What The Hell is 'Belted-Head-Voice ®' ? & Why Producers And Singers Like It So Much.
- Brad Chapman
- Jan 4, 2016
- 2 min read
'Belted Head Voice ®’ is a term that I came up with to explain how we use the head voice in the microphone world.
Background:
I started off with microphones as a singer; developed some bad habits.
Then, I eventually found a famous vocal coach that made sense to me, as far as, building my head voice. I spent 7 seven years developing my head voice. However, I never built my head voice to the degree envisioned and demonstrated by my mentor. This was because he wanted to develop an operatic head voice for me. Since I am a rhythm and blues/rock and roll singer, etc.; I resisted developing this kind of head voice. (In a non-operatic context, most vocal coaches are better voice therapists than coaches.) Most of the people, who are reading this, will not be operatic singers. Therefore, my method is to build a non-operatic head voice that is more exciting than a chest voice. With this method, the 'Belted Head Voice ®' and the chest voice can produce any feel; when these are developed together (no break and good vocal stamina).
Explanation:
The 'Belted Head Voice ® ' has the most emotion to it; and the reason producers like it, is because they don't have to compress your voice as much. (Leaving the sound more organic and unaffected). Singers like it because it gives them much more control, vocal stamina and great vibe. The singer controls the emotional volume of their words, not the studio. If you don't know what a limiter is, it’s used on a singer’s voice to protect the sound system/recording studio equipment when the decibel levels get too high. An example would be - when a singer comes into the studio or on stage and sings operatically/musical theatric, or yells and strains. The producer/engineer will need the limiter/compressor to stop distortion; and this is why producers/engineers like ‘Belted Head Voice ®’. This is because it's no problem for them (no limiting required) in order to get a great emotional performance from a singer who has ‘Belted Head Voice ®’ and knows how to perform emotions. This is why singers, who use a microphone, should develop a ‘Belted Head Voice ®’. (The other problem with the limiter/compressors is that it dulls the recording of the voice (i.e. the voice does not sound bright and natural; some of the treble is dulled from the voice).)
PS: This is also why I call myself a Vocal Pre-Producer. I promote non-operatic, non-theatrical voices. (Most modern genre producers, musicians and audiences; hate hearing operatic/theatrical vocal sounds due to their lack of modern artistic feel.)
Brad Chapman
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