Behind the Scenes: Pre-Recording Routine
Added 2026-01-23 01:00:15 +0000 UTCGetting back into the "booth" this week got me thinking about our process. There's a lot that goes into producing a great-sounding podcast - the recording environment, mics and other equipment, how you process and edit the audio - but one piece you might not have thought of is our pre-recording routine!
We make tea, fill out water bottles, draw the sound-dampening curtains, and then....
Vocal Warmups!
I really didn't want vocal warmups to make a difference. Really really really didn't want to have to add an extra step to our recording process. Sadly, they really work!
Both of us can hear and feel the difference in our voices when we do warmups versus when we don't - less throat-clearing, richer, warmer sound, and better voice-stamina.
We use this phone app, VocalEase 4 U, for ours, though I'm sure there are plenty of free videos out there with other vocal-warmup exercises.
Funny side-note: I learned about this app because singer Jeff Rosenstock posted about it on social media or mentioned it in a newsletter.
Another unexpected benefit of vocal warmups? If the vibes are off, if one or the other of us isn't in the best mood for recording, the silliness of the warmups, and the act of singing, tend to put things right.
Have you ever done vocal warmups? For speaking? For singing? Do you have favorites we should try? Let us know in the comments, and stay genki!
PS:
We've been drinking a lot of loose-leaf tea lately, and I love our little iron teapot. The insulated cup that looks like a camera lens is a recent Christmas present; I'm obsessed with it.
~ Nina
