tips to a successful session
How to prepare for a recording session:
1. Practice, Practice, Practice. Whatever it is that you want to record, make sure you know the material, the song order/structure, your parts, and that you can play it through from beginning to end. Nothing will kill the flow and blow your budget more than not being prepared. Writing parts and rehearsing them while in a session are costly and will add up quickly. You should aim to be able to play through each one of your parts in less than 5 takes.
2. Be able to play and record to a click track. This makes overdubbing, punch ins, and editting go so much quicker therefore saving you money. Also it will make your song flow and groove much better.
3. Pick a good acoustical place to record in if possible. This means a queit room that's big enough for each musician including their equipment and me and my equipment to fit in comfortably and if possible is somewhat acoustically treated. The reality is that it will not be a world class studio live room but try to use the best acoustical space you have access to. If you have specific questions about this just contact me.
4. Prepare your instrument. This is a very important aspect in getting a professional sounding recording. Guitars and basses should have new strings, be intonated, and should be able to stay in tune through a whole take. Amps should not have blown speakers. Drums should have new (or newish) heads and should be tuned. Don't put too much dampening on the heads as that will make the drums sound lifeless and dull when recorded. Cymbals shouldn't be cracked or warped. Make sure your hardware is in proper working order and lubricate your pedals so that they don't squeak. If you think that you are working with subpar gear, try to borrow or rent something better or if you can afford it, buy something a little better prior to recording.
***A specific note about drums. Cymbals make or break the overall perception of a song and drum tone. Cymbals that sound like trash can lids will make the whole song sound amateurish. Beg, plead, just about everything you have to do besides cheat or steal to get your hands on a nice set of cymbals prior to recording. You will be thankful you did. Also from my experience I believe that even a cheaper kit will sound pretty solid with quality heads on them tuned properly.
5. Tune accurately and often. I will not record you if you do not tune your instrument, it's just a waste of time for the both of us. The reason for this is pretty obvious, we'll just be putting sonic garbage to tape. Even if you hit a wrong note but your instrument is in tune it will at least sound better than if your instrument's tuning is all over the place. Check and tune before each take. Do not attempt to tune by ear and do not tune off of other instruments. Just use a real tuner, they are not expensive or hard to get your hands on. Drums need to be tuned as well. If you are not good at doing this by ear I recommend trying to get ahold of a Drum Dial or Tune-Bot. They take all the guess work out tuning a drum and if you do it right you will have a pretty darn good sounding kit no matter what brand or level the kit is.
6. Make sure everyone who is going to be a part of the recording process is there on time and ready to go. If possible try and get everything set up the day before that way you know you are for sure ready to go and your equipment has time to acclimate to the environment. That helps to keep your instruments in tune and sounding better. You should aim to have everything set up before I arrive otherwise you will be paying me to watch you set up your equipment which I know you don't want to do. Don't be hungover or hammered while we are trying to record, it will just make it more difficult and take longer. Remember, my clock is still ticking even while you go out on a beer run. Lastly, try to limit the amount of people at the session who have nothing directly to do with the recording process as they usually just get in the way and slow things down. I know your significant other wants to be there, but if he or she isn't part of the band, then they probably shouldn't be there.
7. Adhere to whatever terms and agreements we work out. I will uphold my end of the deal and I expect you to do the same. Pay me when you are supposed to and I'll make sure you have a product in your hands that you are happy with when you are supposed to.
8. Remember - Garbage in, garbage out. Poor and sloppy playing and lack of heart no matter how well it was was recorded will never translate into a good professional sounding mix. I can't as they say, "polish a turd." Also, it get's pretty expensive trying to, "fix it in the mix". Just be prepared with maintained equipment, well rehearsed material, a sober brain, the conviction to make awesome sounding music, and the funds to pay me for my services and you should have a great sounding product that you will be proud to share with the world. Most of all enjoy this sonic art of music as it is without a doubt the language that all ears understand!
Follow this guideline and I can almost guarantee with certainty that the session will go successfully.
Mixing and Mastering:
I will provide you specific tips and guidelines for giving me material for mixing and mastering based on the individual project.
