vocals
this is just what i do, and it works for me.
first i try to match the vocalist with the best mic that might suit his/her voice
then i have the vocalist go thru the song while i get the gain setting from pre amp all the way to the DAW. (around -5 is my goal for input volume)
if you can spare the space i like to get a few extra takes, just to have somthing to comp if needed.
after everything is editing and sounding good I then add a little EQ and compression. I get the reverb from an FX send.
i might add a little delay to the chorus parts if it will complement the song.
and i always try and get the vocalist to accent a few words here and there just to add a little more dept to the vocals
like i said it works for me...
-mike-