How To Sound Check Your Vocals (A Singer's Guide)

How to sound check your vocals with the sound tech onstage before a show. I'll take you through all the steps you need to know to get your sound right!
Nicola xx
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[@louphonicsound7869]

From a “sound tech” the first thing a singer needs to do when getting up in front of a mic, assuming the vocalist did their vocal warmups is to give the sound engineer a performance vocal volume into your microphone. Not a whispered or even a conversation volume “check one check two” We need a LOUD CHECK ONE CHECK TWO. Sing something from one of your loudest songs in your set list if you don’t know what to say. This is not the time to be feeling “weird” or “awkward” giving a loud vocal volume, this is YOUR sound check so make the most of it. The only ones to suffer later will be you and your audience, including the engineer. Loud vocals allows the gains on the mixer to be set properly assuming the engineer is competent in live sound. Trust me it’s not always “just turn me up.” There’s a lot more going on then just “more me”. That’s the biggest problem a competent sound engineer encounters when sound checking some vocalists. Not enough volume at sound check. If done correctly proper eq, compression, and vocal volume can be applied based on room acoustics and volume of the band.

[@lurarisnikos]

The first thing you always start with during the "testing" a mic phase (or an instrument), is the PFL and adjusting the gain levels. If that setting is "off", no matter what you do, it's game over right there.

[@JasonGwynne]

"not all sound technicians are created equal" lol that's putting it lightly :)

[@Singerssecret]

+Jason Gwynne lol!

[@brighterdayswindowcleaning]

As a sound tech, not all vocalists are created equal. In addition, very few know much about engineering sound. It’s interesting how backwards this video is. I can’t imagine telling a vocalist how to do their job. 😂

[@lizusilva]

Thanks for every useful tip. Im the 1,2,1,2 type singer during the soundcheck. I was wondering what words, phrases o what exactly can I say to make sure my vocals sounds good.

[@areyoufriendly]

Fiona Apple stopped a song 4 measures in once, and Eddie Vedder used his mic before beginning to tell the tech what he wanted - I have witnessed both. Every time I’m on stage (yes karaoke counts, lol) my mic is way off, to the point where I wanna go tweak the levels myself.

[@souternstarguitar1119]

A Sound Engineer has 31 frequencies to tweek the sound on each side with 100 different effects. Not just 3 and reverb. Sound mixing 101... Lead vocals should be set just above the the drum kit and centered in the mix. This shall allow vocals to cut through the mix.

[@bokajllensch661]

You have infinite frequences to control.

[@ojoyful1]

I'm assuming the fallback or foldback speakers that you mentioned is the stage monitor system? Thanks for your helpful videos : )

[@Singerssecret]

+ojoyful1 foldback and the speakers that point towards the band on stage :)

[@Singerssecret]

+Singers Secret *are

[@mayankverma-fw4ft]

I like how nicely you explian

[@Singerssecret]

mayank verma thanks! :)

[@mayankverma-fw4ft]

Could I be a singer but I have a very bad voice ??😢

[@mayankverma-fw4ft]

Plz tell truth coz if not then I will focus on other thing

[@nirmalranawordschords3065]

Love from INDIA northeast 🎸🎸

[@Singerssecret]

Hello from Australia! :)

[@birpradashpukhrambam2284]

Thank u

[@Singerssecret]

Just so you know, all my new tutorials are being posted here: kzbin.info

[@brickbreaker8148]

Great vids...when you perform, do you pronounce your R's? Just wonderin. :-O

[@Singerssecret]

+Steven Spencer Not nearly as much as most American accents do but I do make sure my articulation is clear so people can hear every word.

[@brickbreaker8148]

+Singers Secret Love it, come see me in the Chicago area some time!...lol

[@danielshanechapman2019]

Killer trips?

[@freemandiaz5123]

Thee very reason bitter sound engineers use their mute button, then claim that they are just a sound guy. Sheesh.

[@keiferdouglas3766]

Believe it or not, 98% of the time the sound guy knows more than you. Don't tell sound how to do their job. They're there for a reason.

[@Singerssecret]

I'd make that statistic a lot lower. Good sound techs are really hard to come by. Musicians who gig regularly know their instruments (especially vocalists because they have different timbres) and what sound they like so its a good thing if you know your levels. If you're gigging with a new sound tech they won't know the range of your voice until you start singing. Even then they need to adjust as you belt more etc... and most techs don't bother. Many musos have a sound tech as part of their touring team for this very reason.

[@tarun.krishna]

While doing a sound check for speech only, all they need to do is talk during sound check. On the other hand Singers should sing acapella for sound check. one or two songs that give the Audio engineer a fair idea of the singer's vocal range. Then sing with the band for a better understanding of the band's dynamics with the vocalist.

[@sefrisemen3242]

Too much talking

[@cicerombira]

i believe next time be careful about the advice you give coz this is wrong