Getting the right person at the helm of your recording project is essential to getting the biggest bang for your bucks and your artistic efforts. In this first post of a two-part series, I’d like to offer some factors to help you decide how to pick the recording producer for your next project. Like a… Read More » about Recording Producer: How Do You Pick One?
Studio Recording
A Great Vocal: How Long Does It Take? How Bad Do You Want It?
I’ve been in the studio a lot lately and have become freshly aware that new people are frequently freaked at how much effort it takes to capture a truly great vocal performance.It’s harder for men to understand this, but it’s kind of like having a baby. The “labor” can be truly intense, but when that… Read More » about A Great Vocal: How Long Does It Take? How Bad Do You Want It?
Pre-production for recording projects
A studio recording project is accomplished with better quality and more financial economy if time and effort is allowed for pre-production. Here is my list for pre-production goals: To find out who the artist is (what songs fit their voices and their hearts best) and what impact they want to make with this project (what… Read More » about Pre-production for recording projects
What does a recording studio producer, vocal producer, vocal consultant, vocal arranger, music director DO?
I was asked to clarify what a vocal producer did recently, and did it mean the same thing as a vocal arranger. Here are some services available for recording projects and live performances that may interest you and help you define, find and hire what you really need: RECORDING STUDIO PRODUCER Like a commander-in-chief, this… Read More » about What does a recording studio producer, vocal producer, vocal consultant, vocal arranger, music director DO?
Getting the magic of live performance in the studio
There is a frustrating disconnect with many people who are great in live performance but can’t seem to get that same great vocal in the recording studio. Here are some tips to help you bring your live sound into your recorded sound: Create the ambiance you need to “do the scene” as you deliver the… Read More » about Getting the magic of live performance in the studio
What would I do as producer of your project?
I got a new request recently to explain what I do in my role as producer or vocal producer. If you are a new artist and are contemplating recording a project, the following may help you know what to expect, or what questions to ask of the producer you are working with or considering. As… Read More » about What would I do as producer of your project?
Jingle singing
I got a recent comment on this blog asking me to talk about jingle singing. Thanks very much for the comment and here goes… What’s the difference between jingle singing and session singing? Jingle singers are a sub-field of session singers, which is just an abbreviated term for “recording session singers”. Session singers includes background… Read More » about Jingle singing
How to get work as a background singer
I still love doing bgvs… for over 40 yrs now! I get asked this question a lot… How does one go about getting started if they are interested in singing bgv’s (background vocals)?” My answer: To sing background vocals you need- vocal training to be able to perform the feats of what I call a “stunt… Read More » about How to get work as a background singer
Pitch problems in the recording studio
I recently received an emailed question about pitch problems while recording vocals that I’d like to share here. The question:Dear Judy,I’ve just started recording some songs and have run into a problem. When I sing my vocals, I am off pitch. I play in a band and have for a few years and we seem… Read More » about Pitch problems in the recording studio
The “two-fingers-at-larynx” vocal recording trick
I had an interesting studio trick occur to me tonight. I had a late background vocal session and I am TIRED. I had a phrase that I needed to sing in a high “middle” voice (head voice wouldn’t have been the right blend). Normally that’s no problem if I use “studio hands”, but tonight I… Read More » about The “two-fingers-at-larynx” vocal recording trick