---
title: "Pitchy in a Perfect World (the Art of Vocal Comping)"

description: "Recording vocals is probs the hardest part of pop music production. Vocal comping (assembling the best parts of multiple takes) is the secret sauce. In this pod, I dive into the techniques behind the dark art of vocal compilation. To explore these themes further"

status: complete

date: 2024-06-18

kind: solo

guestSlugs: []

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Pitchy-in-a-Perfect-World-the-Art-of-Vocal-Comping-e2kv107"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pitchy-in-a-perfect-world-the-art-of-vocal-comping/id1567355195?i=1000659363398&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/0xQ1RMHNFrBic58SqZVtyi"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Singing and vocals"
  - "Creativity"
  - "Genre"
  - "Vocal comping 101"
  - "Techniques for recording vocals"
  - "The importance of syllable selection"
  - "Balancing authenticity and perfection"
  - "Emotional expression in vocal performance"
  - "Understanding resonance chambers"
  - "Iterative singing techniques"
  - "Using comping as creative exploration"
  - "Recording strategies for vocalists"

hostNote: |
  In this episode, I into the world of vocal comping, the art of assembling the best parts of multiple vocal takes into a perfect performance. Though often seen as a hidden aspect of pop music production, vocal comping is crucial to achieving polished, professional recordings. With insights drawn from my own experiences and techniques, I demystify this essential practice for both aspiring and established musicians alike.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Intro to vocal comping"
    startSec: 93
    note: "I introduce the concept of vocal comping and its relevance to both musicians and producers."
  - label: "The process of vocal comping"
    startSec: 138
    note: "I explain how vocal comping involves selecting the best portions from multiple takes."
  - label: "Modern versus traditional comping"
    startSec: 227
    note: "I discuss how modern music has heightened the complexity and techniques in vocal comping."
  - label: "Singing techniques for comping"
    startSec: 361
    note: "I provide advice on how singers should approach their performances when comping."
  - label: "Emotional choices in vocals"
    startSec: 586
    note: "The impact of emotional delivery when vocal comping and why it matters."
  - label: "The balance of art and technique"
    startSec: 811
    note: "I reflect on the balance between artistic expression and the technical aspects of vocal comping."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "Vocal comping is the act of taking a lot of different vocals."
    startSec: 135
    reviewed: true
  - text: "In modern music, it has gotten kind of extreme, which is not necessarily a good or bad thing."
    startSec: 228
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Vocal comping allows you, I think, to take some more of that risk."
    startSec: 497
    reviewed: true
  - text: "By trying different emotions as you're in the vocal booth, you are allowing yourself to maybe come up with things that are antithetical to the meaning of the song."
    startSec: 587
    reviewed: true
  - text: "It's not about making it sound perfect because if you make it sound perfect you might as well be using a computer end to end."
    startSec: 767
    reviewed: true
  - text: "When you're producing a song, it drives everyone else around the house crazy because you're listening to the same 10, 15-second loop for an hour and a half."
    startSec: 902
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What is vocal comping?"
    answer: "Vocal comping is the process of assembling the best parts from multiple vocal takes to create a single, polished performance."
  - question: "Why is vocal comping important in music production?"
    answer: "Vocal comping helps achieve a perfect take, allowing producers to capture the best aspects of a singer's performances while maintaining creativity."
  - question: "How do singers approach recording for vocal comping?"
    answer: "Singers should experiment with different emotions, resonances, and techniques across multiple takes to provide a variety of options for comping."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---