a necessity if there are budget constraints. It is required to achieve high quality recordings however, as most high quality microphones need the input they provide. I recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or Solo as you can find one of these on Reverb or Facebook Marketplace for relatively cheap without sacrificing simplicity or audio quality. If you need more than two microphones, simply get a Scarlett with more inputs.

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

Microphone - The microphone is the most important piece to this puzzle as this can limit how well the tracks can be mixed and mastered. That being said, if you are on a budget, this is what you are going to want to put your greatest investment in. There are no right or wrong answers to what the perfect microphone is as there are many variables that play into this such as your desired sound and intended use. If you have decided to get an interface, you will want to research XLR microphones. Though, if you chose not to, simply research USB microphones. The overall way to choose which microphone to go beyond that is simply with your budget. Without going into too much depth here is a quick list with pros and cons of my recommendations:

Behringer XM8500 ($30):

Pros: Budget Friendly, Build Quality

Cons: Lacking in Certain Frequencies

Behringer XM8500

RØDE NT1 ($160):

Pros: Good Sound Quality, Includes Essentials

Cons: Requires More Recording Technique

RØDE NT1

Shure SM7b ($400):

Pros: Great Sound Quality, Very Durable, Versatile

Cons: Relatively Expensive

Shure SM7b

DAW - The DAW is the program that you use on your computer to record the tracks. There a many very good DAWs but it is pretty straight forward. They all do relatively the same thing, and if you are just beginning, I suggest getting Reaper. Though it technically costs $60, you can simply use it to its fullest potential until with a minor three second request to purchase every time you open the program after your trial. Reaper is compatible with basically all computers and is the best way to get introduced to recording. Though there is a small learning curve, it is well worth getting to know this DAW first.

Reaper DAW

Headphones - Headphones are required for music recording specifically as you need a way to hear the music that you are recording over. For audiobooks, voiceovers, and podcasts this isn't needed but are a huge help in your workflow which is why I consider this a requirement. Simply use any wired headphones as this reduces any delay with recordings as wireless headphones delay through bluetooth and is very noticeable. My favorite pair is the Sony MDR-7506 and are only $100!

Optionals - Other things you may need include a mic stand, a pop filter, room treatment, studio monitors. These make recording a lot easier or help with the quality but aren't exactly necessary when beginning, but there are many ways to achieve these with only a bit more invested.

Required Knowledge

You are going to want to understand how to connect everything together and set it all up. The best way to get started is to look up Youtube tutorials for your specific project or your specific gear. Though, I will provide my own tutorials in the future as well so keep an eye out for my future blogs! Once everything is connected, learn your DAW. Learning your DAW will make your life so much easier when recording as you learn new shortcuts and key commands to allow you to avoid dealing with all the technical issues when you're trying to be creative. I suggest watching a video or two about the beginner basics when you have a spare minute and you will thank yourself in the future.

Mixing and Mastering

Once you have your recording completed, you may be tempted to be finished there. Though there is one crucial step left; the mixing and mastering. This is where the 'Pro-Quality' portion comes in as even with the most expensive microphone won't give you the result you are craving.

If you are making music, this is where the effects and balance with the instrumental come in. For podcasts, this is how you make your voice clearer and free of any mistakes. Audiobooks and Voice Overs, this is where you make cuts to either fit the video or create a good flow through cuts and edits.

Mixing and mastering is the key to elevating your audio to become what you hear in your daily life through your favorite artist or podcaster. Without a proper mix, your audio can be too quiet, or too muffled to even compete with music and podcasts nowadays. Learning to do basic mixing and mastering is the other half to this entire adventure and isn't the easiest to get right. Though I really enjoy this step, you may want to consider hiring someone to do this portion as it can help you achieve your desired sound quicker and give your audio a second listener. Similar to how authors tend to have an editor.

Here at Calypso Studios, we offer mixing and mastering services for any project any size. We can help you produce your music, provide high quality mixing and mastering, and elevate your project into its fullest potential. For any inquiries, don't hesitate to contact us. We are looking forward to working with you!

Conclusion

Now you know how to begin recording your voice. With all the different products and suggestions, it is difficult to navigate the world of audio, especially when you haven't won the lottery (yet). Though now you have solid foundation of knowledge and know what you need to do to get started, with a little time, effort, and what ever budget you have, you can achieve pro-quality vocal tracks from your home in no time.