What musicians should know before take their first recording session...

  • Thread starter Thread starter James Argo
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James Argo

James Argo

Fancy Rock N' Roll
Guys and girls...
One of my old highschool friend is now working in a weekly popular youth magazine. They often reveal many articles about unsigned bands, DIY musicians, and many newbie artist article. We just met yesterday, and he offered me to write down a few article about "What musicians should know before take their first recording session...". You know, many of them don't get propher info & knowledge about what they should prepare before they take their first recording session. Just anything they really need to know and prepared. Even the simple little thing like "clean your dirty ear holes..." will do. Have you realized how many musician/band didn't make it at their first attempt (not even close :( ) and end up dissapointed after spending big bucks on studio charge etc, cause they weren't awared ? :eek:

I started writing and surfing for articles, but I think it'll be great to hear any original input from experienced engineer, musician, producer, or whoever who ideed deals with 'em most of the time as a valueable input. And in the other side, it can be a great thread to share your wisdom for everyone here in this newbie forum as well. Thank's.
:cool:
Jaymz
 
Well, I'm not a pro-engineer and I've only been in the studio like twice (once to cut back-up vocals for a song called "Santa Claus Blues", and once again years later just to back up some home-brewed session tapes) but here's a few:

1. Rehearse like crazy before ever setting foot into the studio. Everyone should have their parts completely nailed before anyone presses "record".
2. Do not bring any spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend to the session.
3. Lose the attitude, be polite, and let the engineer do his job. Do what the engineer tells you.
4. If you are using your instrument and not the studio rental, make sure you have new strings on the guitars or new heads on the drums, and bring spare sets of strings/heads.

Cy
 
That's a very good start Cy...
Here's another...

Figure out the sound you want in your mind. Make a logical comprehensive picture that easy to understood. If you have several refference CD's. It's good to let the engineer listen few days before the session and explain him/her, so he/she can have the idea, and could manage to help an advices whether needed & possible... ;)
 
This sounds silly but worked on me...

Bring extra comfortable t-shirt, you might get sweating in studio environment (no matter how cold the AC...).

Bring some reasonable pic of your... whatever the best to support the song. If it was love song, then maybe your girlfriend/boyfriend pic will do. Hang it on somewhere so you can stare at it while you do the take... brings you more emotional tension. If it was death metal session, bring Cyrokk's avatar pic. Enlarge it... it will do great. :D

there'll be another.
;)
 
(1) bring a tuner;
(2) use the tuner that you bring, and use it often.

(most engineers have great ears, but they're also extremely busy a lot of the time, and it sucks to get a take down for a guitar part and then realize that the keyboard part that comes later (and is tuned to an A of 440Hz) is "off.").

(3) unless you're the singer, make the singer wait at Denny's until the tracks are ready for him/her. Nothing clutters up a studio like a singer.

:D
:D
 
Make sure that everyone uses the same tuner.

Don't worry about what it sounds like while your tracking. Concentrate on your performance so the engineer can concentrate on capturing it. That includes being happy with your instrument/s. Don't hesitate to rent or borrow if yours isn't happening.
 
Eat and sleep well for at least a day or 2 before the session and all the time during. Don't forget to drink WATER. Drink the pop and beer and whatnot, but drink WATER, too- your body needs it in the grueling process of getting a good take.

Take breaks when you need them. If you are feeling tired and run down your odds of getting anything other than a tired and run down take are fairly slim.

Don't be afraid. It is YOUR music, but the process of recording it is not controlled by you. Stand up for what you want from the music, but trust that the professionals who are recording you know what they are doing.

BUT!!!

Professionals should also be willing to explain why they are doing certain things. If they are unwilling to address concerns about the sounds of the recording or give you canned answers like "we can fix that in the mix" then be on your guard. Especially with small projects, some small-time engineers don't really put the effort in to get the sounds the clients want. In short, they feel your project is beneath them so thet don't give the project the respect it deserves.

To illustrate, a friend of mine was in a punk band that paid to record a 3 song demo. The engineer just threw a few mics up around the drum kit and hit the record button. When he listened back to the track, my friend thought the drums sounded like crap. Bored, the engineer said they always sounded like that until the mix. My friend, who is an excellent jazz drummer but had never recorded before, believed him...until the drums still sounded like crap on the final product.

In short, if it doesn't sound good to you let the engineer know. If they don't seem to respect you or your project let them know that you need them to treat you like the paying customer that you are. If they don't, take your business elsewhere.

Take care,
Chris
 
Don't choose a studio without going there, listening to a project they have done in your style, meeting the engineer.
Choose a studio that does a lot of work in your style. (no point going to a studio that specializes in hip hop for heavy metal)

What ever you budget (time...money...) will never happen.....always add another 1/3 of the time/cash you think you'll spend.

Prepare you gear - Guitar necks...Frets...tune...break in new strings 2 days before recording...kill the humming now....Drum heads...etc....Spare parts - Not only strings but also Fuses.

Always play your own gear and not the studios. You Must be comfortable with it in your hands. Forget the vintage 1964 percission bass....use your new and shiny bad ass $50 bass...
The results will be better down the line. It might not sound as good but you'll probably groove better.

If your bringing in tracks prerecorded call before to discuss how your going to bring it and how your going to download it to the studios Format.

Rehearse with a click track - your going to be a bit nervous if your inexperienced and the drummer will play faster then he tends to and he will play a bit more eratic. Even a well rehearsed drummer will do that.

Record with a click track - A story about a band by Shailat:
The drummer plays with out a click and nails it almost on the beat every time.....The bass player is a great player and manages to match the tempo of the drummer almost every single time. Although it moves a drop from the drummers beat a bit here and there, it still grooves ( I mean they told us it shouldnt sound like a drum machine right !!?!?!??!). The guitar player then overdubs the drum & bass tracks and has a bit harder time getting it straight as the drums and bass move a bit and dont exactly sync but it is so close nobody can really hear the difference....keyboards does his job with same problem......
Singer comes in to sing "What the hell ?!?!?:eek: the whole thing is lopsided !!!!" He quits the band and becomes a DJ making lots of money. Foundation !!! - the drums and bass MUST sit like a solid foundation - dont compromise on that.

NEVER !! Record AND Mix the same day. Only in Video clips the band and engineer look so fresh and willing with out fried ears.

One member of the band should have the final word during mixing time or someone like a producer or even the engineer or else its going to get ugly. Let all members give their opinion but dont turn the mixing process into a democratic discussion.

Don't be impressed by mamooth sized speakers the engineer might be mixing on. If he isnt using another monitor or even two others...he is trying to fool you into thinking your sound is big, massive, bad, cool and thumping.

Dont be impressed by studios filled with gear and a nice interior.
Only listening will tell you the truth. Don't drop so quickly a studio with a torn up carpet and dirty sink full of mugs and a engineer who looks like a mass murderer. Only listening will tell you the truth (just don't drink from the mugs.....)

Leave all stardom attitude outside the door and remember...unless your filty rich, the studio is a place to work and not to play rockstar/games/impress the girls. For results you have to work and sometimes it will get boring for guests. Dont think they wont bother you after a while to concentrate.

The hardest one for last - forget about your Ego.
* If your solo sucks - drop it
* If your wrong - admit it
* IF you wrote the song and only YOU know whats best - give others a chance to tell you what doesnt work for them.
Etc..etc..etc...
 
Great !!! Now I can do my first page column. Thank you all... :D :D :D

Keep goin'.... ;)
 
It helps to book studio time in managable bites, instead of long grueling marathons. Be rehearsed and have a damn good idea of what you want the finished product to sound like. A good engineer will take liberties in an effort to make his job easier if he has no clear picture from the musicians as to what they want. I don't know if that makes sense or not...just be able to give directions and answer questions that are posed to you. It's been 20 years since I was in the studio, but I do remember the bad stuff that in retrospect would have gone a lot smoother had I actually had this advice myself.
 
Those were great posts by Mr. Schaefer and Shailat.

Oh yeah, and bring a tuner and all use the same tuner. :D
 
Are you with me?

ALL of the above,but first...Make sure everyone is on the same page as far as dedication,direction and attitude go.It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of going to the studio to record.You (or the band leader,frontman,ect...)may be very enthusiastic and be able to hype the project up when maybe every member isn't really ready or willing.Also,if you play with people you've been friends with for a while ,they may not want to burst your bubble by admitting that they maybe aren't ready.This will lead to a failed,incomplete or just plain lousy end result.Not to mention the stress factor and the money you've spent to produce a piece or crap.
Be absolutely sure all involved members are with you 100% and that they feel comfortable with you and your vision or the band or group vision.In my experience,communication is the key.Leave your ego at the door and your issues at home.When your a rich rock star, you won't have to contend with money issues and session musicians will be at the ready to fill a disgruntled bandmates part,but for now...Bad vibes don't have to travel far in tight quarters and practice ,practice ,practice...Good Luck:D
 
Make sure you've actually got something to record BEFORE you go to the studio.
 
Always pay the studio twice as much as they are asking and if there is a chick in the band she should blow the engineer. It's just the polite way to do business.
 
How about an old computer programmer term:

GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out)

Doesn't matter if you've got $100,000 worth of pro gear at 48-bit/192kHz and all the whiz-bang features if your songs suck and you only know 3 chords.

There is no Anti-SUCK plug-in.
 
be able to play your songs with any combination of players..

I ran in to this with a band I recorded. Due to the limits of the equipment, we did not have the option of recording every player simultaneously. But the bass player and drummer were unable to play the songs unless the singer and guitarist played with them.

we got through it, but as a player, I am always ready to play along with anyone.... or play the song to a click track if necessary.
Know the song inside and out.

other than that - bring batteries, duct tape, a pen, some paper, and some books or magazines. If you don't have something to read while the lead guitarist goes through 37 attempts to hit that note in the solo, you *will* go insane and want to kill him.

- housepig
 
Make a damn sure all of... I mean ALL of the band member understand their part, and have a same damn perception of how the song will sound in finall mix. I noticed many newbie just come with no clue and amazed on how the studio can polish their work, so they start to change their mind each other...

"Hey, why don't we..."

"...Hey, cum on guys, look at that, I think using this and that gear, I can do my long abandoned idea which I actually wanted to put. All we have to do is change the chorus to..., and add more few bars on the solo..."

" This studio bass is better than mine, now I can play slap here and there...hwahuahauhaaaa..."

...and all mess. :rolleyes:

Stick with what you've practiced, so no one parts will be masked. ;)
 
I've never actually been to a studio myself, but I think that going over a couple of times and asking what level of musicianship the studio expects is a good idea. A very good friend of mine totally quit music just because of a bad experience with a perfectionist engineer who wouldn't accept a take with less than a twin-platinum performance....shame....he was a good player before he went to this particular "pro" studio.
 
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