Studio Preparation Printable text version A comprehensive guide to preparing for your session at Mcmix Recording Studios The following guidelines come from years of experience helping artists prepare for recording in a professional studio environment. These are by no means concrete rules but only suggestions and insights from our experience of making records. Our goal in presenting these guidelines is to make you familiar with the process so you can focus on your performance and creativity. We're sure this list leaves some questions unanswered, so feel free to call us to discuss your specific situation. 1) Always plan to do fewer songs rather than a lot of songs quickly. There is nothing worse than having lots of songs you are embarrassed to play for people, and nothing more satisfying than listening to a song you are completely pleased with. Remember, if it was easy, everybody would do it. Quality takes time. 2) Focus on tight bass and drums. It is critical that these two players have a "locked" performance. During the initial tracking session, view all the other tracks as support for an energetic, tight drum and bass pass. If the other instruments nail a "keeper" part, consider it a blessing. Have the drum and bass players hold an extra rehearsals. Plan to overdub other parts to focus strictly on their performance, if possible. 3) Analyze your song structure. Look for spice and other elements that will make the track more interesting. This could include percussion, background harmony parts, sound effects, guitar/key fills, etc. Be sure to ask the engineer for input. 4) Gear checklist. Bring with you: All amps/fx pedals/processors you could possibly use. Remember, the "best sounding" instrument/sound may not be the best for the track. All guitars, keyboards and their stands . Tuner, Batteries, Capo, Picks. Percussion (shaker, tambourine, congas, bongos, etc.) Drummers: Favorite snare drums or cymbals Keyboard: stands, rigs or setps Guitar: stands, rigs or setups 5) Guitar and bass players: NEW STRINGS (at least a day before your session). 6) Drummers: NEW HEADS (break them in a little before the session), clean cymbals. TUNE YOUR DRUMS. Our engineers are able to assist your drummer with this if necesary. 7) Typical session log: Although it's NEVER the same for every song or band, here is a typical scenario: Take 1: Levels for engineer - check headphone mix, players recall parts and generally "warm up." Take 2: Parts are there but not as tight as necessary. Take 3: This one is picked over by the producer, engineer, and band members and suggestions might be offered to players. Try and keep an open mind. Take 4: Performance is usually there and tight. Take 5: Try to top #4. Compare these two, keep best take. Movin on to the next song... 8) Mcmix Studios has done everything from "live" to two track recording, to extreme production multitrack mixing. However, here is the average we see clients spend on their per-song projects. Again, every project is different...(times are approximate per song) 1 -1.5 hours for main instruments (piano, bass, drums, gtr) 1 -2 hours for overdubs (second and third gtrs, keyboard overdubs, etc.) 1 -2 hours for vocals (lead vocals, secondary vocals) 1 -2 hours for background vocals (ensemble vocals, choirs) .5 -1 hours for adding spice (percussion / fx, strings, extra instruments) 2 -4 hours for mix 9) Be prepared to spend time allowing the engineer to "get sounds", including changing microphones, microphone placement, drum tuning, player placement, etc. Our engineers are quick and knowlegable. Remember, they are trying to hear the whole sonic picture and are taking care of many details you may not think of. Time spent in a tracking session getting a great sound helps speed up mix time, reducing time spent attempting to "fix" poor sounds. Never "fix it in the mix" unless absolutely necessary. Be assured, the session will go very quickly once the engineer is satisfied with all the sound and technical issues. 10) Practice and perform to a click track or metronome when possible. Practicing to a metronome can really tighten up a band. Start practicing with a click track now. The studio reveals, in extreme detail, any tempo inconsistencies. The studio will provide you a click track if necessary. 11) Take 5-minute breaks often. Some of the best takes happen directly following a short, refreshing break. Don't work yourself to the bone and expect your best work. A relaxed easy-going atmosphere will inspire those around you to better performances. 12) It is usually recommended not to bring friends to the main tracking session. This is a time when the band needs to focus on each other. This is not the time to shoot your next music video or show off to your friends. Besides, your new girlfriend isn't going to be that impressed when she see's it takes you 2 hours to get that "Hot" lick just right. This is teamwork time. 13) Utilize the studio lounge. If you're not actively involved in the tracking and mixing, socialize in the lounge. Allow the participants to fully concentrate in the critical listening environment. 14) Headphone mix. Your engineer will work with you on your headphone mix. However, you won't hear your instrument in the headphones as you're used to hearing it live. Headphone mixes are a unique world. Our engineers can create other worlds inside those cans. It may take some getting used to. Try lifting a headphone off one ear to hear yourself better. This also helps with tuning when recording vocal overdubs. 15) Refrain from asking an engineer to mix at the end of a tracking or overdub session. Unless absolutely neccesary, try and schedule a separate mixing session. Approach a mix session with fresh engineer ears and ideas. 16) Provide the engineer and all band members copies of the lyric sheets for notes and reference. This will be more helpful than you will ever know. 17) Be prepared to be in the studio for a certain amount of time and to spend a certain amount of money. Discuss your expectations with your engineer so everyone's on the same page. Be realistic, Music is work and costs money. A good business attitude will help you all along the way. The engineer will work with you to keep the project within the time goals you have set. This prevents the distraction of worrying about how much it's going to cost. During the session, your primary goal should be to keep your focus on the creative process, not the administrative and financial. And remember, making copies for the group is still engineering, so it's still on the clock. 18) Begin tracking easy songs first. As you begin to relax and fall into a groove, the more difficult songs will come easier. 19) Tuning OFTEN is important. Even if you think you're in tune, check it -- especially after leads or songs requiring a CAPO. Tune befor EVERY take 20) Allow the engineer to make suggestions concerning your sounds. For example: You may love the sound of your guitar cabinet with the bass EQ cranked, but the engineer is trained to view how the sounds fit into the mix and to look for sounds competing for the same frequency spectrum. He may explain that the bass boost in your cabinet will compete with the bass guitar in the mix and recommend a more neutral bass setting. This could apply to any instrument. The goal is not to make each instrument sound great by itself but to sound great in a mix with many other elements. 21) Finally, at all cost, keep it fun. It will translate into the best finished product. The more prepared you are, the more fun the session will be! Work through creative differences outside the studio and if tensions rise in the session, take evasive action. Move on to the next song and come back to the one you're having trouble with or take a break. Mcmix Production Services Inc. 2878 Jonquil Drive Smyrna, GA 30080 (770) 436-9620 (770) 436-1990 FAX http://www.mcmix.com Email: mcmix@mcmix.com