Vocal Recording: 1 take vs. punch-ins?

[glynb]

My view is that the ends always justify the means.

So if getting it down in one produces the desired result, great, if it takes a hundred overdubs to get the great result, fine.

My preference would be to do a great vocal take in one go, you're capturing a performance that way, not piecing together an amalgam of various performances.

But if you took that to extreme, then a band should only be recorded at once in a single take - but that might not result in the best end product to listen to repeatedly on a recording.

I usually do a one take as the main vocal, then sometimes re-do a faulty verse, or a couple of lines, or chorus from the last convenient break. this is on the same day/session.

if i come back another day and think the vocal is not good enough, i generally re-sing the whole thing from scratch. You can often tell when it's been recorded done at different times when the mood has changed. Knobs may be tweaked differently, settings altered, mic not quite positioned the same way, etc.

 

[Bristol Posse]

Usually I set each verse, chorus, bridge etc as a loop region and then hit record so I sing each little section/part all the way through. I usually keep it going 3 to 5 times. seems to take the pressure off getting it right firsrt time suconsciously knowing the verse is going to loop and I'm going to do it again.

it makes for easier cutting and pasting if I decide I want to comp since all versions of that particular session were done in the same take so I don't notice major variances in tone, volume, mic placement, vocal scratchiness from day to day etc that I have found can make a punch in a real obvious correction.

Also if I want to double the vocal for a fatter sound later I have lots of material to use.

 

[darrin_h2000]

With all the editing options of these new programs punching in and out is not only easy but if you are not going to use the powerful editing options...why have it at all.
Now if you are renting the space by the hour...by all means let them do take after take untill thier credit cards are maxed out...lol.

I guess I cant decide.

 

[KillahKane860]

I record hip hop and I stay away from punching in... unless the artist can exactly match the vocal he is punching into, it is always noticeable and its not something that I like... there has been times where it was necessary, especially when some vocals overlap.. but punching in for the sake of not being able to fully speak a verse is

 

[tuttlem]

I struggle to use the punch-in. It's probably why it takes me days to get that "perfect take". One day I will learn how to use punch-in/out properly..

The third option lacked connecting the vocalist's extremities to a car battery!

 

[joeym]

and what's so difficult in putting a punch-in marker where you wanna start and a punch-out marker where you wanna end??? I'm assuming you record with a computer, of course.....

 

[tuttlem]

and what's so difficult in putting a punch-in marker where you wanna start and a punch-out marker where you wanna end??? I'm assuming you record with a computer, of course.....

Probably nothing. Like I said, one day I'll try it.

*frantically looks up the Pro Tools manual*

 

[hiphop24360]

I record hip hop and I stay away from punching in... unless the artist can exactly match the vocal he is punching into, it is always noticeable and its not something that I like... there has been times where it was necessary, especially when some vocals overlap.. but punching in for the sake of not being able to fully speak a verse is

But any artist with they're salt should be able to exactly match the vocal, and any producer worth their weight should be able to punch in with no audible volume difference.

What I do is record 4 takes of the verse right in a row, choose the best 2 and comp em, than use the other two as overdubs panned to each side.

assuming everything, (pitch, timing, no super serious phasing issues), is lining up alright. . . . Honestly I usually have to re-do the overdubs, sometimes using an exagerated voice or just slightly different pitch for effect.

Overdubs and comping can make or break a track, especially rap/hiphop. They have to be tight and just about inaudible. Than faderride the hell out of the overdubs to build energy where you need it.

Im kind of a newb but thats what I got so far.

 

[NewAgeMuttLange]

The down side is that the levels might not be precisely the same if you punch in, especially if you come back on a different day.

This is why we thank the studio gods for automation :-D

-Paul

 

[ez_willis]

you don't need automation to change the gain on an overdub. anyone that is saying they're tracking the entire vocal track in one pass is either celine dion or lying.

 

[NewAgeMuttLange]

I'm not saying use the automation for that.. but if you think you have your gain set right then realize your a little more than slightly off.. it's an easy automation fix... all I'm saying..

-Paul

 

[philboyd studge]

you don't need automation to change the gain on an overdub. anyone that is saying they're tracking the entire vocal track in one pass is either celine dion or lying.

I'm old school and record my lead vocals as one strand....it may take 30 takes but I look at it as a performance. Harmoines are another matter.

 

[grimtraveller]

I've done many vocals in one take as have a couple of people that I sing and play with. In my 4 track days, it didn't occur to me to do it any other way. A bit like learning the guitar - "oh, I'm going to learn every chord going !". Then came those barre chords.....Oi !! Just hand me a capo ! I've also done punch ins and rerecorded vocals. In fact, other than doing a Mutt Lange of going word by word, I guess I've used most methods. But the original question is kind of misleading because most songs naturally have breaks. If you know the song well and do it section by section, but each section gets done in one go, does that qualify ?