Recording your music in the studio can be nerve-racking if you don’t know how to properly prepare for the session. So to make that experience as pleasant as possible, in this article, the mixing and mastering engineer EKmixmaster will tell us about how to get ready for recording. We will also discuss some things you need to deal with before you plan your session.
Practice and make a demo track
Before you even step into the studio, you have to ensure that the performance of each band member is perfect. Studio session is not the right time to mess up. If you have to spend more time in the studio, you will have to pay extra. But just practicing is not enough. Often when you practice, it is hard to hear your mistakes because of other sounds around you. But if you make a demo, you can easily hear your missteps. You don’t have to get fancy equipment to create a decent demo. The demo track is the closest you can get to the studio recording, so make sure you are happy with it before you plan your session. It is also good to get used to the feeling of being in front of the mic. Believe it or not, many musicians can play everything perfectly in the practice room, but as soon as the audio engineer hits the record button, they start messing up. So you should learn your part to the point when it becomes muscle memory.
Do your research
While choosing the facility that is perfect for your needs, pay attention to their audio engineers. Because after all, the audio engineer is the one who will be there for you every step of the way. Also, see if their rooms are big enough to fit all of your band members. Pay attention to what kind of equipment they use and what facilities they have nearby. It is important because if they don’t have any cafes or fast food restaurants nearby, you will have to bring lunch with you. It is in your interest to keep everyone well-fed and in a good mood. People tend to be cranky when they are hungry.
Be prepared
When you go into the studio, it is very important to keep track of the time because you pay for every hour, and it is in your best interest to get the most out of your time there. Do all the extra work. Plan what should be the priority, make click tracks, and tune your instruments before you start the session. Ask every member of your band if they are available.
Contact your producer beforehand
Make sure he understands what kind of sound you want to achieve. He can also do some pre-production work and create guide tracks. You can even send him your demo to show what to expect from the song. This kind of preliminary work will save you time and money.
Prepare your instruments
It is ok to use the instruments supplied by the studio, but use this option only in case of emergency. Because it is better to use the instrument you are familiar with. Also, take some time to get your instruments in the best shape. Change your guitar strings, reskin drums, tune everything. And check the tuning right before the recording to get the best sound out of each instrument.
We hope that you found these tips helpful and wish you to have a great session!