Top 10 Recording Nightmares

This is the MDR Top 10 Recording Nightmares: The most common problems you run into when first stepping foot into a studio, followed by MDR’s easy solutions.

Nightmare #1. Your recording engineer turns out to be an intern.

MDReality: At MDR, we handle all the technical stuff and guarantee quality sounds you’ll be proud of.

Nightmare #2 & #3: You realize you haven’t booked enough studio time./You realize you’ve booked too much studio time.

MDReality: Not only do we help you budget your bank account, we help you budget your time as well. With our preplanning abilities and work efficiencies, the correct amount of studio time is always predetermined and accurate.

Nightmare #4: You left your lyrics at home and can’t play the songs without them as a guide.

MDReality: MDR provides their clients with checklists well before every session, giving you ample time to prepare those essential items for your session.

Nightmare #5: You started the day by recording the song you knew the least well and it took 6 hours. Your full length just got cut down to a song and a half.

MDReality: During MDR’s Project Analysis, included with every project, we create benchmarks for progress and set goals for each day of work, so your time is never wasted.

Nigthmare #6: The studio you’re recording in specializes in classical production and now your symphony of rock sounds more just like a symphony.

MDReality: MDR helps you through the maze of studios around town, helping you find the best one for your style of music.

Nightmare #7: You thought tracking without a click would preserve the vibe of the band’s groove. Now the tempo of the song is inconsistent and sounds unprofessional.

MDReality: MDR gets to know your music before stepping into the studio and is able to assess the usefulness of such tools as a click based on your performance strengths.

Nightmare #8: The session player you hired to play drums never showed up. You had to call your friend that lives 2 hours away. He was still hung over by the time he got to the session.

MDReality: MDR’s connections in the Boston music scene allow us to make referrals for talented session players we trust.

Nightmare #9: Your guitarist sprained his hand and can’t play.

MDReality: With MDR, there’s always a backup plan. The show must go on.

Nightmare #10: Welcome to the North East, where it snows in October. The roads are covered with ice and half the band is snowed in. The studio eats up your deposit.

MDReality: Our special arrangements with studios have you covered in the event your session gets “rained” out and you get snowed in.

For more information on how MDR can turn your recording nightmares into recording successses, find out why people are calling Mike Davidson Recording first by clicking here.

What makes one studio different from another?

To some, this might seem a foreign concept, to think there could be another factor besides price when choosing a place to record. While price is important, there are other things to consider: studio design, acoustics, gear, staff, location, the list goes on. Let’s take a closer look at the implications behind each of these factors and how they influence, facilitate, or at worst, hinder the recording process.

Design. Consider the layout of the studio. Some studios have multiple tracking rooms and offer different price packages should clients reserve both rooms at the same time. This can be advantageous to a larger project, or to a project on a short time table. Some studios will also have lounge areas for relaxing, so when you’re not working, you can change locations and take a break from the music.

Acoustics. Every room has its own unique sound to it, based on its construction and what measures its owners have taken to treat it (or not treat it). Many studios are known for producing a certain style of music based on what music sounds “best” in their room. This means your music will inherent a certain quality that’s characteristic of that studio, for better or worse.

Gear. The need (or desire) for gear is often dependent on the given genre you’re working with. If you’re in a rock studio, you’ll find lots of sweet vintage compressors and equalizers and mic pre’s (oh my). In a studio that deals primarily with, for example, jazz, such items are less common.

Staff. The great thing about studios is that they’re invariably staffed with people who love making records. Regardless, it’s best to get a sense of the studio’s vibe before making any decisions.

Location. This might seem obvious but it’s worth mentioning: there’s a difference between recording in the woods and recording in the heart of metropolitan America. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

So how do you know what studio is best for you and your music? Mike Davidson Recording offers services to help you determine the best place to get the best price based on your specific needs. Click here for more info.

Preparing for your recording session.

Whether you’re a novice or a veteran, there are many things you, the musician, can do to prepare for a recording session. These are money saving strategies that will increase efficiency while in the studio.

Have you completed your songs? This might seem like a no-brainer. So many times, we hear about our favorite bands shacking up in a studio to write amazing, inspired work. What allows them such a luxurious working environment? Simple cash flow. They have the money to spend the time on the clock, while most of us common folk do not. If you’re looking to save yourself some time (read: money), spend your time writing before you get to the studio. Know your song structure and know your lyrics.

Have you rehearsed? Whether you’re playing solo or with a band, you have to be able to play your songs. The more time you spend practicing your music, the easier it will be to record it. Keep in mind, if you’ve never been behind a microphone before, it can be a little unnerving for some. Being confident in your playing will help you relax.

Demo your songs. If you have your own recording setup, be it makeshift or pro, demoing your songs will be of great service to the subsequent recording session. It will help you hear your music objectively and serve as a good reference for later.

What’s going where? You should know what instruments are going to play what, when and where. This will help not only give you a sense of how much work each song will demand, but also, help paint a picture of what the song will sound like once it’s completed. You don’t start building a house without a blueprint, do you? Songs need blueprints too, lest your end up where your bedroom should be.

Bring a tuner. It’s that simple. Never enter a studio without one. Don’t expect anyone else to have one because they never do.

Don’t get strung out. Prepare yourself for a long day. When you’re making an album, work days can average out to about 16 hours. Bring healthy snacks to keep your energy up and don’t eat things that will make you crash quickly. When you need to take a break, take one, and do it before you get overtired. You’ll bounce back faster that way.

Bring extra stuff. Speaking of getting strung out, if you play guitar or bass, bring extra strings. Bring picks. If you play drums, bring extra heads and sticks. In effort not to exclude other instruments, bring extras of anything that have been known to break. While we’re on the subject of bringing, if you have extra amps, snare drums, guitars, etc, bring them to the session. It’s always fun to experiment.

Following these simple guidelines will help increase efficiency in the studio. For more information on this topic and others, visit mikedavidsonrecording.com and fill out a quick quote.