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In the same menu, also make sure that Record Enable is checked. Garageband is a great introduction to the world of music production and vocal mixing, because many of the tactics and dynamics processors are the same, they just have fewer. You should now be able to hear yourself through your headphones. Mixing vocals is an artform on its own that takes a bit of practice to do well, however, there are a few things one can do right away that will make a world of difference. The monitoring icon should also be visible on your track channel, but you can double-check this by selecting your track, double-clicking it, selecting Configure Track Header, and making sure that Input Monitoring is checked. You can toggle the monitoring icon on and off in the Recording Settings of the Track section in your Smart Controls area (which you can show or hide by pressing B). This will ensure that you can hear what your vocal sounds like through your headphones, which is perfect for finding the correct position to record as well as tweaking your volume and EQ to exactly what you want. Now, you're going to configure your vocal channel to ensure that you record the best possible take, capturing the correct sound you're looking for.Ī useful option you can enable, if you like, is Quick Help which you can toggle on and off with Shift + / or by clicking the question mark icon in the top-left corner of GarageBand.įirstly, you're going to enable monitoring. If you're looking to record spoken word or more aggressive vocals, then you're better suited to a dynamic microphone, such as the Shure SM7B. If you're looking to record musical vocal performances, you're going to want to look at large-diaphragm condenser microphones, such as the RØDE NT1-A. If you're thinking of using an XLR mic, you're going to need an audio interface, such as Focusrite's Scarlett 2i2, an XLR cable, and a mic stand (it's always the obvious things we forget). If you're a complete beginner and want a convenient option that gets you decent-sounding vocals, you're best suited to a USB mic, such as the Blue Yeti.
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When recording your vocals, you should use either a USB or an XLR mic. Though you can record vocals using your built-in microphone, it's not recommended as the sound quality will be far from acceptable in most cases. But to keep things simple here, it's worth making sure you've at least got a good-quality microphone, the correct equipment for it, a pair of headphones, and a pop filter. There are some key factors to consider when recording vocals at home, which you should check out. Before we begin, it's important to make sure that you've got everything you need to get a solid vocal recording.
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