Position the microphone 6 to 12 inches from the mouth of the vocalist.
Place a pop filter in front of the microphone to reduce the plosives and sibilance that can be picked up by the microphone. Plosives are the "p" and "b" sounds from words. Sibilance is the "ess" sound in certain syllables.
Move the microphone so that it is in line with the vocalist's mouth. Move the microphone up or down an inch or two to find the best positioning for the microphone. Experimentation is key in finding the best microphone placement for the particular vocalist you are working with.
Try engaging the high-pass filter, if available on your microphone, to cut down on the low-frequency content captured by the microphone. If this makes the vocal sound too thin, disengage the button.
Experiment with a variety of different microphones to find the best fit for the vocalist you are recording.
Insert a compressor into your vocal chain. A hardware or software compressor can be used. However, the process for inserting a compressor will vary depending on your recording or mixing setup. If using a software compressor, you can insert the compressor onto the vocal track within the audio recording software you are using. If using a hardware compressor, consult the compressor's manual for assistance.
Adjust the threshold of the compressor so that it turns on when the vocalist gets loud and turns off when the vocalist gets quiet. To do this, adjust the level of the threshold so that it is just above the volume level of the quiet vocal passages. When the threshold is passed, the compressor will turn on.
Set the compression ratio of the compressor to decide how much you want to compress the vocal. Try a compression ratio between 2:1 and 8:1. A ratio of 2:1 will allow the volume to increase 1 decibel for every 2 decibels the volume goes above the threshold whereas a ratio of 8:1 will allow the volume to increase 1 decibel for every 8 decibels the volume goes above the threshold.
Adjust the attack and release controls on the compressor to set how quickly the compressor turns on and off. A quick attack and release time will allow the compressor to turn on and turn off quickly after the threshold has been crossed. A slow attack and release time will allow the compressor to turn on and off slowly after the threshold has been crossed.
Increase the output gain of the compressor to make up for the volume lost through compression. If the compressor attenuates 10 decibels during the loud vocal passages, increase the output of the compressor by 10 decibels.
Insert an equalizer into your vocal signal chain. A hardware or software equalizer can be used. Depending on your recording or mixing setup, this process will vary. If using a software equalizer, you can insert the equalizer onto the vocal track within the audio recording software you are using. If using a hardware equalizer, consult the equalizer's manual for assistance.
Reduce the equalizer's gain at or around 200 hertz to remove some of the low-frequency muddiness from the vocals.
Increase the equalizer's gain at or around 3 kilohertz to enhance the clarity of the vocals. Alternatively, reduce the equalizer's gain at or around 3 kilohertz to cause the vocals to sound more "breathy."
Increase the equalizer's gain at or around 5 kilohertz to add to enhance the presence of the vocals.
Increase the equalizer's gain above 10 to 15 kilohertz to add "air" to the vocals.