By Jeannie Deva

Since vocal recording can be an important part of a singing career, I hope you find my answer to this question informative.

Q. “My voice sounds different on tape; due to what I think is caused by head resonance. What can be done about it?” – R.S. A.

The sound of your voice on tape, hard drive or any recorded media is the result and combination of three factors:

  1. How you are singing
  2. How your acoustic instrument (your voice) is being received and recorded by the electronic equipment you’re using
  3. How accurately the electronics are reproducing your voice or how they are altering it.

Then we have the added factor that we hear ourselves differently than how others hear us.

How We Hear Ourselves
We hear ourselves simultaneously through two conduits

  1. From inside our heads by bone conduction through our inner ear
  2. By air vibration entering into the outer ear.

It’s like a stereo system but each of the two ways presents a slightly different tonal sound that blends together. The second is obviously how everyone else hears you.

So when you hear your voice back on a recording, the inner ear vibration is not present and it will usually sound different for that reason alone.

That being said, it can also be the fault of the electronics making you sound differently. Various elements should be explored to ensure you address the correct source of the problem.

These include but are not limited to 5 factors:

  1. Matching the mic to your particular voice and style
  2. The headset brand you use
  3. Your headset mix
  4. The room in which you are recording
  5. The position and distance of your vocal mic

For more information about on how electronics can match or alter the acoustic voice and what to do about it, buy and read The Singer’s Guide to Powerful Performances eBook by Jeannie Deva.