If you’ve ever hit record and instantly hated how your voice sounded, you’re not alone. The room you’re in might be working against you—but that doesn’t mean you need to cover your walls in foam panels or spend thousands on acoustic treatment.
In this post, I’ll show you exactly how I took a raw vocal, recorded in an untreated room, and made it sound radio-ready—without killing the emotion or vibe.
Let’s break the myth wide open.
The Problem: Your Room Adds Reflections and Noise
DIY home studios often suffer from:
- Reflective walls and ceilings
- Boxy or boomy frequency build-up
- Background noise that rides under the vocal
This can make your performance feel flat, sterile, or just… wrong.
But there’s a solution.
The Fix: Clean Up the Room (Without Leaving It)
I’ve spent years working in pro studios and building DIY panels from denim and mineral wool. But what changed the game for me?
iZotope RX.
Here’s the exact workflow I use:
🎧 Step 1: Voice De-Noise
This removes subtle background hiss or low-level interference without affecting tone.
Tip: Don’t go too far. If your vocal starts to feel “sucked in” or lacks energy, dial it back slightly.
🧼 Step 2: De-Reverb
This helps reduce early reflections and room slap without flattening your vocal.
Watch out for: Over-processing can dull your transients and make sibilance feel artificial. Use your ears more than your eyes.
Bonus Sweetener: Add Soothe2 for Resonance Control
After RX, I’ll often throw on Soothe2 to tame any remaining nasal, harsh, or boxy frequencies.
Think of it like a vocal roundness plugin. It helps your vocal sit comfortably in the speakers—especially when recorded in an untreated space.
This Isn’t Mixing—It’s Emotional Editing
You’re not mixing yet. You’re shaping the feel of the vocal so that it reflects what it felt like inside your head when you sang it.
If your room is fighting your voice, you need to fight back—not with more gear, but with smarter editing.
Want to Try This for Yourself?
I put together a free guide that walks you through 5 emotional vocal fixes—including what I shared above.
🎬 Let’s Talk in the Comments
I’d love to hear from you—
What part of this workflow surprised you the most? Have you tried using iZotope RX or another vocal cleanup tool in your own sessions?
Leave a comment on the YouTube video embedded above and let’s keep the conversation going. I read every comment and respond to as many as I can.
Your voice matters—and so does your process. Let’s figure it out together.
