Big Noise Recording Studio - Recording Tips
1. PRE-PRODUCTION -TIME IS MONEY. Do as much of pre-production as you can before recording. This involves, song arrangement, song tempo ,instrumentation, key, etc. making sure everone knows their parts, harmonies, solos, what you will need to overdub and such like. This helps to maximise the amount of time for tracking and is best done during rehearsals.
2. GUITARISTS - Re-string your guitar before coming into the studio and ensure they are played in. Dead strings give you a dead sound. Nothing can change this except a new set of strings. Its well worth spending a few extra quid for a better result. Also, check to make sure the intonation is correct. Bring a 2nd guitar for a different sound, great idea for overdubs.
3. DRUMMERS - Re-skin if needed. Dead heads give a dead sound and are harder to play. New heads may cost a bit but is well worth it to get the sound you want. Tune your drums the night before the session. They may need a tweek in the studio but wont take as long as a full tune. Check for squeeky pedals, stands & stools. WD-40 does the trick.
4. VOCALISTS - Warm up your vocal chords. Your voice is your instrument, warm up is essential if you're not going to do damage. Know the lyrics. Avoid reading them. Knowing the lyrics gives you more room and freedom to go for expression. Practice before a take. Oh yes, and warm up. DONT use throat pastills that are used for sore throats as these numb the pain & if you do damage your chords, you wont feel it and can do permant damage. Oh yes, and warm up.
5. STIMULATION - If you are partial to drugs or alcohol, DON'T. They only serve to hinder your performance despite what you may think at the time. If you partake before or during the session, the results will probably be far worse than you think. You need a clear head to make sure you have the results you want
6. YOUR SOUND - Sort out your sounds during the tracking to get the sound you want . The better the recorded sound, the better the finished mix. Bear in mind that what goes in, comes out. We don't "FIX IT IN THE MIX". If you record a crap sound, thats what you're gonna end up with.
7. RECORDING - Bring some CD's so the engineer has a reference for your music. If you're going to record to a click track, ensure the drummer and bassist can. This isn't easy if you're not used to it and takes practice. Make sure you have the mix in the cans so you can hear what you need to. If you can't, tell the engineer. Don't allow friends and family into the session. You can be distracted from the recording and they may swing your opinion of the overall sound your vision of how you want it to be.
8. MIXING - Bring some CD's to the mix session so the engineer has a reference to what you want your music to sound like. During the mixing, do let the engineer know what you want, but please bear in mind that too many different opinions on how it should sound can cause conflict within the band and will easily wreck a mix.
9. GENERAL - Practice and fine tune your songs before the session. Turn up on time, you're paying for the time so use it. Bring spares of sticks, strings, plectrums, leads, drum heads etc. All mobile phones should be switched off during recording and mixing. Many a great take has been ruined by mobile phones.
10. ENJOY IT - One of the most important things that tends to get forgotten is to enjoy the session and put energy into the playing. This makes the end result sound bigger and more exiting.