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For those confused with recording here's a simple guide to get started if you've never recorded before. This will get you the cleanest file and the one most likely to be used by the mixer.
1. Use Audacity and the best mic you got. Sit about 3 - 6 inches away from your mic, you don't need to kiss it like the radio broadcasters do. If you have an audio interface, use that.
2. Practice your OUUGGHHHSS into the mic loudly and confidently. Seriously. The more volume you give the better the signal-to-noise will be and the cleaner the output. Also, practice with the music in the background (headphones). It will help you get into the rhythm and you'll want it to be in time anyway for the mixer.
4. Once you're comfortable with your own volume, turn up the gain as much as you can without clipping. If it clips you will see it as a red line in Audacity (or your audio interface will tell you). Also, when you listen back you can hear it distorting. You don't want that.
5. Before you actually hit record, be in as quiet an environment as possible. Then record and OUGGGHHHH
6. Check the recording. See if you're clipping via the red lines. Listen if you sound distorted. If you do, even if there's no red lines, it means you're clipping somewhere. Try lowering the gain/volume again and re-record. Fiddle until you get a satisfying result. Don't worry too much about overall volume, as long as it's not super quiet.
OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED
7. Select the whole track. Amplify the volume to -2 dB max peak. This will give it plenty of volume.
8. If there is a lot of background noise of hissing, you can get rid of it via Audacity. When you start recording, sit in complete silence for about 5 seconds so your mic captures the sound of your room. Then you select ONLY that silent section, go into Noise Reduction in Audacity (in the Effects), select Get Noise Profile. Then select the entire track, go back into Noise Reduction, and Apply. You should see the 5 sec of silence become completely flat. Then you can delete that 5 seconds of silence.
You shouldn't need to do any more editing than that. Once you're in the chorus your voice will wash out with everyone else. And Mixer-san will apply tons of effects anyways. As long as you provide a clean file that's good enough. And like I said, if you can do it in time to the music it will seriously help.
Good luck chumbuds.
