Preparing for a recording session
- October 3rd, 2011
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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):
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
