Can a vocal producer make anyone sound good?
A vocal producer ensures that the vocalist has given their absolute best performance. The end result will be significantly better than what could have been achieved otherwise. It is best to involve a vocal producer from as early on in the project as possible. That way they can make sure that the key is right and that the singer has the chance to work on any specific vocal problems before the studio date. When hired by a studio I assume that the singer is already capable and confident and it will simply be a case of getting the best performance possible. When dealing with someone inexperienced I insist on at least one lesson beforehand to make sure that they are ready and are not going to waste time and money on trying to achieve an unrealistic goal.
The sound engineer/ producer at my local studio insists he knows how to produce a vocalist. Why should I hire a specialist?
Perhaps ask how he would respond if I said that they could record the sound just as well as a professional sound engineer. They would probably say that this is a ridiculous claim as there is no way someone without years and years of practical experience could possibly compare themselves to someone with those hard earned expertise.
Exactly.