Key Practices for Great Results
1Hydrate
Hydration the day before and also HOURS before recording is key to good vocal quality. Dry vocal cords become irritated and irreversibly damaged over time. Also, a hydrated body will be far more functional and can lend to a productive day.
2Throat care
Some methods include protecting your vocal cords and keeping them warm with a scarf, drinking certain teas, and/or applying castor oil in dry/desert regions.
3Eat something
…that doesn’t negatively affect vocal quality.
Things to avoid include extreme temperatures, caffeine, and those that create mucus.
4Warm up
Our voice is an instrument, too! Take the necessary time to literally warm up your vocal cords and ease into singing. In addition to your exercises, you may find it beneficial to sing a few songs before jumping into recording.
5Focus
Put your attention into the booth. Leave your cares at the door OR put it on wax! Either way, your mind should be laser focused on your work at hand. We can only do, one thing at time!
6Know the material
Be as familiar as possible with what you are expected to record. Practice and know your parts in as many ways that you can conceive (with and without accompaniment – instrument or voice, from various starting points, problem areas, etc).