So, you're ready to take your music to the next level and have decided to record your next album or single in a professional recording studio.
Although you'll have an engineer and/or producer to help you, preparation before arriving for your first session is still very important!
In this blog we're going to cover some things that will help you know how to prepare for a studio recording.
Before entering the studio, you should have a clear idea of exactly what you want to record and what you want to come away with. This makes everyone's job a lot easier and makes things a lot less stressful for you, the recording artist.
Also, try not to arrive with half written songs as you will be wasting expensive recording time finishing the songs that should have been written and rehearsed beforehand. You may also end up not writing a song as well as you could have done if you're having to rush to finish it. Time spent idle costs money!
Finding the right studio for your needs and budget is really important, especially if they don't have suitable equipment and facilities for what you want to do. Also, you don't want to be paying a fortune for facilities that you don't need either.
For example, if you need to record a whole band with drums, bass, electric guitar and vocals you need to make sure the studio has a good selection of drum microphones and guitar amp microphones, as well as vocal mics. Some studios will have other equipment that you can use as well, such as drum kits and guitar amps. This is great if you don't feel your equipment is quite good enough for recording or you can't transport your gear to the studio.
Another thing to bear in mind is if you use certain effects plugins on your recordings that you might not have yourself, bounce out the individual audio tracks with the effects applied. You should do this because if you open the project at home and you don't have the plugins on your computer, then you will have lost that effect!
Although you should have a clear idea of what you want to record and how you want to record it, try and enter the studio with an open mind and consider input and ideas from the engineers and/or producers, as their experience and knowledge can be extremely beneficial to your recording and performance, even if it's not an idea that you initially thought of.
This one may sound obvious, but always check that your instruments and equipment are working before going to the studio!
Also, it might be wise to put new strings on guitars, especially if they haven't been changed in a while and sound a bit 'dead'.
Also, come prepared with spare strings, drumsticks and batteries in case you need them for effects pedals etc.
Although you probably know the songs that you're going to record really well, keep rehearsing and practicing beforehand, to help you achieve your absolute best performance!
This can really make or break the final recording!
Choosing to record in a professional studio is a big and positive step in your musical career and it should be enjoyed as much as possible.
Following the advice in this blog should make your studio sessions more enjoyable, less stressful and a lot more productive. Not to mention saving you money if you go in well prepared!
A final piece of advice is to bring food and drink with you, to keep your energy levels up! Spending all day performing in a studio can be tiring, so staying well fed and hydrated is really important! Just don't eat or drink next to the studio equipment!
David Griffiths.
Curious about how you can start making hit tracks that people love WITHOUT complicated training or a huge social media following? Click here to learn more! - The CM Sounds Team
Check out some of our other blog posts:
5 Ways A Musician Can Stay Productive In Isolation
How To Balance Making Music With A Full-Time Job
Music Production Student Survival Guide
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