While it is time honored and proven that no tea can repair a destroyed voice (throat coat is the closest try, but still no), and someone who sings through their nose sounds terrible when congested, there is certainly differences in the sound of your recorded voice depending on what you eat/drink/smoke.

What are some of your experiences recording a singer, or singing with various substances.

Cheese kills your voice.
Dehydration kills your voice.
Acid reflux too.

One time I tried whiskey for a softer song, thought it would give a more weathered sound. All it did was clear my throat better and make my reedy tenor even reedier (new word eh?). I've heard cigarettes can add some sand papery soul singer appeal, as well as increasing the chance your voice can crack out on more gymnastic vocal lines.

Gross McDonald's double cheeseburgers. When I eat one or two of those my throat is nice and coated with saliva, grease, and who knows what else. Makes it much easier to record shout/scream material. Just have to find the middle ground between helping your voice and not getting sick right before the session.

I've seen people do all kinds of things. I guy I work with a lot eats potato chips when he sings. He says it's an old opera singer trick. The grease lubes your throat. I guess that's why opera singers are usually so large.

He has a "secret" tea he makes also. I think it's mostly vinegar, red pepper, honey and I don't know what else. Smells like feet.

These are all tricks to preserve a voice. I don't know any tricks to change the tone of a voice.

skatingbasser wrote:Gross McDonald's double cheeseburgers. When I eat one or two of those my throat is nice and coated with saliva, grease, and who knows what else. Makes it much easier to record shout/scream material. Just have to find the middle ground between helping your voice and not getting sick right before the session.

I don't do that, precisely, but I have noticed that sort of effect with things.

Antero wrote:

skatingbasser wrote:Gross McDonald's double cheeseburgers. When I eat one or two of those my throat is nice and coated with saliva, grease, and who knows what else. Makes it much easier to record shout/scream material. Just have to find the middle ground between helping your voice and not getting sick right before the session.

I don't do that, precisely, but I have noticed that sort of effect with things.

Drinking chocolate milk is another good one to get that flappy growl in your throat.

If I tried to eat a McDonald's double cheeseburger before singing the only thing being recorded would be the sound of me vomiting.

JC23by5 wrote:If I tried to eat a McDonald's double cheeseburger before singing the only thing being recorded would be the sound of me vomiting.

Yeah, it's not for the weak of heart.

Also, I do remember hearing you should never sing on an empty stomach, eat something relatively near your session, as when you eat/chew/swallow it warms all that good stuff up. Or something.

skatingbasser wrote:

JC23by5 wrote:If I tried to eat a McDonald's double cheeseburger before singing the only thing being recorded would be the sound of me vomiting.

Yeah, it's not for the weak of heart.

Also, I do remember hearing you should never sing on an empty stomach, eat something relatively near your session, as when you eat/chew/swallow it warms all that good stuff up. Or something.

I try to eat something...sure...just not McDonalds. I just can't imagine trying to scream my head off with a belly full of double shitburger...wow. You must have an iron stomach.

are you black fancis by any chance?

h8 m0dems wrote:are you black fancis by any chance?

Who? Me? He's alright.