There’s nothing more powerful in music than a great vocal. 🎙️

Doesn’t matter how crazy your beat is - if the vocals hit right, you'll feel it.

I’ve worked with a lot of artists over the years, and one thing I’ve learned is this: a well-recorded vocal can completely change the way a song lands. Completly.

Not just sonically, but emotionally.

And here’s the truth no one likes to hear - if the vocal is recorded badly, no amount of mixing will save it. Believe me, I've tried many times.

You can throw reverb, EQ, autotune, magic fairy dust on top... and it still won’t sit right.

On the flip side, if you capture it clean and with intention - that’s when the magic starts to happen.

FL Studio is a beast when it comes to producing, but it also lets you record vocals in a super effective way.

I know a lot of people say you can't record in FL Studio, but you absolutely can.
I've done it many times - whether it's for myself or for artists I've worked with.

That's why in this guide, I’ll show you how to record vocals in FL Studio - even if you’re just starting out.

We’ll go step-by-step: from prepping your voice, to setting things up inside the DAW, to avoiding the most common rookie mistakes.

Whether you’re a vocalist recording yourself or a producer working with artists on your beats, this guide’s for you.

Let’s dive in.

Before You Record Anything

Before you even hit that record button in FL Studio, you need to prepare — and I’m not just talking about setting up your mic.

Recording vocals is a performance, and just like with any performance, you want to show up in your best form.

Hydration and vocal health.

Your voice is your main instrument here, and if it’s not ready, your takes won’t be either. Drink water, avoid dairy or anything that can coat your throat. 

Timing

Try to record when you feel fresh and focused. Don’t leave it for late at night if you’re already tired. The energy of a take is often more important than perfection. Find you hours and stick to them.

Lyrics

Whether you’ve memorized the full verse or just have it written out, make sure it’s accessible. If you’re reading from your phone or a paper sheet, don’t let that paper rustle or tap the mic stand - that noise will end up in your recording, and there’s no plugin that can remove it cleanly. (again, I've tried 😅)

Intention

When you're about to record vocals, take a second and ask yourself "what am I actually trying to say?".

A technically clean take with zero emotion will always lose to a slightly imperfect one with real presence. So focus on what it communicates.

What you record is what you get. 

Post-production can help polish things, but it won’t fix a bad take.

You won’t be able to remove coughs, harsh sibilance, or that moment you ran out of breath. So take your time, and treat this like the most important step of your entire process - because honestly, it is.

Recording Vocals in FL Studio – The Technical Side

Once you’re ready to actually record vocals, it’s time to set up your session in FL Studio the right way. There are different ways to do this, but I always recommend using the Playlist + Mixer routing method.

This way, your vocals are recorded directly onto the Playlist while being processed through a Mixer track - super useful if you're using EQ, light compression, or just want better control over your session.

Here’s how to set it up:

1. First, create a new audio track in the Playlist.

2. Route that track to a Mixer insert by clicking right click on the track and choosing “Track mode: Audio track.”

3. In the Mixer, select that insert and choose your mic input from the audio interface.
   

4. Arm the track for recording and you’re good to go.

When you hit record now, the vocal will land right on the Playlist - super clean, super efficient.

When it comes to the room treatment remember that great mic in a bad room can ruin a take. If you're recording in a bedroom, use blankets, diffusers, or even a reflection filte behind the mic. Trust me - that dead space makes a huge difference.

Don't forget the pop filter. It helps reduce plosives (P’s and B’s) that can mess up a good take.

Keep a consistent distance from the mic - around 15–20 cm is a good starting point. If you get too close, you’ll get low-end boom. Too far, and your vocals will sound weak and thin.

Set your input gain properly. Aim for a level that peaks around -12 dB in the FL Studio mixer. Don’t let it clip. 

Protip: always record multiple takes. Even if the first one sounds good, the second or third might have better energy or clarity. You can always comp the best parts later.

If you’re recording yourself, set up a simple loop or count-in so you can focus on performance, not clicking buttons. If you’re working with an artist, help them feel comfortable.

And if you're just starting out and want to understand more about creating full rap songs from scratch, check out my guide on how to produce rap music - it goes deep into beat production, structure, and more.

Common Mistakes and Practical Tips

Even if you’ve got your FL Studio session set up perfectly and your mic is ready to go, there are a few key mistakes that can ruin your vocal recording.

Especially if you’re just starting out.

I’ve seen these over and over again, and they’re usually easy to avoid once you know what to look for.

Clipping

When your input gain is set too high and the audio signal goes above 0 dB, the result is distortion - not the good kind.

You might miss it while recording, but once you start mixing, it becomes impossible to ignore.

Always check your levels in the Mixer, and aim for healthy peaks around -12 dB. Safe headroom = clean vocals.

Another big one: overprocessing during recording.

I know that tempting to add reverb, delay, or heavy EQ while you record, thinking it’ll “inspire” better takes.

But here’s the thing - what sounds cool during the session can actually get in the way later.

It’s better to record without printing effects directly onto the track.

You can do this by setting up your vocal FX chain on a separate insert from your recording insert. Then, send your recording insert to the FX chain insert. (you can do that thanks to route to this track only option).

That way, you’ll hear the effects while recording, but they won’t be printed onto the audio.

If you don't feel like you have the knowledge to create your own vocal recording preset you can always use mine.

Recording space

A bad room can destroy a good mic. If your vocals sound boxy, hollow, or harsh, it’s probably your room, not your mic.

Simple fixes like recording near soft furniture, using a reflection filter, or throwing a thick blanket behind the mic can go a long way.

Things like noise from outside might seem minor, but once they’re in the take, they stay there.

You can’t “fix” a cough in post-production. This is why attention to detail really pays off.

Don’t rush the process

If you mess up a word or make a weird sound - stop and retake. Don’t assume you can edit it out later. Please... Don't.

Give your ears time to rest between takes. Fatigue can make you lose perspective and miss issues that you’d normally catch.

Recording vocals is as much about patience as it is about performance.

Don’t record just one take. Even if it feels good in the moment, you’ll want options later.

You might realize the second verse needed more energy, or the hook sounded better in Take 3. Build a habit of recording doubles, ad-libs, and backups.

That’s the stuff that brings a song to life.

5. Wrapping It Up

Recording vocals might seem intimidating at first, but once you understand the process and build your routine, it becomes one of the most rewarding parts of making music.\

Whether you’re an artist tracking your own vocals or a producer helping someone else shape a song - this is the moment where the track really comes alive.

It all starts with preparation.

Take care of your voice, come in focused, and know what you want to say.

Then set up your session in FL Studio the right way: route your mic to the Mixer, record directly into the Playlist, and keep your signal clean.

A good vocal take is about more than just hitting notes - it’s about intention, emotion, and capturing something real.

What you record is what you’ll mix. 🎚️

You can’t fix a lazy delivery, a clipped take, or a noisy room in post-production - no matter how many plugins you throw at it.

But if you take your time, focus, and really feel the performance, you’ll already be 80% of the way to a finished track.

Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Try different takes, record doubles, layer your vocals, and most importantly - trust your ears. 

And hey - if you’re looking to find something that inspires your next session, check out my beats for sale. There’s a whole catalog waiting for you to write to.

And if you need a head start on building your own vocal chain in FL, you can also grab my FL Studio recording template - it’ll save you a lot of setup time.

Now you should know how to record vocals in FL Studio.

Keep practicing, keep learning, and don’t forget - the best vocal takes don’t always come from the most expensive gear.

They come from a clear mind, a prepared voice, and a performance that means something.

Good luck,

Baxon