Our production style at Novasound is continually evolving. One of the most influential changes we made was learning to treat vocals as a texture<\/b> in the mix. Instead of the vocals being placed \u2018on top\u2019 of the track, we wanted them to feel more embedded and experimented with how vocals can be recorded, layered, arranged and manipulated to define<\/i><\/b> the style of the track. We\u2019ve been inspired by the innovative vocal production on the Billie Eilish<\/b> album. It\u2019s not just about what <\/i>she\u2019s saying, it\u2019s how<\/i> she\u2019s saying it and, ultimately, how it makes the listener feel. Our approach to vocals is all about maximising impact <\/b>and this comes down to attention to detail – double tracking, placement and panning, filtering, automated effects and experimental delivery. When it comes to recording, vocal performance is crucial<\/b>. Post-production should be about enhancing the singer\u2019s authentic<\/b> voice, not masking it with countless effects or generic presets. <\/span><\/p>\n From working with so many different artists and collaborating across so many different genres, we started to recognise trends in the way people work. Irrespective of the style of music, getting the vocals right is a really<\/i><\/b> <\/i>common challenge on any track. <\/span><\/p>\n
As a listener, vocals are, undoubtedly, what you\u2019re drawn to. Whenever you hear a human voice, in any context, your instinct is to pay attention and try to connect to it. So – with that in mind – it\u2019s surprising how little time and consideration can go into vocal recording. In most cases, vocals are recorded last <\/b>so it\u2019s common for bands to run behind schedule in the studio and eat into the allocated time for vocal tracking. It\u2019s common for singers to put down a guide vocal <\/b>early on and, very often, they get used to this rough take and become less inclined <\/i>to experiment on their actual lead vocal takes. A lot of singers are guilty of \u2018busking\u2019 <\/b>melodies in the rehearsal room and, before you know it, the quick choice you made as a placeholder suddenly becomes the real thing. If the direction<\/b> and performance <\/b>of the lead vocal isn\u2019t properly considered, there is a knock-on effect on the wider vocal arrangement. A hesitant or half-baked lead vocal is difficult to double track or use as a basis for harmonies and BV\u2019s. <\/span><\/p>\n\n \n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/novasound.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LG-Vocal-Tracking-3-1024x768.jpg\"){kind=tracking}