Record PRO Vocals From Home! [WITH FREE PDF GUIDE] | Make Pop Music

In this video, we will go over some steps, techniques, and tips to help you record the best quality vocals in a home studio environment. No matter how inexpensive or expensive your setup is, these steps can make or break any vocal recording session! Also, you can download a free Vocal Tracking Checklist PDF below so you can always make sure you're ready to record!
Download the free Vocal Tracking Checklist:
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Check Out Our Vocal Engineering Course!
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www.austinhull.com
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Make Pop Music is the #1 resource for independent pop producers, writers, and artists. Thank you for being a subscriber!
My Gear:
DAW: Cubase 11 Pro
Desk: AZ Studio Workstations
Monitors: Focal Shape 65s with Focal Sub6
Interface: UAD Apollo Twin USB
MIDI Keyboard: M-Audio Code 61
Keyboards: Roland Juno DS88, Roland Juno 106, Arturia PolyBrute
Guitars: Fender American Professional Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul Studio, Taylor 214 CE Plus
Preamps: Heritage Audio HA81A & Audient ASP800
Microphones: Advanced Audio 251, Slate ML-1, Shure SM7B, JZ BH-1, JZ V67, Lauten Audio LA-320, Lauten Audio LA-220, Lauten Audio LA-120, AKG P170, Sterling ST59
Camera: Panasonic G7
Lens: Panasonic 25mm f1.7
Camera Lights: Neewer LED Light Panels
Timestamps:
Intro 0:00
Picking The Right Mic 1:14
Dynamic Microphones 1:38
Small Diaphragm Condensers 2:51
Large Diaphragm Condensers 3:29
Polar Patterns 5:00
Polar Pattern Example 6:00
Picking a Preamp 6:35
When To Use External Preamps 6:54
Signal to Noise Ratio 7:13
The Tracking Room 8:27
Treating For Room Noise 9:52
Good Room vs Bad Room Example 10:40
Mic Placement 11:16
Mic Technique 11:45
Proximity Effect Example 13:10
Pop Filters 14:29
Pop Filter Example 15:06
Setting Gain Input Levels 15:27
Problems With Quiet Signals 16:23
Problems With Loud Signals 17:27
Getting The Best Takes 19:00
Setting Up A Monitoring Chain 19:16
Setting Up A Vocal Template In Your DAW 21:08
Long Takes vs Short Takes 21:40
Quick Vocal Mix For Tracking 22:20
Final Comparison of All Vocals In A Mix 24:22
Outro 26:45

[@MakePopMusic]

If anyone wants more info on engineering vocals, we do offer a full course on our site that is over 2 hours and goes into the information in this video in more detail, as well as showing how to comp vocals, tune vocals, and do a more detailed vocal mix! Link in bio

[@nunu9849]

Would you recommended for pop vocals like yours, advanced audio 251 or vanguard v13 mk2?

[@alexsapadin6622]

This channel is legitimately the best source for production education I've found. Appreciate you immensely.

[@teshy8615]

This video came out at literally the perfect time!! Recorded my vocals yesterday and fixing them up today! Thanks for the tips!

[@darrenmorris8685]

Literally revisiting what I'm doing in tracking. So much teaching on mixing out there not enough tracking and getting good SOURCE material. THANK YOUUUU

[@justinsmithmusic]

I would love to see your editing/comping process as well as any updates to your tuning workflow. The examples here put so much into perspective. Thanks!

[@silvashreds4561]

this is so incredible. This is literally the video i've been looking for. thank you for always being straight to the point and knowledgeable

[@WavyGang]

Great vid pretty helpful

[@ianromanovich]

love ur advices!

[@johnkhalkho798]

The legend who is one of the wisest and yet coolest producer!

[@jamiekarlcoupe]

Just wonderfully done start to finish. Thanks Austin

[@bandninkasimusic6484]

Fantastic video Austin. Always quality content on this channel.

[@thevirtunaut1856]

man... all these Make Pop Music videos are so valuable...

[@cyaney7016]

This came at the perfect time thankyou

[@sasakisakupanda331]

Your stuffs always help me out a lot ...have a great respect for you man 💙

[@declanwrightmusic]

Great stuff, thanks!

[@nathalielow4504]

Loves it!

[@davidabair2280]

Outside of being a excellent teacher, you have a very cool voice!

[@Nonchalant97]

You’re videos are very inspiring! Thanks a lot for showing your skills for free on KZbin

[@AladineGuettaf]

Thank you so much Austin !

[@filiprangus5826]

Thank you, Austin! Would love the follow up video on editing and stuff and perhaps if you touch on a topic of recording through a collaboration with an artist that isn't physically present in the studio. What guidelines too give them, what to watch out for etc.

[@Mineiro426]

Amazing tutorial. Really love it.

[@robynunwinmedia]

Excellent video. Thanks so much

[@AndrewStonerock]

Dynamics are good for loud sources, micing cabs, or screaming vocals. Having an external preamp also helps. Large diaphragm condenser are great if you are singing cleanly, yes. I have an old groove tubes gt66 tube mic. It's great. I also have several sterling fet mics. I find myself going for my 7b most of the time any more though. I can always get what ever sound I need in post as long as the vocalist can actually perform..

[@rasolzamini8678]

Great tutorial, as usual.thx

[@abrahamlaxman5252]

Very well explained. Thank you

[@AdamElara]

Watched the whole thing great job dude!

[@RaepaMusic]

I am here again to gets me more gems from this channel. Thank You Austin. While I use FL Studio, the techniques are no different.

[@rofbeats10]

Great man!! Thanks for sharing all this info, it helps us a lot.

[@idkyou04]

Thanks Bro, Just At The Right Time. Great Video

[@MarkBennett007]

Thank you

[@willyharrington2090]

great job, good man

[@blackpoh2822]

amazing🎉

[@jasonvotaw5966]

Great video!!

[@rocksrrpcodm]

Thanks

[@christhescientist]

Fantastic video, so glad I found this channel

[@garyrama1]

what an amazing content you give us !!! thank u so much

[@miheehan5724]

This was so helpful for me thank you 🙏

[@LighthoofDryden]

I’ve been manually going through this stuff with each of my clients-which is lovely-but now I think I’m gonna send them this video and pdf before starting to discuss. Amazing and comprehensive vid!

[@MakePopMusic]

Same here! Will be adding this to my onboarding documents to send out!

[@timrault]

Awesome video as always ! Keep up the good work :)

[@WinterVibrations]

Awesome video thanks!

[@taisnester8820]

thank you!

[@dylanJsaih]

Keep up the gr8 work! I dont work in ableton or nothing but I can learn alot from this

[@vilgaxrecords]

Thank you 🙏❤

[@arseniharkunou5905]

Incredible. Would love more vocal related lessons, as well as maybe some diy room treatment stuff. Thank you.

[@SwapneelGhosh95]

Super stuff!

[@hustle_tee]

Nice content 🔥🔥🔥🔥 This could be handy New album coming !

[@big-calles6673]

Contigo si aprendo, Gracias. Excelente trabajo.

[@rezawildan]

great video. thank you

[@Reirimawi]

Love U man

[@philbartlett6918]

Thanks so much. Some great advice. 👍

[@atharv1002]

make a detailed video about the vocal chain pleaseee 🥺

[@clear_gray_sky539]

Ur looking great bro

[@zachzero7382]

This is the most criminally underexposed music related KZbin channel. Consistently in depth, helpful, high quality videos.

[@MakePopMusic]

Share us with the homies and help us take over!

[@zachzero7382]

@@MakePopMusic always do! I wish you the best luck Austin your stuff has helped me out so much this year. I had a personal goal to make a song a month and your videos have really been a game changer for me. Thank you!

[@tiquanleach4512]

Nice

[@martinondrums]

Recently splurged for an Isovox 2 to solve room issues, and it’s been a game changer. No matter what I tried I couldn’t get focused, tight vocals at home. Definitely pricey but I found a discounted demo model. I pair it with a Lauren Atlantis and it’s as if I have a high end dedicated vocal booth.

[@nunu9849]

Can u send me some of your vocals recorded using this setup?

[@dafingaz]

Gems!

[@demodeiowa]

10:09 having it behind yourself is such a game changer

[@williecolonmusic]

YOU'RE A GOD!

[@ianmusicc]

i needed this today because online i've been slated for my vocals ahahah

[@SavannahandJesus]

you look very bright and healthy, hope things are going well

[@aadvikabrolll]

great content! please make a video about comping vocals.

[@BigBossKeruda]

Seriously, U need more subscriber 😢👍

[@christopherkouri2317]

2nd or 3rd time watching this vid. Great info. Thank you!

[@t_radks]

Cool

[@Deoye]

You deserve 72 of 👍🏽😎

[@kajammusicent.-djwhiteknig2931]

good video

[@maxim8628]

Would love to see a lesson on singing itself.

[@timelessbynoratang9642]

Liked, commenting, already subscribed 😀

[@tsukkikei571]

Notification squad🔥🔥

[@vojtechkratochvil157]

Hi, great video, but I just want to ask about that monitoring chain. How do I just monitor the effects (not record ) without having universal audio??

[@Linay]

would using a a cloudlifter with my focusright 2i2 help with the gain. I cant hear myself properly but if i turn up the gain on the interface then it starts clipping/distorting. I have a neuman TLM102

[@BETTER.ART.]

I really want to hear the full song. Sounds like The Midnight and Kalax.

[@mattbranigan595]

Awesome video man! Really helpful and appreciate all the examples to put everything in context. Would love to see a video on vocal tuning and EQ’ing.

[@cloenaytra8690]

Hii! Love your channel! I was wondering if you could possibly do how to make a Rihanna style track? Like her Talk that Talk era or Rated R era or Loud era? Please and thank you☺️!!

[@saulmarquez4499]

Can we set up a monitoring chain if we use Focusrite?

[@philigran4852]

Which exact kick, snare and claps are you using in this?

[@conflictdiamondz]

Where did u buy ur Mic Boom Stand

[@DennisNzl]

QUESTION: Is there any alternative plugin to the UAD Console you are using for folks who don't have an Apollo?

[@MakePopMusic]

A lot of interfaces have their own zero latency / low latency monitoring mixer.

[@DennisNzl]

thank you!

[@sushanpradhan31]

Hi austin. Its me from nepal🙏🙏🙏

[@carsten7058]

Can I use the Stock plugins? To get a good sound too?

[@heinrichsmit7045]

Hey Austin, for the vocal monitoring plugins, what if there is latency? Do you just bounce the instrumental and record vocals over that?

[@MakePopMusic]

You could try. That's why I really like using UAD. Other higher end interfaces will have something similar to UAD console so you can track without latency.

[@aleksamrkela831]

Great video! But I have a slight correction: tubes themselves don't add what we perceive as "warmth", quality transformers do. Tubes actually add more high-end content, or "sheen". I've seen tests proving this, debunking the common misconception that tubes = warmth.

[@MakePopMusic]

I definitely find tube mics to have a bit more body and depth in the mids, in comparison with a couple FET mics I have laying around, but yeah, I'm definitely mainly looking for smooth top end when looking at a tube mic. While the tube may not be the cause of warmth, I have definitely personally found some correlation.

[@aleksamrkela831]

@@MakePopMusic Thanks for replying, and an interesting observation there! What I found was mostly related to processing units like compressors and equalizers, but tube guitar amplifiers are definitely warmer than solid-state amps, so it might be a different ball game with mics, too.

[@FredMurray]

Thanks for all this content... so it's one of your song, I like it!! What is the name of this song ?

[@fershnibbity330]

I really gotta take the time to make a chain while tracking. That’s always my problem-I can’t get into the song and don’t know how it’s really sounding

[@HaoNguyen-lt1eg]

Hi ! You can make video how MASTERING your Song for Streaming on Youtobe , Spotify, apple music,..

[@DLCxOdin]

Hello austin, Why & how you are using stereo vocal tracks in mixing? Please answer

[@MakePopMusic]

I like having vocals on a stereo track (even though the vocal is a mono vocal) because in Cubase it means I can use stereo fx like delays, reverbs, modulation, doublers, etc if needed!

[@bjarnyg]

Do you produce as work-for-hire?

[@PJ....]

Really Helpful Video! Thank You! (Esp helpful is the Chapters in the sidebar for coming back for specific info) Have just sub'd up to your Newsletter & will look more into your courses. I do have a quick Q here: When tracking your Vocalist & setting gain levels, bypassing all inserts on UA Console & aiming for -6db Peaks / -18rms (in DAW) what meter do you use to measure this? It looks like you are using Metering within Cubase?, Im assuming something like the Dorrough meter from Waves or something like this that accurately measures peaks & loudness when set up properly etc

[@MakePopMusic]

Cubase has a ton of built in meter options. I can throw on something like Supervision and have all the analyzers I could want.

[@PJ....]

@@MakePopMusic Thanks for the response :) ... I kinda meant for us who ‘don’t’ werk in Cubase re: Sugessted Metering / Metering Plugin ...

[@albywelch9361]

could you possible do “how to produce a track like traitor” ( Olivia Rodrigo )

[@wandering.ss7]

I want to hear your album!

[@MakePopMusic]

I have a few songs out as an artist and a ton of tracks I've produced. There are playlists for both on Spotify!

[@wandering.ss7]

@@MakePopMusic can you send me the links to YOUR Playlist? I'm sure you've produced alot of great artists. But I really love your sound! I'm currently in artist development myself and your sound is really inspiring

[@JoeyFTL]

Damn Austin, you'll be back to your high school weight any day now at this rate, mad props!

[@MakePopMusic]

I’m 2 pounds away from the lowest I’ve ever weighed as an adult 😁❤️

[@OSdahl]

I have problems hearing myself when recording? I use both mac and pc. Same problem with different sound cards. In ears i have plenty of sound. But when i use closed back, i have problems hearing myself. If i give too much input gain i get clipping. HOW TO SOLVE THIS?

[@ObiWanJacobi117]

Hey Austin! What’s your take on Ribbon Microphones?

[@MakePopMusic]

Great for some sources! They could work on a vocal, just make sure you have a good pop filter so you don’t absolutely wreck the mic. Ribbons sound amazing on rooms, strings, horns and overheads.

[@zaalimbeats]

Gem Video on this topic 💎 and Yes, looking forward to Vocal comping one.

[@Allthatwethink]

For recording vocals in a small, treated walk-in closet do you think keeping the door open would help prevent it sounding boomy?

[@goobstersroom]

No because of the walls, that's whats making it sound boomy record in an open room itll sound more natural an be less of a headache to remove that boxyness

[@bossselva1]

What mic ur using is it warm audio wa47jr

[@MakePopMusic]

This was an Advanced Audio 251

[@trevorpiggottmusic]

Hi and thanks for the awesome videos, only just came across your channel, now subscribed. Can I ask, I also have the apollo twin that I purchased recently - when using a separate pre, like your 1073 style preamp, how do you bypass the preamp in the apollo? Do you use an xlr or TRS? I have a goldmike preamp, and love the tube influence, but it kind of gets a little harsh even at low gain with the apollo. I have come from a focusrite pro 40 so I'm still getting used to the apollo, which I appreciate is excellent quality.

[@MakePopMusic]

Running line in from my HA81A to an Audient ASP800 so basically just bypassing that pre

[@trevorpiggottmusic]

@@MakePopMusic Thanks for the reply - Ah OK, so not using the twin at all for mics. Looks like I need to spend some more :) Thanks again

[@MakePopMusic]

@@trevorpiggottmusic you should just be able to do a line in on the apollo though and bypass the pre too!

[@trevorpiggottmusic]

@@MakePopMusic sadly you can't fully bypass the pre on the Twin as you can on the Apollo 6 and 8, even with the gain set to zero it still goes through their pre. Thought I would try the slate digital system, have signed up and will try some of their tube mic emulations etc to see if I can add some warmth, as the Apollo is SO clean, which is great of course, but something that I am not used to! Hey thanks for the replies by the way, know how busy you must be so it's really appreciated!

[@trevorpiggottmusic]

I'm using either a Neumann TLM-103 or the SM7B, trying out the Neve UAD pre as well as the 610-B - studio is pretty well dampened with wall panels and cloud, so don't think I have too much of an issue with reflections.

[@thunderbird2426]

🙌🎶✌️

[@user-nr2rr9gr6i]

alright next do a skincare tutorial

[@lamzcaoz4164]

Tlm 103 how to mix eq please !!?

[@MakePopMusic]

Go check out our old "How to mix r&b vocals" video! It has Khalid on the thumbnail. The artist in that video was using a TLM103

[@lamzcaoz4164]

@@MakePopMusic Thank you very much, I am very passionate about the course of your channel, but the epidemic situation in Vietnam is very bad so I cannot afford to buy the whole course. 😭