Double-click on the channel strip and enter a suitable name for the track. The typical default for each track in a recording interface is "Audio" plus a number; for example, "Audio 1" for the first track. If you have lots of tracks, this can get confusing. Use descriptive names so you can call up a track promptly. Use abbreviations to save space. For example, name "vocal over-dub first take" as "Vox o-d 1."
Hit the return key twice. This scrolls the track to the beginning. If you are not using a computer-based recording interface, hit the "RTZ," or "return to zero," button on the tape recorder.
Select "solo" mode for the vocal track, either by clicking the "solo" icon on the channel strip or by pressing the solo button on the mixing desk. This mutes every track apart from the one you soloed, enabling you to listen to it in isolation. Typically the solo function is denoted by an "S" inside a square. You can solo more than one track to perform audio comparisons or to listen to a single take recorded to two tracks.
Hit "Play," either by pressing the space bar once or hitting the "Play" button on the tape recorder.
Click the "Mute" icon on the tracks you don't want to hear, or press the "Mute" button on the mixing desk channel strip. Using "Mute" is preferable if you have more vocal tracks than nonvocal tracks, as it saves you the time of soloing all of the vocals.
Double-tap the return key or hit "RTZ" on the tape recorder to return the track to the start.
Hit the space bar once or hit the "Play" button to begin playback.
Slide each fader dial, apart from the vocal track, down to zero using your mouse (if using a computer) or the physical fader on the mixing desk. Using the fader lets you intermittently increase or decrease the volume of all tracks. This is useful if you want to hear the vocal clearly, but with a little bit of drum track for reference.
Slide the the vocal channel fader up to just above halfway.
Hit "Play" on the tape recorder to commence playback.