Tips for Vocals
(update 18/01/2000)

They haven't tampered with our vocal chords yet : no electronics (except if you've got a terminal throat cancer condition). The following tips are therefore quite simple but still, quite useful.

Print the lyrics for each song

I am not against last minute improvisation, far from it, as long as the entire session isn't based on that. But it would be a good idea to type, rather than scribble, the lyrics of each song, even if they're temprorary. They're a great help during recording and mixing. Of course, by the time you get to the mix, the definitive lyrics can be updated.

Make several copies : one for you, one for the engineer, and one for the producer.

Spare your vocal chords

How many times have we seen a singer catch a cold just before the recording sessions ? Too many times : you know how to prevent that.

Don't mix gigging and recording sessions. Unless you find your voice interesting when it's a wreck.

Stay away from soda pop and alcoholic beverages before you sing (after......, it's up to you) : sugar in the soda, and also the one contained in alcohol, will cling to the vocal chords and won't make things easy. They haven't invented a thing better than water for that.

If your voice is really a mess (gig), the last solution, if it isn't noble, consists in cortisone injections. You want to see a doctor for that part.

Don't wear nylon clothing

You'd better not wear nylon clothing while singing, I know this sounds stupid, but so will all these friction sounds due to any little move you make in such clothes.

You'll have to end the session stripped in your underwear : people in the control-room are in for a good laugh.