energy in the studio?

[slpntrx5]

hey guys, the last time my band recorded, we did pretty good. but when i layed down the vocal track, there was such a lack of energy in my voice. but when we play live, i sing great because of the energy of us onstage and such. even in practice, i do well. so i was wondering if there are ways (other than recording the band all together) that i can keep up the energy in my voice while recording vox? i mean, really. the last time, it sounded like i was ****in TALKING! dont believe me? look on our myspace: www.myspace.com/faultytheband

[Aus_rock_god]

Yeah man. Billy Idol had the same problem.

What he ended up doing is closing his eyes and holding an SM58 (that wasn't plugged in) while recording and pretending he was on stage.

Another thing you might consider doing is deliberatly hyping yourself up before recording, or eating a lot of sugar.

[Moseph]

1) Put reverb on your monitor feed so it sounds like you're in a club when you're singing over the tracks.

2) Do a scratch vocal take and record the entire band, then stylistically match the scratch vocal with the polished vocal.

[slpntrx5]

moseph, the only problem with your second suggestion is that there WAS no polished vocal! lol

[Merkaba]

Dude youre not even singing, not close! You have no breath support whatsoever. If you do you will immediatly see results. Go herehttp://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219911

And go the singing from the gut thread and do motorboats immediately and work them into practicing on regular notes.
Yeah man. Billy Idol had the same problem.

What he ended up doing is closing his eyes and holding an SM58 (that wasn't plugged in) while recording and pretending he was on stage.

Another thing you might consider doing is deliberatly hyping yourself up before recording, or eating a lot of sugar.
woa...everyone doesnt react the same to sugar. By the time its in your veins you might be on your way to downfall once your insulin overcompensates to rid you of the excess and youre left without enough blood sugar. Alot of sugar tires me out. If youre desperate go for some caffeine drink from a gym, they are way more potent than red bull and those types. Redline, Adrenaline Stack, Black Pearle, Extreme Shock, Take a niacin pill too, unless you drink Extreme shock or something else with niacin in it. Its water soluble so you generally piss out the excess but it will definitely waken you up, or make you hot and flushed and weird for a while. That kinda thing could drive you up a bit. If you take any caffeine be sure you drank alot of water hours before and do the same after because caffeine drys the cords out.

I say just try to get into the music a bit more. REalize what youre doing and go for conveying the emotion you want.

[Aus_rock_god]

woa...everyone doesnt react the same to sugar. By the time its in your veins you might be on your way to downfall once your insulin overcompensates to rid you of the excess and youre left without enough blood sugar. Alot of sugar tires me out. If youre desperate go for some caffeine drink from a gym, they are way more potent than red bull and those types. Redline, Adrenaline Stack, Black Pearle, Extreme Shock, Take a niacin pill too, unless you drink Extreme shock or something else with niacin in it. Its water soluble so you generally piss out the excess but it will definitely waken you up, or make you hot and flushed and weird for a while. That kinda thing could drive you up a bit. If you take any caffeine be sure you drank alot of water hours before and do the same after because caffeine drys the cords out.

Please note how our good friend Merkaba thinks waaaay too much. :thumb:

I can just imagaine, if I said that to him face to face, he would have spilled all of that out without taking a breath.

You rock dude.

[slpntrx5]

no, i can get good breath support [i act, so im familiar with using the diaphragm (sp?)], but its just a matter of there being no energy so i just didnt sing from my tummy...idk man, its a weird thing, but...yeah...

[EinzingerIsGod]

no, i can get good breath support [i act, so im familiar with using the diaphragm (sp?)], but its just a matter of there being no energy so i just didnt sing from my tummy...idk man, its a weird thing, but...yeah...

It sounds to me like it's more of a mental problem for you. You just have to take it upon yourself to let yourself go and sing.

[FRUGiHOYi]

After a lot of takes, you get burned out and tired of doing take after take. That affects how well you sing and your energy. Take a break when this happens and when you come back, you'll be doing a lot better. This doesn't just apply to vocals, but to every instrument. I figured all this out from personal experience.

It doesn't even apply just to recording, it can apply to a lot of things that don't even have to do with music. For example, video games. If you're trying to beat a boss for hours and you just can't do it, take a break. When you come back, you will beat him.

[the_only_singer]

I don't know if you are just getting nervous. But I know I have never gotten nervous on stage but I know the first couple times I was up at the mic in the studio I got a bit uncomfortable. Have as little people around you as possible when recording your vocals if it makes you feel uncomfortable.

Other than that as others said, it's probably just all about trying to psych yourself up. Try to feel the song and really get into it like you were singing to someone elses song. Pretend as if you were by yourself and just belting it out as if no one were around. Just don't hold back.

[fuzzyhair]

listen to some heavy *** music. hxc dance (not like swing your arms around), but stomp and ****. headband a ****load of a lot, and when listening to the track bob your head and get into the METAL STANCE!

[the_only_singer]

listen to some heavy *** music. hxc dance (not like swing your arms around), but stomp and ****. headband a ****load of a lot, and when listening to the track bob your head and get into the METAL STANCE!

As long as you aren't using a sensitive condensor mic. I had to stand pretty damn still in the studio because that mic picked up EVERY noise.

[shane_sow]

I've got 3 tips - Even though I am not a singer lol.. but I do alot of recording work.

1. Make sure you are hearing what you are singing. So turn the monitor on at the vocal track in your recording program. This will help you alot :)

2. Make sure the recorded material that you are signing over is LOUD. Use isolation headphones to stop the headphones spilling into the mic. When you are on stage you sing with energy because you have to. Otherwise no one will hear you. If your recordings are soft you will sing accordingly.

3. Do the vocal tracks when no one other than your band members are around. If you're doing a home recording don't let your guitarists dad and all his friends watch or any of that.

[Merkaba]

Please note how our good friend Merkaba thinks waaaay too much. :thumb:

I can just imagaine, if I said that to him face to face, he would have spilled all of that out without taking a breath.

You rock dude.
QFT