How to be Prepared for Recording in a Studio

Pre-Production
If the proper pre-production steps are taken prior to entering a studio/recording environment, there will be a much smoother workflow and the productivity of the experience will increase exponentially. One of the first things a band or artist should do is to try writing two to three times as many songs as what you are anticipating for the record. This will help whittle down the best ten or so songs instead of settling on a couple mediocre songs to fill space, not to mention providing the opportunity to discover new and possibly better ideas along the way. Start breaking down song structures, melodies, how songs flow from one to the next, etc., and ask yourself questions like, " Is this song cohesive with the overall vibe of the record? Can we improve on this drum groove or vocal melody? Does that part need to be there and is it helping the song?" Once the the final set of material is selected, it's time to whittle down yet again to shape up those songs into the the most complete and concise versions to date. This is the stage where a third party input (producer who isn't attached to the material) can really help cut some fat and tighten up the song structures. This would also be a good time to add/take away any last musical parts or vocal arrangements and try to make most of the final decisions, as there will almost always be things changed in the studio. Just knowing what you are taking into the studio and having a game plan blocked out will help your confidence and performance when you get there.

Performance
DRUMMERS: Your parts play a vital role in the recording process. Maybe I'm slightly biased because I'm a drummer, but if the drums/percussion aren't there sonically and performance-wise, you might as well start over or just call it a day. Considering the number of musical genres and approaches to percussion, it is hard to say that there is one way or another to tracking that is best for every scenario. It is about being comfortable in your environment so you are delivering the performance you know you can at a gig or at the rehearsal space. I have been in situations where the drummer needs all band members in the same room to feed off, or just the bass player, or like me, no one and nothing at all but a click in the headphones. That also brings me to my next topic…click track. As a general statement, I feel that every drummer should practice with a metronome and become very comfortable playing to one, at any tempo (slower tempos are the real killers). You are the backbone, and your inner meter is what will add (or take away) the intensity to drive the music, and when I say intensity, I don't just mean intense like Metallica or AC/DC. Some of the most intense performances I've heard have been a quiet passage in a song where there might just be driving eighth notes on the hats, but it was dynamic and perfect. Something that needs to be realized is that the best sounding drum recordings require not only the engineer to be on point with mic placement, preamp selection, drum selection/tuning and room placement, but also the drummer to know how to play the drum the way it's supposed to be played and deliver a performance suitable for that particular musical application or project. Lastly, new drum heads make all the difference in the world.

BASS: Get very comfortable playing alone with your drummer. You two are the foundation of what you are playing. At the end of the day, outside of the main vocal, you could strip down everything else and still be a functional ensemble. Think about the drummer's kick patterns, and try to arrange note changes and your basic rhythm structure based around that. Also, think about your articulation and reaction time. When you change notes/strings or mute for a pause in the song, your sound will tend to lag because you have bigger strings to mute and bass frequencies are more loose naturally, so keep that in mind and anticipate your changes a bit more. This will help tighten up the entire song, and you will blend better with the drums considering they are comprised mainly of a quick-attack transient.

GUITARS: You guys are the icing on the cake and the melody that dances around and plays off the vocal. At times you are also a big part of driving the music and its transitions. As with any other instrument, getting comfortable with a click track is important, because there may be times where the drum parts are throwing you off and it would best suit the situation to just play to a click for that riff/section. Know your equipment and plan out your parts. It can be much more musical to record with a delay or flange, etc. going straight in as opposed to applying it in post production. New strings are crucial..don't skimp when it comes to recording, and make sure to intonate your guitar before the session so your tuning is consistent and time isn't wasted on fixing those types of problems in the studio. Be willing to spend some time getting the proper tone from your amp or switching pickups. Sometimes the sound you thought was spot on is nowhere near the sound you can end up with if you take the time to experiment, although this comes back to how well you know your equipment. Guitars convey personality, so it is your responsibility to play with some and really make it musical and expressive. Keep your playing balanced..there are going to be times to shine, but knowing when to hold back and moderate is equally as impressive (same goes for drummers).

SINGERS: All eyes are on you. We need to believe the words you are singing. Go into the booth honest, because if it's contrived and artificial, it will be transparent and people will see right through you. Don't hesitate to prepare things to build an environment where you feel comfortable, whether it's candles or a diet Coke or just pure darkness. This is your time and it has to be just right. Think about the way you begin a phrase and how you end a word/note. Think about whether or not its appropriate to sustain a consonant sound as opposed to a vowel at times, or vice versa. Explore your voice and your range, and don't be afraid to experiment in the studio like I explained with guitars. Be willing to work with the producer or engineer to get the best possible take..sometimes that final pass will yield the magic vocal when you were ready to call it a night five takes ago. Much of this will seem commonplace if you are a seasoned vocalist, but it's always good to keep these things in mind. Do not rely on vocal tuning software! If you have the mindset that you can just go into the studio, sing three takes and leave it up to the engineer to work magic, then you are terribly misdirected and should really think about why you got involved in music to begin with. Remember, in most types of music, the vocals are the loudest and most up front in the mix and are what conveys the message, moves people emotionally and sells the record…or doesn't.

In summary, everything discussed in this article is intended to be a guide and by no means are these topics musical or studio law. Everyone has their own way of doing things, but these are certain practices that I have grown to embrace over the years and that work for me. I also understand that I only covered the core elements of a band or group, and realize that there are countless other instruments and musicians that take part in the recording process, however I wanted to keep this article somewhat concise and the principles broad. I hope these concepts are helpful and form a good basis for what to expect going into a professional recording environment.