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

Today I’m going to share with you the most common mistake I see rappers make with their rap vocal recordings which make them sound like crap! If you don't know how to record rap vocals you will likely repeat these same mistakes that I've seen many of my students make time and time again!

The good news is this is a super easy fix that you can use right now and it won’t cost you anything!

Time Stamps
0:00 Intro
0:15 The Problem
1:18 Vocal Distortion
1:36 Turn down for what?
2:03 Vocal level
3:10 Fine-tuning level
3:33 Recap
3:52 My gift to you

So here’s the problem.

Not this kind of “gym” or that kind of “Jim”, I’m talking about this kind of “gem”.

After downloading their instrumental they swiftly import it into their DAW of choice which they acquired either legitimately or through questionable means.

Now they’re finally ready to record their rap vocals. Or at least that’s what they think!

After engaging the record button they quickly realize they can’t hear themselves due to being overpowered by the sheer volume of the instrumental!

So in their feeble attempt to overthrow their musical nemesis they reach for their audio interfaces gain knob for their microphone and crank it like soulja boy until they’ve overpowered that musical malfeasant.

At last! They can now hear themselves over the instrumental!

They’re overcome with glee as they bask in their victory but unbeknownst to them, they have just ruined their rap vocal recordings and here’s why.

There’s such a thing as recording your vocals too loud which can be a really bad thing, and when you do so the quality of your vocal recording will be significantly compromised and will

You see the instrumentals you get off the internet are usually mastered which basically means they’re really loud!

So before you record over these instrumentals, you should first turn them down somewhere between -10 to -15 db.

You may be asking like Lil Jon “Turn down for what?”

If you don’t turn down the instrumental you’re going to have to turn up the gain of your microphone to hear yourself over the instrumental which is likely going to cause you to record way too loud to the point your vocal recording starts distorting…

Aim for your vocal recording getting no louder than -20 db or below at its loudest point via your main/master meter. To set this level correctly, simply mute the instrumental, arm your vocal track to record, and rap the loudest you think you will likely be in your song and check what the meter reads on your master fader.

If you need to make the volume of your vocal louder or softer make this adjustment via the microphone gain knob on your audio interface and not by the volume fader in the mixer in your DAW.

This is because the volume fader in your DAW has nothing to do with how loud or soft your vocals are being recorded. It’s only adjusting the volume of the playback of your recording after the fact. So If you’re recording way too loud and are distorting your vocals, lowering the volume of the tracks fader will not fix it. The damage was done going into the computer from your audio interface so it needs to be corrected at your audio interface.

Once your vocals are peaking no louder than -20 db, unmute the instrumental. If you feel your vocals are still getting overpowered by the instrumental, turn down the instrumental more. If you feel like your headphone volume is now too low, turn the headphones volume up via your audio interface.

If you do this successfully, your vocal recording quality will go from sounding like crap to sounding crisp, clear, and awesome!

Have you ever recorded over rap instrumentals without turning down their volume and you had this same issue? Let me know in the comments section below!

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[josh]

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

[HAJJ]

I can say this is one of the best vocal recording tutorials on YouTube because he hit the primary problem for recording instead of tricks to fix it after when you can fix it in the recording. Mixing can only go so far so this is amazing, and will help me A LOT now that I know what I need to do for recording clean 100%. Much love!!

[devonn]

Definitely did this when i started off lol, appreciate your content Cole!

[NLzARN]

Great video. This was real informative and funny. This video really took you some effort to make like the filming, editing and stuff. Appreciate your effort.

[alphadawggames]

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

[illeagle]

I've definitely done this before lol.. Amazing video, both production quality and content, thanks!

[mayankpatel]

I have and i am learning many techniques & skills from Mr. Cole mize but one thing I learned from the beginning is he's always giving to everybody whether its knowledge, rap lessons, sheer confidence or the rapping fundamental book. I will always be a Giver just like him. Giving & helping out others with my talents without expecting anything in return but just believing in Karma.🙏💜

[iceyg]

I usually keep my vocals around -15DB to -18 it works a little better because the -15 to -10 DB on the beat is still high sounding but just a little adjustment will normally do the trick and worked out just great especially adding in the compressor helps out allot with the correct DB if you can't get it just right. But I wouldn't suggest it depending on the quality of the microphone and the gain. I usually have my microphone at a decent gain but low enough to add in a compressor to enrich my vocals a little bit. But everybody has there own way to produce. But these are some fantastic beginner tips dude!

[egoisticl]

i love the way this guy presents himself, sub earned

[darealsocialanxiety]

Hardest Intro Ever 0:45 - 0:51 and 0:55 - 1:12 Words and All! Fire! 🔥🔥🔥🔥. Ineed That! Good Info!

[nashseen]

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

[andresrambles]

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

[emanuelvancea]

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!

[Great_White.]

Man I'm gonna give this a go in the morning, I been messing with a track all day long, literally!! tryna get the vocals right, I turned down the volumes but nowhere near enough by the looks of it.
Gonna try these techniques tomoz, I hope they work cos I was getting mad af with it, re rappin the entire track only to be less impressed and messing with countless presets, you'd think bars were the hard part lol, cheers bro 👍

[ersFandom]

Hahaha I love your description intro! Subscribed.

[yungbilly]

so glad i found this channel i been wonderin y i get some good mixes some days then bad mixes now i know bro you so cool for takin time showin this helps me alot im always tryin to clear my sound this should be a good tip to remember ... like db hint to 15 huh im try tonight in the lab ...yb

[levisarq]

Man...I had to pause the video to subscribe and hit the like just because of that Lil John reference. Keep it up Cole!

[Straightfactts]

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

[hellyeahedeonyia]

The DAW of choice part got me cracking AF😅

[wizdome_]

Great quick session cole..!! You put a dope stuff ❤️