I wonder if anybody here can relate or has the same quirk as I do.
I write original music-Words and music, which many here do as well. Most "normal" people get better the more they practice or rehearse something. Not me. If I don't capture it in the first 5 takes it starts to fall apart. I don't write the song first and then record it, like many do. For me, the DAW is my "canvas". I work up the ideas, try out the arrangement and then record it right then and there. Very frequently my lyric are written and recorded literally line by line. I'll work out a melody, write a lyric for it, then, having the audio track set to "Overwrite" I'll rehearse the line over and over until I feel as if I'm ready to lay it down. And here's where it gets interesting. As I said above, I find that once I reach that point where I feel I'm ready to record it permanent I have about 5 takes to get it right because starting on about take 6 or 7 my ability to perform it starts to go downhill. Then, I start hitting weak and bad notes or off key. It seems the more familiar I am with the line and how I want it, the worse I sing it. Most people get better doing this by "polishing up" and refining the melody and performance. With me it's just the opposite.
Another quirk I have. Sometimes I'll rehearse a line and really be able to sing it great. Easy. No problem, so long as I'm rehearsing. When I hit the "record" button it all falls apart. Then I'll go back to rehearse mode and it will sound great again and again, but when I hit the damned record button and I know this take is "for the money" I can't nail it for the life of me. It's like stage fright. It's some kind of psychological thing, I guess. Even though I'm in my own studio and on my own time it still happens. I could never survive a professional studio session. It would cost me a thousand buck just to get one line right. I seem to have a problem relaxing when I'm making music. Even though, as I said, I'm in my own environment and my own free time where there's no hurry, I still I get so tense that singing is very difficult for recording. Then, I get frustrated and all sorts of "blue smoke" starts to fly. I wonder if there is anybody here who can relate or could give me some advise to make my vocal sessions go easier. Oh, don't bother to suggest vocal warm-ups before recording. Been there-Done that. Doesn't work for Jack-S**t.
Thanks
John B