Welcome, Singers!

Our voice students often ask for recommendations for basic home recording equipment (which can also enhance your online singing lesson experience!), how to mitigate sound for home practice (so as not to disturb family/roommates/neighbors), and even how to shop for the best digital pianos (or keyboards). This post will provide an overview of suggested tools to help you reach your goals- whatever they may be!

An auxiliary microphone can really improve your sound quality for home recording and in lessons (if your teacher can hear you even more clearly, they can be even more specific with their feedback)! We recommend any of these popular models:

• Samson Go – USB plug-and-play simple, small and portable
• Blue Snowball – USB plug-and-play simple, cardioid and omnidirectional settings
• Zoom iQ6 – perfect for iOs users, via Lightning connector!
• Blue Yeti – USB plug-and-play simple, suitable for many recording needs!

Make sure you’re catching every detail with a solid pair of headphones or a bluetooth speaker (either works! pick according to personal preference). Here are our favorites:

• Open-Back Over-Ear Headphones
  • “Open Back” allows you to hear your voice in the room– important for singing lessons if you’re not using an audio monitor!
  • Samson SR850 , $45
  • Philips SHP9600 , $100-130
  • Sennheiser 599 , $200
• Other Headphones: Monitor recommended
  • For singing lessons, you need to be able to hear yourself– “closed back” headphones are best used with an audio interface such as this one, so you can feed your mic input back into the headphones to hear yourself.
  • beyerdynamic DT 240 PRO , $70
  • Sennheiser HD280PRO , $100
  • Shure SE215-CL , $100 (Earbuds)
  • Audio-Technica ATH-M50x , $150 (we recommend opting for the wired version for faster video conferencing connection)
• Bluetooth Speakers:
  • To play your backing tracks, it’s best not to play the track on the same device you’re using to log into your lesson. A bluetooth speaker is a great option to help balance your voice with the track so that your teacher can hear you the best! (Some students prefer to use an external speaker for the whole lesson, instead of headphones– up to you!)
  • Doss Soundbox , $30
  • JBL Charge 3 , $120

Some students also worry about their living situation interfering with their ability to focus (and/or driving family, roommates of neighbors nuts!). These are some common solutions to help with sound transfer:

• BeltBox , $50 –muffles very effectively for practice, but works better on some face shapes than others. Also, would not be useable during your lesson, only for solo practicing.
• Audimute Curtain, $80 — blocks sound transfer well (not soundproof), very heavy and may pose some challenges in hanging.
• Acousticurtain, $120 — effectively diminishes sound transfer through flimsy doors (generally one of the main culprits in sound transfer throughout your home).
• Isolation Booths like this one or this one — most effective options, but also priciest! We recommend consulting on your individual needs before purchasing.

Can your teacher see you clearly? Don’t underestimate how important our view of your torso, neck, and face are to providing great guidance for your singing and playing! Check the lighting in your camera view (if you look shadowed on-screen, close any windows behind you and consider placing a light in front of you!), and make sure your camera angle gives your teacher enough feedback about your posture and body movement. Stands like these are inexpensive tools to help make the adjustments you need:

• Classic music stand
• Tablet stand (extends to 60 inches tall)
• Phone or Tablet stand (extends to 67 inches tall, plus gooseneck for easy maneuvering)

When studying voice, many of our students find it helpful to invest in a basic keyboard to support their growing skill as a musician. Here are some tips about what to look for in a keyboard or digital piano:

• Full 88-keys
• “Weighted” keys (sometimes “harmonically weighted”): this means that the higher keys have a lighter touch and the lower keys take more pressure to depress, making the digital piano feel more like an acoustic piano.
• Pedals: Whether one pedal or the more standard set of three, having access to a damper pedal at all will be a great benefit.
• Polyphony is a commonly advertised feature, but for beginning pianists, it won’t make much difference in the playing experience (only very advanced pianists would notice the difference).
• Respected brands to look out for (best audio sampling, longevity): Yamaha, Roland, Kawaii.

Whatever tools of the trade you choose to implement, your Cardon Voice teachers are here to guide you every step of the way. Ready to get started? Schedule a Free Consultation today!