Every day we
get asked for our advice on making great recordings. While there is no one
"correct" way to capture audio, there are a few things you can do ahead of time
to make your experience more fun and to get the most out of your session.
Without further ado...1. Practice! - It seems obvious, but you'd be amazed by how many bands come in to the studio without the proper amount of rehearsal. Practicing alot ahead of time can make your band tighter, and help you work out those nasty arrangement problems before you are on the clock. Too many bands spend valuable studio time arguing over parts, arrangements and shoddy performances all at $30.00 per hour. This is especially important if you are planning to try and record your music to a click track. It can take a few weeks to get used to playing along with a click track, especially if you are the drummer, and these things can be worked out easily ahead of time in your basement for free! (See Below) The more you practice the more time you can spend getting the tracks "just right".
2. New Drum Heads and Guitar Strings - Go ahead and spend a few extra dollars to make sure your gear is in tip-top condition. Change your strings and heads the day before you come in to record. Be sure to allow ample time for the strings and heads to stretch overnight so tuning isn't a problem. If possible have a guitar tech at your local music store do a "set up" where your intonation is checked out. These steps will all go to prevent some common problems that crop up.
3. Chart your songs - Seriously! Write down the different parts and overdubs you want to do while you are at the studio. This will help us move faster to each overdub, and help make sure we don't forget anything. It's happened before. A client has to book an extra day after we thought the session was done (often weeks later when we have available time) all because "Bob" forgot his guitar solo or backup vocal part. Write it down and we'll cross it off as we go.
4. Demo your demo - That's right. Even if the recording you are doing with us is only a demo-type project , but especially if you want to record your own "Kid A" or "Hearts of Oak", it's always a good idea to record your songs ahead of time. Get out the boom box, four track, or these days your laptop and record those band practices. This not only helps us get a feel for your music, it will also help you decide how to approach each song.
5. Click Track? - One question that crops up again and again is whether or not to use a click track. The dreaded Metro-Gnome. Sometimes this can help to make your band sound more polished and tighter overall, however, it can be difficult to play to. A good idea is to try it out before you come into the studio. It may take a few practices to get it right. You'll know soon enough if the click track is helping or hurting. Some bands sound best without a guide to follow. (If you plan on doing *ALOT* of computer editing a click track is pretty essential.)
These are just a few things that can help to make your session go smoother. The key theme is to be prepared. You know, like girl scouts.