Why Your Rap Vocal Recordings Sound Like Crap! | How To Record Rap Vocals

Hey Cole, thanks for the tips, video is dope!!! I find when i do this that my beat isn't loud enough to really get into it when i record. Then when i export the track to listen to it on the stereo it is really quiet even when turning it up to +10db after recording. Any ideas what im missing? Thanks, Josh

-20 is crazy, way too quiet. -9 is way better, especially if you have good pre amps

thank you

I saw the thumbnail and didn't wanted to waste the opportunity to say: "because rap sucks to begin with"

thanks bro i was about to quit you just solved my problem

lower gain also helps all of us mortals that don't have a sound treated room. Cole wizz on the tips

The question is how much do you turn up the gain knob on, say, a FOCUSRITE INTERFACE? At the 1 o'clock position? Or less than half? What works the best for u guys?I noticed so many record their vocals and the wave file is pretty even when they record. When recording vocals with this NT1A I have to bring up the gain up in order to see the wave to get bigger to at least match the beat (or at least, close to it). Been trying to find the perfect level DB wise so when recording vocals it doesn't clip, but in this case the only way to get the voice to really pop out from the beat (and I already reduced it by 12DB), it is still not huge of a WAV file it's pretty thin. Is this normal for the NT1A?
Any suggestions?

So i first turn the beat volume down and after i am done with my recordings and i am ready to start mixing..should i leave the beat at that volume or take it back to the level it was originally???

Dude I'm getting so addicted to your videos lol. U a pro! 😀👍

For the part about turning down the beat, and the overall db when recording, since the beat is loud asl with it already being mixed.
Once I finish my song do I leave the beat and the software db the same? So around -20? I’m using bandlab so I’m assuming there mixing thing does it but idk.

But Let’s be honest, sometimes the distortion sounds cool on certain beats for certain rapper. 👍

If it’s not green , it’s not clean.

Omg i was sounding distorted this whole time 😢

Very helpful! Not sure if you mean -20 or -12db for the vocals.
It's quite a basic thing, but I didn't realise to check until now! And I always had problems with distortion. Noob move fron me, I'll be sure to check next time.
I try to do the instrumentals myself whiteout mastering. Usually, I try to master them after, but they sounded distorted. I'm very excited to check the meters on the beat and the vocals next time I record. Thanks!

just gain a sub !!!!!!

How could this be applied to USB mics? Without an interface?

goat

Hahaha I love your description intro! Subscribed.

This some nice content bro! I’m new to the channel. Liked and subscribed 💪🏼

Mannnnnnn do you know how many songs I messed up by simply not knowing this ? … 😭😭

Thanks bro this has really helped me brother.

When I record my vocals they always sound like the lows are there but not the highs . How to get that crispy studio sound . I feel like my voice is inward when I record and I need it to be outwardly if that makes any sense . Will plug ins on reaper be able to bring the vocals to life for me ? Or am I doing something else wrong

bro what dum dum turns up the gain on the interface 😂

Great video! Thanks!

Song at the end got me I’m mad

Guilty

LMFAOOOO

you talk to damn much and you got buck teeth

Just watched the video and this is hands down the best instruction video i’ve seen. Now I do have a question, after everything is recorded at the right volume/gain, how do I proceed for my master at the right volume? Do I just crank up the volume or do I do this with loads of plug ins?

That's what I've learned this passed month. A shit recording is a damn near nightmare tryna fix. My clip gain, fader and pre mix ratio fairly on point. It's my voice in general that's the problem. I record now with breath right strip after a couple Ricolas. It's helping

Lmao this video made me laugh at how dumb I am for just turning up my vocals too damn loud every song I’ve ever made

Bro my problem is no matter what I try my vocals sound like crap. I have the neuman tlm 102 and its just seems like my mic is too bright for my voice. It sounds ok quiet but once I go to master the whole think my vocals just hurt and I don't know what to do. I've tried so many different things. Maybe I need to sell my microphones and purchase a darker mic? Please help

I love this video.

As soon as u started talking it sounded like crap and how u gonna make me put time into watching this

This man could be a coach / comedian 😭😭

differently hase good advice when I realized this last year was a game changer 🙌 keep it coming watch u on the regular makes the difference STRAIGHTFACTTS

What mic do you use bro?

You a real one for this g

nice vid thanks man

Your vocals recording sounds shitty too bro , why can’t you fix your own recording then

Thanks man, i really enjoyed this one.

Guilty!!! 😅

so the GAIN at half to 3/4ths of the way?

I love how Cole was rapping throughout stages of this video! I hope one day I become a rapper!!

Man idk what’s goin on the other day my vocals sounded great but now I’m re recording and it sounds like a tin can idk any other words to compare it to it didn’t do that the other day I’m trippin I got a huge song with someone very well respected in the industry I can’t have this sounding like that

Your pun is game is top tier bro 😂

Fam I don’t think you took your own advice when you made this video