Preparing for a recording session

Hey everyone,

One of our most frequently asked questions is “How can a band prepare for a recording session?” We’ve therefore put together a list of suggestions written by a number of engineers (both in and out of house):


Practice with a click

If you plan to record with a click track it is often helpful to practice with a click. Playing with a metronome can be challenging and having it introduced as a variable during the recording process can be less stressful if you have already become accustomed to it.


Practice with headphones

Playing with headphones will often be necessary in a recording session (especially if recording with a click). Practicing with headphones will accustom you to the feel.


Record your practices

Try to record your practices (they do not need to be a great recordings). The ability to critique your arrangements and performances at the practice stage will save you time in the studio. It will also help you to understand what the focus needs to be when recording the individual songs on the record (know your strengths and weaknesses).


Make demos

Your practice tapes can count as demos, but having a final version (before you enter the studio) will provide valuable insight during the recording process. Ultimately, if your recording ends up being the first time you’ve heard your composition, you may realize that you would have changed something. Demos provide you with the ability to flush out those issues while giving your engineer a point of reference as to what you want to accomplish.


Make an outline

Whether you plan to do a single song or a full record it is helpful to write out a brief outline of what you plan to accomplish during a session(s). Time management is very important as it can help an artist accomplish their goals within a given cost.


Take care of your instrument

If you plan on using your own instruments during a session make sure that they are in good working condition (countless intonation issues, for instance, have caused unnecessary delays and stress in our studio). Consider set-ups, replacing strings, and buying new skins in the weeks leading to your session.


Consider an overall strategy and time line

Time and time again, artists create unnecessary stress by having unrealistic dead lines. The willingness to get music out to a fan base as quickly as possible can often lead to a recording that has not met its full potential (one in which the artist is ultimately might not happy with). You can avoid this problem by considering your overall time line and having a good understanding of how the industry tends to work. Here are some pointers:

1) Make sure that you have at least 3 or 4 months between the time that your record is mastered and your release date. This will allow you ample time to promote the record well before a release date/party while providing time to correct unforeseen issues.

2) Do not assume that your music has to be released for it to be heard. A 3 to 4 month promo period allows you to get your music out to reviewers, bloggers, radio stations, and social media sites well before the release date (which ultimately puts it in the hands of consumers and potential fans). Consider that it is better to achieve as much exposure as possible before the record is officially released.

3) Pick one or two songs/singles to promote during this period rather than making all of your music available at once. This will get your music to consumers while providing context for a review. Providing “new tracks from an upcoming release” gets people interested in your music while giving them something to look forward to.

4) Consider the time of year in which you plan to release. While this is subject to opinion, we often look at a given calendar year as having three main seasons: Spring-Summer, Summer, Fall-Winter. Many of our current artists, for instance, began promoting their late November release at the beginning of September. This places the record on the market in a traditionally strong buying time (i.e., holiday market) while proving enough time to gain exposure before next year’s spring-summer touring/festival season.

New NEVE V1 Recording Console

Studio SQ Neve V1

We are very excited to welcome a new member to the SQ team – our 1985 Neve V1 32ch/32buss console. This thing is absolutely a beast (we have the moving bruises to prove it)! Thanks to Sean Beresford over at Blightly Studios in Petaluma, CA for not only deciding to part with it, but also helping us move and reassemble it.

Our V series is an inline console with transformer mic pres, HP/LP filters, dynamics (comp/gate), 4 band EQ and all sorts of other extras. It has some of the great optional Neve features such as four stereo reverb returns, upgraded Uptown automation, and pan circuits that can be removed from all channels (putting the signal 3db up and panning it center).

The desk is in very good condition and has been mostly re-capped. Even still Jeremy couldn’t resist diving into it and starting on modifications. The V uses 5534/2 series op-amps throughout most audio circuits (a very nice op-amp), but Jeremy thought he might be able to improve the performance a touch by replacing the master section op-amps and mic pres with OPA604s. He also chose to go with the OPA2134s for the EQ and line amps. In addition, he’s swept through the master section and replaced the signal caps with high quality electrolytic caps (bypassed with WIMA .1uf film caps) for better high end response.

Overall the mods have helped bring down the internal noise a bit and improved the sound (but it was pretty great to start with). For his next project Jeremy is going to try replacing the master buss makeup amps with discreet op-amps. We can only guess where it will go from there.

So far the console has been a pleasure to work on. We’ve found that the mic pres have been particularly pleasing on percussion and acoustic instruments. The EQ has also been very useful – in many situations we find ourselves looking to use it before outboard. The mix buss also sounds amazing (color color color) yet retains the ability to lay multiple instruments together without being cluttered.

We have some exciting projects coming up in the near future and will surely put the new console through its paces. To date we’ve mixed some pretty elaborate projects on the desk which are coming out great.

The Downer Party to release new EP / 7″ (audio: rock, indie)

The Downer Party is one of our favorite San Francisco bands. We met the foursome last winter and spring when they came to us to mix their Cities EP (released in May). Energetic and fun, the album did fantastically well in the online blog / magazine world and picked up some 30+ great national reviews.

Needless to say we were stoked when the band returned to SQ to mix and master their new EP / 7″ (to be released in Early November). The new album, dubbed “Blue State” was once again recorded by the band in their Oakland basement – which, as usual, produces an energetic indie sound that it reminiscent of great 90s garage rock. It is the perfect follow-up to Cities and will continue to carry The Downer Party torch forward…

Recording credits: August Churchill & Chris Crawford (tracking), John Flores (mixing @ SQ), Jeremy Rosenblum (mastering @ SQ).

The One South:




Blue State:




Team Fortress 2 Video Online

A few weeks ago the boys from Valve Software were back at SQ recording the music for a Team Fortress 2 video. It was posted on YouTube just 48 hours ago and has already received 2.4 million views with over 25 thousand comments. The Valve music team (Mike Morasky and Noah Landis) have been receiving tons of great feedback from viewers about the music with many calling for it to be turned into a feature. We are stoked!

This Week’s Downtime

The following are free days for this upcoming week (June 5 – June 11):

> 0 days (sorry folks, we’ve scheduled additional console instals and maintenance)


About SQ Downtime
Many of our clients fall into the indie/self release category of artistry. Over the last three years we’ve had the pleasure working with a number of great musicians who simply did not have the budget to pull off the type of recording they rightfully deserved. In view of this, we’ve decided to try something new:

- Every Sunday we will announce unbooked days for the upcoming week.

- They will be offered at a discounted rate of $350 (with house engineer provided) or $250 (for sessions with outside engineer). This is $150 off our normal rates.

- Sessions will be booked on a first come first serve basis and will only be available to self funded artists.

- Open days will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, and the SQ Blog.

- Please be patient – it is likely that there will be many weeks in which downtime is not available.

To be released: Apone “Phasmaphobe” (music: alt, indie)

Apone is the galactic exploration of New Yorker turned San Franciscan Justin Craig-Kuhn. His debut solo release “Phasmaphobe” is a piano induced rock record which touches on just enough sci-fi lore to make this one of the most enjoyable records I’ve ever worked on.

Phasmaphobe is a mix of 70′s rock and contemporary indie rock, all of which is glued together through layered soundscapes and cosmic sound design. From start to finish this record was produced, recorded, and mixed at SQ and is a testament to the quality of time and patience. Check out the following three tracks or visit http://aponemusic.com to buy/stream the entire release.

Recording credits: Justin Craig-Kuhn (producer), Jeremy Rosenblum (tracking engineer), John Flores (mixing engineer), Mike Wells (mastering engineer).

Phasmaphobe:




SF Clouds:




Anything’s Impossible:




This Week’s Downtime

The following are free days for this upcoming week (May 31 – June 3):

> May 1, 2011


About SQ Downtime
Many of our clients fall into the indie/self release category of artistry. Over the last three years we’ve had the pleasure working with a number of great musicians who simply did not have the budget to pull off the type of recording they rightfully deserved. In view of this, we’ve decided to try something new:

- Every Sunday we will announce unbooked days for the upcoming week.

- They will be offered at a discounted rate of $350 (with house engineer provided) or $250 (for sessions with outside engineer). This is $150 off our normal rates.

- Sessions will be booked on a first come first serve basis and will only be available to self funded artists.

- Open days will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, and the SQ Blog.

- Please be patient – it is likely that there will be many weeks in which downtime is not available.

To be released: My First Earthquakes “Friction” (audio: Indie)

We’re stoked to announce that SF indie band My First Earthquake will be releasing their second full length album “Friction” on June 7, 2011. The record was tracked at Studio SQ a couple months ago by producer Anthony Molina and engineer John Flores (SQ). It was later mixed by Anthony in New York. Two tracks are available below along with a video shot by the band at SQ… enjoy!

Nice To See You:




We Float:




This Week’s Downtime

Unfortunately we have no downtime to report this week as we’re doing a very exciting / top secret equipment install (new post coming soon). Check back next Sunday for the following week’s downtime.


About SQ Downtime
Many of our clients fall into the indie/self release category of artistry. Over the last three years we’ve had the pleasure working with a number of great musicians who simply did not have the budget to pull off the type of recording they rightfully deserved. In view of this, we’ve decided to try something new:

- Every Sunday we will announce unbooked days for the upcoming week.

- They will be offered at a discounted rate of $350 (with house engineer provided) or $250 (for sessions with outside engineer). This is $150 off our normal rates.

- Sessions will be booked on a first come first serve basis and will only be available to self funded artists.

- Open days will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, and the SQ Blog.

- Please be patient – it is likely that there will be many weeks in which downtime is not available.

To be released: Cannons & Clouds “June” (audio: indie)

On May 3rd, 2011 Cannons & Clouds are releasing “June”, an aptly named EP of six rocking songs performed by the ensemble of six, many of whom, coincidentally, share birthdays in the sixth month of the year. Numbers aside, the EP marks new ground for the band as they embark on their upcoming west coast tour and prepare for a new full length album (set to release later this year). Their sound, both wistful and dynamic, is accentuated by slow-building acoustics, classical harp, and rich multi-part harmonies portraying unfeigned ballads and confessional narratives.

Credits: Studio SQ (tracking, mixing, and mastering by Jeremy Rosenblum), Fantasy Studios (tracking), David Gale (additional engineering). “June” is a 2 Channel Record release.

What Was Said:




River Parade:




Cannons & Clouds "June"

Return top