Vocalist/Emcee’s Pre-Session Checklist

Your body is your instrument.
Observing the following tips will help tremendously when tracking your voice.

1.)  Artists should be able to perform each song from start to finish. This is for your own good. Even if you choose to track a verse at a time, the point here is to be sure to KNOW your parts. If you want to cut back-up vocals or harmonies, let us know, and make sure you've got them down.

2.)  All vocalists, regardless of style, are advised to properly hydrate themselves with at least 16 oz. of room-temperature water thirty minutes prior to commencement of their session. The body requires about thirty minutes to absorb 16 fluid ozs and effectively hydrate the larynx and vocals folds, so plan accordingly.

3.)   Try to get a good night's sleep so you can arrive fresh and ready to go. Leave the late-night parties for when the recording's over.

4.)  Dress comfortably.

5.)  What you should bring:

       Your “A” game, plenty of water, and multiple copies of lyric sheets.

THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS
OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ON THE HUMAN VOICE

Don't panic. No one's preaching at you. However, most vocalists are unaware of what exactly common narcotics do to their voices. Here's a short breakdown. Feel free to read only what applies to you, or skip it entirely if you just aren't interested.

A.) CIGARETTES - The larynx is made of mucous membranes and needs constant protection from drying out. Cigarette smoke burns away the protective lubrication that coats the larynx. This also includes the air in a smoke-filled club. The result is that when you vocalize, you feel this as a lack of response or flexibility, causing you to push harder than you should. In short, attempting to sing or rap without this protective coating is like trying to play a piano with gloves on.  Smokers are advised to smoke as little as possible for 72 hours prior to session. The improved vocal control and longevity will be worth your misery and the misery of the people around you. Remember, three days is three days, but a recording is forever.

B.) MARIJUANA - All the above, only worse. Weed burns hotter on your throat because it's unfiltered. The vocal folds are burned and dry quicker.

C.) COCAINE - When you snort cocaine, it gets absorbed by the thin lining of the nasal cavity and enters the blood stream. The body will reject this by secreting mucus to flush it away. The mucus then drips down your throat and onto your vocal folds, numbing everything in it's path. The walls of the throat become aggravated and swell. You are now totally out of touch with your instrument. The size and shape have changed because of the inflammation and it is completely numb. Have you ever bitten your tongue after the dentist has shot you full of Novocain? Since you can't see your larynx as you vocalize, you control it by sound and feel. By using cocaine you subtract the feeling, which is the more reliable control. As a result, you operate more or less on 100% sound, but without sensation, you are unaware of the damage you are causing. After about a half hour of singing you're voice is shot. If you yell and scream a lot, you could actually cause permanent damage to your throat.

D.) ALCOHOL - Alcohol is a drying agent. When you drink it, it dries the lining of the throat. It doesn't matter what kind of alcohol it is, the nature of alcohol is to dry. The sensation of drinking tells your brain that your thirst has been quenched and to shut off that thirsty feeling. Most drinks contain water, but not nearly enough to keep your voice hydrated. You end up using more water than you received, so with each drink you become more dehydrated. Remember the larynx requires constant lubrication to stay flexible. When you become dehydrated, the throat is one of the first areas to suffer. Think about that great feeling the morning after you've been knocking 'em back. Does it feel like your body has water to spare? 'Nuff said. One or two drinks probably won't hurt you too badly; they may help you relax and boost your confidence on the mic. Just don't push your luck.

E.) COFFEE - Just when you thought you were in the clear, right? Coffee is an acid. Your blood is slightly alkaline, and your system will do whatever it takes to keep it that way. When coffee or tea enters your body, water is needed to neutralize the acidity. Water will be taken from the mucus membranes and leave the larynx unlubricated. Your body doesn't care about your voice, so you have to. One cup of coffee takes 24 hours to pass through the kidneys and will leech a great deal of water in the process. Add on two, three or more cups and you simply don't have enough hours in the day to get rid of it. You become dehydrated due to the constant demand for water in the digestive tract, leaving the larynx to fend for itself. In addition, coffee contains caffeine, which disturbs the central nervous system, blood sugar level, digestion, and your blood pressure, to name a few. When your body's in this kind of tailspin, you will suffer as a vocalist.

So to summarize, if you're a vocalist, WATCH WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR BODY. At least for three days before you go in to record.

Things to keep in mind before and during tracking

1.)  It is very important that you not disturb the microphone, microphone stand or pop-screen at any time.

2.)  Try to be as consistent as possible between takes, in both volume and emotion.

3.)  We can fix almost anything during the mixing process. If you stumble, keep going, unless it’s hopeless.

4.)  We want to capture your best performance as much as you do. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do.

5.)  Stress and tension have a direct effect on your body, and therefore your voice. Try to stay as relaxed as possible.

During prolonged sessions in which two or more hours of sustained vocal tracking takes place, it is inevitable that you will suffer some degree of vocal fatigue. The extent of this will vary from person to person, but there are steps you can take to reduce the wear on your pipes. Proper hydration, an effective warm-up, and sleeping with a vaporizer in the room will all help you maintain your voice and give you more endurance when it is time for tracking. Despite every precaution, vocal degradation is going to happen eventually. Should your voice go out entirely, there is a temporary quick-fix.

Recipe for Dr. Sharp’s magic voice restorative:

In 8 ozs of water, mix the following:

  One large tablespoon Honey
  1 ½ - 2 ozs. Lemon Juice
  A half teaspoon of sugar

Stir the mixture well and heat to a boil. Stir again. Allow time to cool to slightly above room temperature. Mixture should taste slightly like Apple Cider. Store in a thermos until needed. Should be consumed warm, but not hot. Once again, this is a temporary remedy, and should not be relied upon for unrealistic vocal stamina.

Guest Policy

        We understand it is sometimes helpful to have a friend or significant other present during tracking for moral support.  While you are  welcome to invite a guest to sessions, please remember the following facts:

1.)  More often then not, friends and significant others turn out to be more of a distraction then a positive influence. Keep that in mind.

2.)  Studios are why God invented text-messaging. Please tell any guests you bring to turn OFF their cellular phones, or to set them to vibrate, and if they MUST take a call, to do it in the lobby, NOT in the booth. Cell phones are the NUMBER ONE cause of homicidal rampages amongst engineers and producers. One warning will be given, and then the offending parties will be fed to the fish.

3.)  DRL reserves the right to ban ANYONE if they get out of hand or become too much of a problem. This includes best friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, wives, grandmothers and family pets.