Recording Terminology

Communication is important when working with others to actualize your creative vision. With that being said, knowing lingo used in the studio is important when communicating with the recording engineer. Below, we’ll list a couple phrases that are commonly used throughout the recording process:

Layers are different vocals recorded on top of the main vocal. These help bring the song to life and add character to the recording. Layers can help to define an artist’s style, especially in today’s era of hip-hop.

• “In’s & Outs” are overdubs or layers of the main vocal that repeat every other rhyming word/phrase with similar timing. In’s & Out’s are meant to provide emphasis on specific lyrics in the song.

• “Ad Libs” are vocal interjections to fill the dead space in the main vocal. Many artists (specifically in rap) can become synonymous with their adlibs, such as Travis Scott’s “It’s Lit” or 21 Savage’s “21.”

Most times, it’s not what the artist is saying but how they say it that makes it stand out. The Migos’s songs are full of ad libs, so if you need inspiration, listen to their album “Culture”.

Punch-In’s are made when a certain part of a song could be improved. If there is one bar in your 16 bar verse that you think could be better, we would punch you in. It takes specific technique and finesse to punch-in properly. We will be able to help coach you through this process to match the delivery and make it sound seamless.

Re-do’s are as simple as they sound: re-doing an entire section of the song. Re-do’s and punch-In’s are a huge part of the recording process, so don’t ever be afraid to ask your engineer to start it back from the top.

Comps are the compilation of different takes put together to form one cohesive vocal. We can use comps to select phrases, lines or words. Comps should ideally sound like they were recorded in one take, so recording proper punch-ins is essential.