A great voice talent is not going to be successful if they do not have a good studio to record in. A good studio is more than just a space that has high-end equipment. It is also a place that is quiet. Having the best gear in the world, yet recording in a noisy space is a recipe for disaster. Most professional studios have sound dampening equipment that includes acoustic panels, bass traps, and noise canceling equipment. Of course, there is such a thing as too much sound dampening equipment. A vocal talent does not want their voice to sound dead. This means that they cannot record in a studio that absorbs all of the sound and takes all the quality out of their voice.
The most important piece of equipment inside the studio is the microphone. The microphone is what will determine the ultimate quality of the voice recording more than anything else. Once the studio has a good microphone, the next step includes having professional quality recording and editing software and having access to a large music library. Of course, good recording and editing software does not need to be complicated, especially if it is for vocal work. Many studios live by the mantra, ‘the simpler the recording and editing software, the better.’
There are a lot of voice talents out there who seem to have a wide range of sounds they can create. However, the truth of the matter is that in the majority of cases, their vocal style only changes subtly. What does change drastically is the way that they work with the microphone. For example, if they want to have a more gravelly sound in their voice, they might lean into the mic while at the same time pulling back on their delivery. This causes the sound that goes into the mic to come from deep inside the diaphragm and at the same time be very soft. Techniques like these underscore the importance of having a good microphone. A little bit of mic technique can make a huge difference in the way a person sounds.
Something that most studio professionals will tell any voice talent is that having a good microphone will not make them a better singer. However, once their talent improves, a good mic and a good studio will help them get the most out of their voice.
