How To Add Vocals Via Bandlab

Recording Vocals for Someone Else's Track: BandLab Guide for Guest Vocalists

So someone asked you to sing on their track? That's awesome! This guide will walk you through exactly how to record professional-quality vocals using BandLab (completely free) and send them back to the producer in the format they need. Even if you've never done this before, you'll be able to deliver great results.

What You've Been Asked to Do

A producer has sent you an instrumental track and wants you to:

1. Record vocals over their music

2. Export your vocal recordings as separate files (called "stems")

3. Send those files back to them for mixing

This is called "remote collaboration" …

What You'll Need

Essential Equipment:

• A device with internet access (phone, tablet, or computer)

• Headphones or earbuds (absolutely essential)

• A microphone (your device's built-in mic can work, but external is better)

• The instrumental track the producer sent you

Nice to Have:

• Quiet room with soft furnishings

• Music stand or phone holder

Step 1: Get Set Up with BandLab

Create Your Free Account

• Go to BandLab.com or download the BandLab app

• Sign up with your email (no payment needed - it's completely free)

• Verify your email and you're ready to go

Download the Instrumental

• The producer should have sent you an audio file (usually WAV or MP3)

• Save this file to your device where you can easily find it

• Also save any notes they sent about the song (tempo, key, structure, etc.)

Step 2: Set Up Your Recording Space

Find the Right Room

• Choose the quietest space available

• Rooms with carpet, curtains, and furniture sound better than empty rooms

• Avoid rooms with hard surfaces (bathrooms, kitchens) that create echo

Position Yourself

• Sit or stand 6-8 inches from your microphone

• If using your phone, hold it steady or use a stand

• Face the microphone directly - don't sing over or under it

• Have your lyrics ready and easily readable

Step 3: Create Your BandLab Project

Start a New Project

• Open BandLab and click "Create"

• Choose "Mix Editor"

• Select "Start from scratch"

• Name your project clearly (example: "Sarah vocals for John's song")

Import the Instrumental Track

• Click the "+" button to add a track

• Select "Audio" then "Import Audio"

• Choose the instrumental file the producer sent you

• Wait for it to upload - this might take a minute

Add Your Vocal Track

• Click "+" again to add another track

• Select "Audio" then "Record Audio"

• Choose your microphone from the input options

• This is where you'll record your vocals

Step 4: Get Your Levels Right

Put on Headphones

• This is crucial! Without headphones, the instrumental will bleed into your vocal recording

• Play the instrumental track and adjust the volume so you can hear it clearly

• You should be able to hear the music comfortably without it being too loud

Test Your Vocal Level

• Click the record button on your vocal track (don't worry, we're just testing)

• Sing or speak at your normal volume

• Watch the level meter on your vocal track

• You want the meter to show mostly green, occasionally yellow, but never red

• If it's too quiet (barely any green), you need to get closer to the mic or speak louder

• If it's too loud (lots of red), move back from the mic or turn down your input

Find Your Sweet Spot

• Most people need to be about 6-8 inches from their microphone

• Practice singing a few lines while watching the levels

• When you find the right distance, try to stay consistent

Step 5: Record Your Vocals

Listen to the Song First

• Play the instrumental track several times

• Get familiar with the structure and timing

• Practice singing along (without recording) until you're comfortable

Start Recording

• Click the red record button on your vocal track

• BandLab will count you in with 4 beats

• Sing your part while listening to the instrumental through your headphones

• Don't stop if you make a mistake - you can fix it later

• Record the entire song if possible

Do Multiple Takes

• Record the same part several times

• To do this, add new audio tracks for each take

• Label them clearly: "Lead vocal take 1", "Lead vocal take 2", etc.

• Don't judge yourself too harshly - even professional singers do multiple takes

Step 6: Record Different Vocal Parts

Most songs need different types of vocals. Here's what you might record:

Lead Vocals

• The main singing part that carries the melody

• Usually the loudest and most prominent vocal

• Record this first as your foundation

Harmony Vocals

• Supporting melodies that complement the lead

• Usually sung in different pitches (higher or lower than the lead)

• Record each harmony part on a separate track

Background Vocals

• "Oh yeahs," "ahs," and other supporting elements

• Call and response parts

• Vocal textures that fill out the sound

Doubles

• Recording the same lead vocal part again

• Adds thickness and richness to your main vocal

• Should be very similar to your lead vocal performance

Ad-libs

• Spontaneous vocal flourishes and runs

• "Yeah!" "Come on!" and other exclamations

• Creative vocal embellishments

Step 7: Basic Editing (Optional)

Clean Up Your Takes

• Use the scissor tool to cut out long silences

• Remove sections where you're not singing

• Keep natural breathing where it sounds good

• Trim the beginning and end to remove dead space

Choose Your Best Performance

• Listen to all your takes

• Pick the one that sounds best overall

• You can also combine the best parts from different takes

• Mute or delete the takes you won't use

Don't Add Any Effects

• The producer will handle all the mixing and effects

• Send them completely clean, unprocessed recordings

• Don't add reverb, compression, or any other effects

Step 8: Export Your Vocal Stems

This is the most important part - getting your vocals to the producer in the right format.

What Are Stems? Stems are separate audio files for each vocal part you recorded. Each different vocal element should be its own file:

• Lead vocal = one file

• Harmony 1 = one file

• Harmony 2 = one file

• Ad-libs = one file

• And so on...

Export Each Vocal Track Separately

For each vocal track you want to send:

1. Solo the track - Click the "S" button so only that track plays

2. Click Export - Choose "High Quality" (this gives you a WAV file)

3. Name it clearly - Use this format: "SongTitle_VocalPart_YourName"

   • Example: "MyAwesomeSong_LeadVocal_Sarah"

   • Example: "MyAwesomeSong_Harmony1_Sarah"

   • Example: "MyAwesomeSong_Adlibs_Sarah"

4. Download the file - Save it somewhere you can find it easily

5. Repeat for each vocal track

Important Export Rules:

• Export as WAV files (not MP3)

• Make sure each file is the full length of the song

• Keep recordings completely clean with no effects added

• Each stem should contain only one vocal part

Step 9: Organize and Send Your Files

Create a Folder

• Make a new folder on your device

• Name it clearly: "YourName_SongTitle_Vocals"

• Put all your vocal stem files in this folder

Create a Track List Make a simple text document that lists what each file contains:

Track List for [Song Title] - Vocals by [Your Name]

1. SongTitle_LeadVocal_YourName.wav - Main vocal melody
2. SongTitle_Harmony1_YourName.wav - High harmony in chorus
3. SongTitle_Harmony2_YourName.wav - Low harmony in chorus  
4. SongTitle_Adlibs_YourName.wav - Background vocals and runs
5. SongTitle_Double_YourName.wav - Lead vocal double track

Notes: All vocals recorded at comfortable level, no effects added

Send the Files Your producer will tell you exactly how and where to send your files. Common methods include:

• Google Drive or Dropbox links

• WeTransfer

• Email (for smaller files)

• Direct file sharing through messaging apps

What the Producer Needs to Know

Include this information when you send your files:

• List of all vocal stems and what they contain

• Any creative choices you made

• If you added any effects (you shouldn't have - keep recordings clean)

• Your contact info in case they have questions

• When you can do revisions if needed

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Technical Issues:

• Recording without headphones (instrumental bleeds into vocal)

• Recording too close or too far from the microphone

• Levels too hot (red on the meter) causing distortion

• Exporting as MP3 instead of WAV

• Not exporting the full song length

Performance Issues:

• Not practicing with the track before recording

• Stopping and starting too much during recording

• Being too hard on yourself - imperfection is human and often sounds better

• Not doing multiple takes to have options

File Management Issues:

• Poor file naming that confuses the producer

• Mixing up which vocal parts are in which files

• Forgetting to include all the vocal parts

• Not organizing files clearly

Tips for Great Results

Before Recording:

• Practice singing along to the track several times

• Warm up your voice

• Stay hydrated (but avoid dairy right before recording)

• Make sure you understand what the producer wants

During Recording:

• Stay consistent with your distance from the microphone

• Don't worry about perfection - emotion matters more

• Take breaks if your voice gets tired

• Record multiple takes of everything

For Your Performance:

• Be yourself - your unique voice is why they asked you

• Don't try to sound like someone else

• Put emotion into your performance

• Have fun with it - that energy comes through in the recording

Troubleshooting

"My vocals don't sync with the music"

• Make sure you're listening to the instrumental through headphones while recording

• Try counting yourself in before you start singing

• The producer can fix small timing issues later

"My recordings sound echo-y"

• Find a room with more soft surfaces (curtains, carpet, furniture)

• Get closer to your microphone

• Try recording in a closet full of clothes

"The levels keep going into the red"

• Move further back from your microphone

• Sing a bit quieter, or

• Lower the input gain in BandLab's settings

"I can't hear myself while recording"

• Make sure headphones are plugged in properly

• Check that the instrumental track volume isn't too loud

• Enable monitoring on your vocal track if available

Final Checklist

Before sending your files, make sure:

• All vocal parts are recorded CLEARLY

• Each vocal part is exported as a separate WAV file

• Files are named clearly and consistently

• All files are the same length as the original instrumental

• You've created a track list explaining what each file contains

• Files are organized in a clearly named folder

• You've tested that all files play correctly

• You've sent everything using the method the producer specified

Conclusion

With BandLab's free tools and this guide, you have everything you can deliver professional-quality results. The most important things are clear communication with the producer, good recording technique, and proper file organization.

Don't stress about being perfect - your unique voice and style are exactly why they asked you to collaborate. Focus on delivering clean, well-organized recordings on time, and you'll quickly build a reputation as someone great to work with.

Every collaboration teaches you something new, so embrace the learning process and enjoy bringing someone else's musical vision to life with your voice. Soon you'll be the go-to vocalist that producers love working with!

Remember: Great collaborations are built on clear communication, mutual respect, and shared creative excitement. Ask questions when you need clarification, and most importantly - have fun making music!

BANDLAB