Preparing for your recording session

April 7, 2011

Preparing for your upcoming recording session:

1. Guitar strings. New strings are highly recommended for any guitar or bass players. The definition and high end from new strings can really be apparent when recording. This will help stringed instruments sound ‘bright’ and ‘alive’.
2. Drum heads. New heads are also strongly recommended for much of the same reasons. The overall tone of a new head is not to be under appreciated! If you have still have those flabby heads from 5 years ago on – get some new ones.
3. Get plenty of rest. It might sound odd to suggest that rest and drinking water are important parts of a recording session, but, just like most things that require your mind and body to work together [often for extended periods of time], rest and hydration can really help you maximize your time and perform to the best of your abilities.
4. Be Prepared. Assuming you don’t have the resources to spend countless hours in the studio, rehearsal time is most important. Unless your plan is to experiment in the studio with arrangements, sounds, or tones [which is usually great too], rehearse your material well. A huge misconception of studio recording is that you can always ‘fix it in the mix’. While many fun and creative things can be done after the tracking phase, the performances that are initially captured and to be used will sound like what was played – good or bad.