MAKING MUSIC IN A RECORDING STUDIO

So you found the divine inspiration to write a song and you want to share it with the world, or at least with your friends and family. Excellent! To me, this is what it is all about. Being a great player means very little without using your skills to create music. I have been lucky enough to record music from back in the 80’s, long before Pro-Tools was invented, right up until now with the latest technology. Watching a 2” multi-track tape player stop and start and listening to the clanking of its gears as it moved the tape was hypnotizing. It made me feel like a real pro musician. There are many decisions and preparations you need to make before you are standing in front of a microphone in an isolation booth ready to record. Here are some things to consider.

So you love the song you have written enough to go through the process of making a quality recording of it. You can do amazing things with your lap top and pre-recorded beats and samples BUT if you are going to have real vocals and instruments AND REALLY CREATE MUSIC, READ ON. Mixing someone else’s samples on a computer and calling yourself a songwriter is not my thing.

Record the song on your phone and listen as many times as it takes to where you are sure of the arrangement, tempo and the tone of the instruments. It is important of have a preconceived notion of how the song should sound so you can explain it to other people who may be helping you. The more you listen to it, the more the proper arrangement will boil to the surface. Really listen to solos and instrumental breaks and be sure they are adding to the song. If a big guitar solo is in the song because you like hearing your guitar, maybe reconsider. Is a drum fill in the song because it builds energy in the song and supports the rhythm and direction of the song, or is it there because your drummer is playing at his maximum output and want to show that he can pull it off? Can each musician play his part in time? Make sure each player can play their part to a click track before you record. Everything in the recording should support the song.

So you are pretty confident about the song and its arrangement. That’s great, now a tough question is in front of you. Should you DIY or go to the trouble and expense of finding a recording to studio. I have gone both ways on this. You can buy an interface for your computer and multi-track recording software for pretty cheap. In the 90’s I sacrificed 4 months of my life and recorded an album. I learned lots about the process, and after mastering by a professional, it came out pretty good. I had the opportunity to have the program manager of our city’s biggest rock station listen to it and consider it for their playlist (those were the days). He said that the recording was still not up to their standards.

So my opinion is that if you have the extra money to buy recording software, go for it. You can use it to make high quality demos. There is no substitute for an experienced engineer who really knows how to use the software and countless plug-ins. There is no substitute for professional microphones and acoustically balanced rooms to record in! When I record acoustic guitar at Alchemy Studios, the signal path includes three microphones plus the signal from the pickup in the guitar. I focus on playing the part properly and leave the recording engineering to the engineer.

First, you need to pick a studio. Base this decision on affordability, and through your discussion with them about your project, their ability to share the creative process with you. When you are talking with the engineer, gauge whether he will understand you and help you create your music.

Most studios charge by the hour and you will want to be working with a studio that will help you accomplish you goals within your budget. It is exciting to be there. There is lots of cool gear to look at. The best part is really settling in to the creative environment and leaving every distraction behind, except for the creative process and focus on the song.

Have faith in the engineer who will manage the session. You may record the whole band at once in a “live recording” format or go instrument by instrument. The drums are a big hurdle to get over. They have to be played in time, at the right tempo and recorded properly. Be patient. You can depend on the engineer for expertise on mic placement and proper recording. Check your tuning! In case you missed it, check your tuning! You will be listening to this song for a long time and will always notice tuning issues. The studio isn’t a place for egos, just do your best and play or sing the part until you get it right. This is not a place for judgement. Everyone in the room is after the same thing, creating music.

Once you have recorded your tracks, it is best to take home a rough mix so you can give your ears a rest. Listen to the song on different devices and come back to the engineer with parts that need to be fixed up and suggestions for the mix. I listen to our rough mixes though the speaker my phone, through head phones, though my truck stereo and through an old Bose player. The mix should sound good on every device before it is complete.

Whether you put your song on streaming services, share it with your friends on social media, or just keep it to yourself, you will have the recording forever. There is really nothing like it, because it captures your ideas and story in the lyrics and the emotion behind the lyrics in the music. It also encapsulates your musical and writing skills at the time it was recorded.

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