Remember to relax. You have the incredible opportunity to do what you love and share it with the world. Breathe deep, think about how awesome that is, and put it all into the music.
First things first, call us for a tour and talk to our engineers. You are preparing to make a big commitment with your time and money, so make sure you’ve found the right match for you and your project needs. If you don’t vibe with the space you plan to record in there’s a good chance you’ll leave unsatisfied.
You can never be over prepared. The recording studio is a blank canvas with infinite possibilities. Unfortunately, your time there is limited. The artists who walk in the studio with a game plan are the ones that walk out with finished tracks.
Be well rehearsed and have your arrangements clearly defined before stepping into your session. Try your best to make demo recordings of your material before hitting the studio. This will help you to discern what you need to practice and get you in the right headspace for your upcoming session.
Commit to as many practice hours as you need to ensure that you feel like you can nail your performances on the first take. Pressure has a way of compounding in the studio. Vocal or instrumental passages that seemed easy at home can prove daunting when your focus drifts toward the clock and away from your performance.
Clients often think they’ll be able to breeze through recording six tracks a day without thinking about how much time goes into each step of the process. We don’t recommend trying to tackle more than two songs a day unless your project is tracking entirely live.
We often suggest separating the recording and mixing process into separate sessions. You can grind it all out from start to finish in one day, but we find that artists make the most informed decisions when they return to their music with rested ears and a fresh cup of coffee.
Communicating effectively with your band and engineer is crucial to your success in the studio. Do your best to cultivate a positive atmosphere in your session and encourage the musicians you are working with. You know you’re on the right track when you can ask bandmates to try another take without hurting their feelings.
Don’t be afraid to ask the engineer for what you need or stress out about expressing concerns about something not sounding right. The engineer wants you to succeed and leave with music you’re proud of and most issues can be addressed with simple solutions.
