Set up a microphone stand in the quietest part of the room. Position it away from windows, doors, creaky floorboards and air-conditioner vents. If possible, hang some soft fabrics on the walls near the microphone to absorb some of the sound reflections and "deaden" the sound.
Plug the female end of an XLR cable into a microphone.
Plug the other end of the XLR cable into your audio interface or sound-card input. Using an audio interface rather than plugging directly into your computer sound card produces a better-quality signal. If you don't have an audio interface, you can still emulate a studio sound.
Connect the audio interface to the computer using either a USB or Firewire cable, depending on the make and model of the audio interface. If you're using a sound card, no connection is required because it is already connected to the computer.
Open your preferred audio production program by double-clicking the desktop icon. Some programs, including Logic, open the most recent session. Other programs, such as Audacity, open a blank session. To call up a work in progress in Audacity, click "File" and select "Open Recent." To open a blank session in Logic, click "File" and select "Open New."
Click "File" and select "New Audio Track." By selecting audio rather than MIDI, you assign the audio interface as the default input device. Name the track, for example "lead vocal 1."
Connect a pair of headphones to the audio interface or computer, depending on your set-up. Headphones stop the backing track from "spilling" into the microphone and cluttering the tracks.
Cue up the backing track by pressing "Return." Click "M" to mute any channels you don't want to hear when recording, such as practice takes.
Click "Record" and deliver your take. Listen to the recording playback to check that there are no errors. If you hear an unwanted sound or mistake, do another take.
Click "Effects" and select "Compressor." Compression tempers the peaks and dips in your vocal track by boosting quiet parts and cutting loud parts. By adding this effect, you create a more even and professional sound. Adjust the intensity of the compression tool by moving the "Ratio" dial up and down. Listen to the track as you adjust it to hear the changes in real time. Compression will "smooth out" the dynamic peaks and dips that come with recording at home.