Recording Tips

Here are a few helpful hints in how to have a successful recording session. Some are dead obvious; some of them you might not have thought of. And if you have any of your own to contribute, submit it to us and we'll include it here.

Preparing for your session

You should always try to be as prepared as you can for your session, in terms of organization, your material, and your equipment. You want to come in having an idea of what your goals are for a particular session. Do you want to record one song or three? Which songs? A written list of songs can be a great help when keeping track of what's been worked on. Same goes for lyrics and charts. Remember, your engineer doesn't know the material as well as you, and anything to help clarify lyrics, arrangements, etc. can allow everyone to work smoothly as a team. For mastering or mixing, make sure you have all the right tapes/CDRs/etc. together, and labeled properly.

It's pretty obvious that everyone should know the material as much as possible before the session. At the same time, everyone is different, and some people like to use the studio time to experiment and be creative. However, If you're on a budget, the more details you can cover, the more time you save. Sometimes when it comes time to do vocals, the backing parts haven't been thought through clearly. It can be tempting to add harmonies and double and triple parts, but when parts need to be figured out and learned through trial and error, the time spent recording can increase significantly.

Other often-overlooked details are: practicing songs to a click and recording the tempos, specific drum parts and fills, solos, and getting session musicians a copy of the music ahead of time.

In terms of equipment, it's crucial to bring in everything you need, in good working order. Don't forget your drums, amps, pedals, tuners, batteries, AC adapters, extra strings, cables, guitar stands, etc., expecting the studio to have it, or else time might be wasted sending someone out to pick something up. The studio is responsible for microphones and recording equipment only. If there's something you may need that you can't bring, you should check with the studio to see if arrangements can be made.

If you will be using the piano, you should book our piano technician to make sure the tuning is perfect for you. Guitarists and bass players may want to put on new strings a day or two before the session, or even get their instruments set up. MIDI/electronic devices often have very specific requirements, and any issues with cables, compatibility and formats should be investigated and addressed before the session.

In the session

While you're at the studio, it's important to stay focused. Eating properly and not over-indulging can go a long way towards increased productivity. As well, the occasional ear break allows you to maintain objectivity.

While someone is working on a part, distractions should be minimized. So anyone that doesn't need to be in the control room should retire to the lounge.

And most importantly, remember to relax. Outside pressures and worries about money and time can keep you from focusing on what really counts - the music - and in the end, that's what you'll be walking out with. So come prepared, have some fun, and listen to the difference!

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