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.
0 Responses to “Preparing for your recording session.”