Open your digital audio workstation and record or import the vocal tracks you wish to edit. If you do not own a DAW, products such as Logic, ProTools and Record provide audio recording capabilities in addition to a suite of audio editing utilities.
Correct any errors in pitch or intonation using pitch adjustment utilities such as Logic's pitch shifter, Record's Neptune pitch correction or ProTools Antares plug-in. Using these tools, small segments of vocal tracks can be raised or lowered in pitch. These applications also can repair vocal tracks that suffer from intonation problems by automatically shifting the pitches throughout the track to the closest "tuned" pitch. This feature commonly is referred to as "auto-tune."
Create a realistic ambiance for your vocal track by adding artificial reverb to the audio recording. Each of the previously mentioned DAWs provides one or more reverb utilities that allow users to design an artificial "room," in which the audio will be "performed." These can range in size from small recording studios to concert halls. Adding reverb to your vocal tracks can help compensate for a sub-prime recording environment.
Adjust the sonic texture of your vocal track using an audio equalizer. The "graphic equalizer" has become one of the most common audio editing utilities, providing users with a visual interface displaying the balance between low, middle and high-range frequencies in an individual audio track. If your voice is inherently deep, consider reducing the "low" frequencies of the audio signal within the equalizer. Conversely, if you have a high-pitched, shallow voice, consider lowering the high-range frequencies in the equalizer to produce a more mellow tone.
Create an artificial, synthetic quality for your vocal track by adding distortion and delay effects within your work station. Distortion is a common tool for rock instrumentalists such as electric guitar and bass guitar performers. Recently, distortion has become increasingly popular with vocalists as a means of producing a rough, harsh sound. Delay-effects processors reproduce desired audio signals a specified number of milliseconds after the original signal output, creating unique and constantly changing textures.