Tips to Recording Great Vocals

1. Start with a great microphone: In order to get great sounding vocals, make sure you are recording with a quality microphone. The theory here is if you record a quality sound going in, you will have a quality sound going out. Subsequently, if you record low quality going in, you will have low quality going out. So recording with a quality microphone is of the utmost importance.
2. Use a pop filter: A pop filter is a special screen that is placed in front of the microphone to reduce or eliminate popping sounds and harsh consonant sounds when recording. If you don't use a pop filter when recording, it can be a hassle cleaning up popping sounds in the mix. So by effectively using a pop filter, you will make your vocal recordings sound much better and eliminate a lot of work later.
3. Use a Compressor: Using a compressor on vocals when recording gives the vocals a consistent volume level which makes the vocals easier to mix. If the volume of vocals fluctuates too much, your recordings will have an amateur sound to them. You don't want this. So using a compressor when recording, and then again using a compressor when mixing will give you that steady volume that professional sounding vocals have.
4. Recording distance: When recording vocals have your vocalist stand a consistent distance from the microphone. Putting tape on the floor to mark a distance spot is a simple way to achieve this without having the vocalist trying to remember where they were standing. A good distance to stand from the microphone is between 6 - 12 inches.
5. Use a de-esser: A de-esser cuts down on the excessive sibilance sounds that come from "s" sounds "z" sounds and "sh" sounds. Most of the time de-essers are used while mixing but very slight de-essing while recording can also be helpful. By cutting excessive sibilance from the vocal recordings, it will allow the mix engineer to make the vocals as clear as possible without being annoying to the listener.
6. Make the vocalist comfortable: Take a moment to make the vocalist's recording environment comfortable. This may mean recording with the lights down low or recording with the lights bright. Always try to set the mood that the vocalist feels best in. Remember a comfortable vocalist will give a better performance and when recording great vocals there is nothing more important than the performance.