Noise.Stop it,"Before" it's recorded.Use good quality leads and plugs.
You don't need the very expensive gold plated plugs just good quality.
don't have the leads too long and use low capacitance cable.
If you are using mains effects make sure you don't get an ,"Earth loop" or induced mains noise.If you have to run the effects units off a different wall plug.
Guitars/Basses should be checked and properly screened,
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/menu.php
http://www.catalinaguitars.com/electrical_hum.htm
2:Mics
I've used a Shure SM58 for over 20 years and it's still going strong.A cheap foam,"Pop" sock is a must when recording at home as it helps as a,"De-esser" and prevents the ,"Breath" effect if you are close up.I'm looking at a new cheap mike by Behringer just for a change,
http://www.lifeismusic.co.uk/PA/BEHRING ... -4363.aspx
Which has had good reviews.You will need some kind of pre-amp to drive the mike into a PC.There are loads on the market but at the moment I'm cheating and using my Guitar DI box as the pre-amp.
3:Singing:
If you are singing an up tempo type of song then put the mike in a mike stand and stand up.This allows the lungs to operate correctly.It's better to get a good balance of volume before recording rather than after.
Breath control and moving your head in and out from the mike allows for the different power that your voice has at different frequencies.This technique can take time to develope for all experienced singers learn their own voice power.
Monitoring your voice whilst recording is a personal thing.I tend to take one Ear-cup slightly off my Headphones so I can check my voice against the recording so as to be able to pitch better.
If you know you cannot hold notes in tune for a long time on certain words then add a some words to the lyric and make the words shorter or find an alternative word.May sound simple but it works.
You can also speed up or slow down the song if it helps and then return it to it's original tempo(Don't worry even some of the greats have,"cheated" for example many live bands drop the pitch of all the band by a semi-tone when on long tours to save the singers voice/s) e.g listen to,"Live and Dangerous" by Thin Lizzy.
"Don't believe a word cannot be played in A flat!!!."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAofihA_G30
if you check this against a correctly tuned guitar you will find your guitar is a semi-tone sharp
