First time in a recording studio- what should I expect?
Discussion
For an important day next year I've decided to record a cover of one of the songs on the playlist the o/h has picked, Patience by GnR. I've never been to a recording studio before so what might catch me out? Or would I be wasting money and be better off plugging our PA mixer into the iMac and recording at home?
Any insights would be appreciated.
T
Any insights would be appreciated.
T
A lot of hanging around, in my experience. But then I was more of a side-man anyway. 
The important thing is to be extremely focused. You need to know exactly what you want to do. Write down a list of all of the instruments you need on the track, how many guitar parts, vocal tracks, everything. Also make sure you've got all of the equipment you need with you to do what you want. The guy who is running the desk will be more of an engineer than a producer so he'll just follow your lead.
Make sure you have a copy of the original song with you if you want to get the recording close to that, or if not then try and find something that closely matches the style you are after, to give the guy a good idea of what you're looking for.
The important thing is to be extremely focused. You need to know exactly what you want to do. Write down a list of all of the instruments you need on the track, how many guitar parts, vocal tracks, everything. Also make sure you've got all of the equipment you need with you to do what you want. The guy who is running the desk will be more of an engineer than a producer so he'll just follow your lead.
Make sure you have a copy of the original song with you if you want to get the recording close to that, or if not then try and find something that closely matches the style you are after, to give the guy a good idea of what you're looking for.
Lots of hanging around whilst the perfect bass drum sound is found then ditto for every other drum and cymbal, followed by dialling in a guitar tone then the same palaver for bass especially if the bassist plays anything other than a Fender Precision.
Next, recording the drum part against a click track which could take a while if your drummer does not keep perfect time followed by laying down the bass line and so on and so forth.
Unless you are singing over a pre recorded backing track the process can be tedious in the extreme.
Next, recording the drum part against a click track which could take a while if your drummer does not keep perfect time followed by laying down the bass line and so on and so forth.
Unless you are singing over a pre recorded backing track the process can be tedious in the extreme.
Make sure that everyone knows their parts inside out (fnaarr). We are supposed to be recording some tracks at some point in feb march, we'd looked at Studios but have a friend with all the right software so he's going to set up and engineer, we'll use the windmill we rehearse in as I'm sure I'm going to find some amazing effect from curved walls and mic placement.
Do you have a band, playing all the bits? Or is it just you doing it acoustic? If it's just you then practice loads and remember you'll most likely be asked to do it in seperate takes. Guitar, then voice. If it's with a band, then the more you practice, the easier the day will be. If it's with a band, make sure everybody is kept well fed. Make sure of this - doesn't sound much, but it's crucial. Take spares of everything you can. Everybody's first take is likely to be their best.
Recording the PA mix will sound s
t!!
What is the line-up of the band? What's the style of music? You should pick a studio that is best suited to the style of music/band line-up, i.e. you dont want to go to an idustrial unit in Hayes with 100 tracks of logic and loads of plug-ins, a recoding space the size of a cupboard with an engineer that only
records rap acts, who has never seen a real drum kit if you are a 'real' band. If its just you and an acoustic then the recording room is very inportant, less so if its synth based type act.
The most important thing is to learn the song properly, know all the parts you need to play, know the arrangement. Remember that you will hear ever little mistake, you are not playing at a gig with all your pissed up mates saying you sound great and everything is lost in noise and atmosphere, you are making something that will be played over and over, so you want as few mistakes as possible. Time will be against you so knowing what to play, arrangements, parts etc. before you go in will mean you come out with the best result and make the best use of the time there and of your money.
I would go to the studio before hand if you can, to look around, meet the engineer, hear some of their other recordings and check it out before you book.
t!!What is the line-up of the band? What's the style of music? You should pick a studio that is best suited to the style of music/band line-up, i.e. you dont want to go to an idustrial unit in Hayes with 100 tracks of logic and loads of plug-ins, a recoding space the size of a cupboard with an engineer that only
records rap acts, who has never seen a real drum kit if you are a 'real' band. If its just you and an acoustic then the recording room is very inportant, less so if its synth based type act.
The most important thing is to learn the song properly, know all the parts you need to play, know the arrangement. Remember that you will hear ever little mistake, you are not playing at a gig with all your pissed up mates saying you sound great and everything is lost in noise and atmosphere, you are making something that will be played over and over, so you want as few mistakes as possible. Time will be against you so knowing what to play, arrangements, parts etc. before you go in will mean you come out with the best result and make the best use of the time there and of your money.
I would go to the studio before hand if you can, to look around, meet the engineer, hear some of their other recordings and check it out before you book.
Make sure all your gear is in tip top working order - no duff leads or flat batteries, plenty of spare strings etc. Just as important, make sure you a rehearsed and know your songs inside out. Overall it can be a very laborious process, but try to enjoy it. Oh yeah, and stay off the piss!
Sorry to be missing from the thread, been without net access.
It will be just two of us, both acoustic guitars. No drums, but we're used to gigging as a duo so that shouldn't be an issue. I'm doing the vocal, but will have to record the track first then put the vocal over the top as I can't yet sing and play it.
Song is Patience by GnR, original is 3 acoustic guitars with the two rhythm parts panned left and right and the lead down the middle. Vocal is Axl but not at his highest scream so I can get to the notes.
The intonation on the guitars is as good as it can be given that they're both artificial ivory saddles. Mine has a Fishman Matrix Blend in it, the other has a magnetic soundhole pickup in it. I assume the best approach is to take a line straight from the guitar to the desk rather than using an acoustic amp to colour the sound before the desk?
It will be just two of us, both acoustic guitars. No drums, but we're used to gigging as a duo so that shouldn't be an issue. I'm doing the vocal, but will have to record the track first then put the vocal over the top as I can't yet sing and play it.
Song is Patience by GnR, original is 3 acoustic guitars with the two rhythm parts panned left and right and the lead down the middle. Vocal is Axl but not at his highest scream so I can get to the notes.
The intonation on the guitars is as good as it can be given that they're both artificial ivory saddles. Mine has a Fishman Matrix Blend in it, the other has a magnetic soundhole pickup in it. I assume the best approach is to take a line straight from the guitar to the desk rather than using an acoustic amp to colour the sound before the desk?
Also - when you're doing the final mix, make sure you play it through a crap system if you can.
Not everyone will be listening in a control room with studio monitors.
In the old days, we'd stick it on cassette and have a listen on a rubbish car stereo - if it sounded good there, it would sound good anywhere.
Not everyone will be listening in a control room with studio monitors.
In the old days, we'd stick it on cassette and have a listen on a rubbish car stereo - if it sounded good there, it would sound good anywhere.
As advised above, very wisely, take the stems with you when you leave. The tracks, separated with no effects, as 44.1 WAV or AIFF files. That way you can fiddle with them later.
They will have a set of Yamaha NS10 monitors somewhere in the studio. Reference your mixes on those if you can.
They will have a set of Yamaha NS10 monitors somewhere in the studio. Reference your mixes on those if you can.
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