Success in the Recording Studio
“Lights, camera, action, and… oh, that was a bad take.”
We all have dreams of hitting the recording studio and making our BIG HIT RECORD! Thousands of songs are released every single day and very few burst through the noise to gain a few plays on Spotify. Even fewer make it big time, catapulting artists to star-studded careers and a lifetime of living on royalties.
Don’t give up on the dream, but in the mean time, here’s some things I would recommend doing before the recording studio and during the session to keep your sanity and sound your best.
PRACTICE
Don’t just practice your part. Practice scales, practice chords progressions, practice random cover songs. Play extra every single day. Don’t slack off in the weeks leading up to the session—you need to be “in the zone” and “on” when you get to the studio. Practice alone and with a band. Practice with a METRONOME so that it’s easier to work with a click track.
SET GOALS
Are you recording an entire album in 3 days? Are you trying to capture a sound or go for a certain aesthetic? Have one or two clear goals in mind for your session.
Listen to music and write down your favorite ideas
The drum fill at 0:32 seconds. The guitar riff in the bridge. The mixing of the band for the whole song. The overall tone. Make notes on what you like so that you can tell your engineer some things you had in mind. Your engineer is a genius but they’re not a mind reader.
Be hard on yourself first, on others second… or never.
The studio is not the time to suddenly have high expectations of your bandmates. You need to communicate practice expectations far before the studio time. Everyone is vulnerable in the studio and most of the time not feeling confident as they attempt their part for the 1,000th time. Emotions are raw as everyone tries to give their best performance. Don’t project your insecurities onto others. Be supportive. Encourage others to strive for their best but don’t push too hard.
Eat healthy, drink water, and exercise.
Remember, this is work, and the brain needs to rest. The body needs to move. You’ll be sitting all day or in a small room so get some fresh air when you can. Take breaks from the band so that you can have some alone time.
Change your strings a few days beforehand and bring extra.
Enough said!
Enjoy the process.
Consider the cost of recording “tuition”. You’re learning how to create music for others, and with others. It’s a privilege to get to make music so don’t forget to pause and enjoy.