When it comes to recording vocals there are few who are better respected than engineer/producer Neal Cappellino. He’s engineered gold and platinum-selling records, has earned multiple Grammy awards and is trusted by the likes of Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton.

We drop in on Neal ahead of a vocal recording session with singer Heather Bond to find out about his preparation process. Learn the importance of electrical and acoustic phase, the lengths to which he’ll go to make a singer feel comfortable and how he sets up a mic shoot-out.