HOW TO NAVIGATE YOUR FIRST TIME AT A PROFESSIONAL RECORDING STUDIO
It’s your first time at a professional recording studio, and not knowing what to expect can be really nerve-racking. This goes for anything that you’re doing for the first time; a new workout class, a new job, or even a first date. In this article, we will walk you through how to best prepare for your first studio session, and some tips on how to navigate this new experience.
TALK WITH THE ENGINEERS PRIOR TO YOUR SESSION
This is probably one of the best things you can do to make sure you and the engineers are getting the most out of your session. This is your opportunity to tell them some key information on how they should prepare for your arrival.
Are you wanting to track your record one instrument at a time? Or are you looking to record it live as a full band?
If you’re tracking your record, what instruments do you want to record? If you’re recording live, what instruments are involved?
Answering these questions will help the engineer make sure that the studio is completely set up for your session before you step foot in the studio.
If you have any demos, send those over to the engineers so they can listen prior to your session and get an idea of the tracks. Basically, provide them with any information about your tracks, how they need to be recorded, and your goals for the final product. Just be clear with the engineers. You can never provide them with too much information, so don’t be afraid to be upfront and honest about what you want out of the session.
TIP: If you change your mind about what you want out of your upcoming session, do not be scared to send them another email, or give them another call! They will definitely appreciate it because it will save them from possibly preparing for the wrong thing.
WHEN YOU FIRST SHOW UP, GET TO KNOW THE ENGINEERS AND GET COMFORTABLE
Seeing that this is your first time in a professional recording studio, you will probably not walk in and immediately know where to start. That’s ok because this is when the engineers take over and make you comfortable in their space.
You will likely start by sitting down with the engineers, introducing yourselves, and getting to know each other a bit. They will run through the schedule for the day, based on the information you sent them prior to the session, to ensure that you are all on the same page. This time also allows the engineers to ask any clarifying questions and for you to give a deeper explanation of your vision.
START RECORDING
Once everyone feels that they are on the same page about the project, you will start recording.
If you are tracking your record, the engineers will ask whether you prefer the live room or control room. Some musicians feel more comfortable being isolated in the live room with headphones, while others may feel more comfortable in the control room listening through the speakers. If you are wearing headphones while tracking, the studio will have a headphone mixer that will allow you to create your ideal mix within your headphones.
This is so important because every musician likes a different mix depending on what they’re tracking. Furthermore, finding your ideal mix will actually help you reach your best performance. For example, if you are a drummer, you’re going to want to hear your click so you can ensure you’re keeping time during your takes. If you can’t hear your click, make sure you raise the click in your mix. If you can’t figure out how to raise the click using the headphone mixer, ask the engineer to help you.
Having the right mix will really make for the best recording experience and outcome. Once you are plugged in and have the right mix, you are ready to record.
MAINTAIN CLEAR COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT YOUR SESSION
Communication is definitely a recurring point throughout this article, but it is a point that cannot be stressed enough. The engineers are there to help you and will not be upset if you are asking questions or aren’t satisfied with how something sounds.
For example, if you are trying to achieve a specific guitar sound, and you decide that the one that you’re recording isn’t really what you are going for, let the engineers know. This is something that likely cannot be fixed in post production, so it is best to communicate this during recording and try to fix it during your recording session.
The engineers want to help you achieve your perfect vision for your track, so they will not be upset if you want to change something. Remember, this session is about your track, so communicate properly to ensure it comes out how you want.
TIP: If you’re nervous about asking a lot of questions, let the engineers know upfront that this is your first time in a professional recording studio! If they know it’s your first time, they will know to explain things in more detail so you won’t have to ask as many questions.
WRAPPING UP
After a full day of recording, you are probably tired, excited, and proud of what you achieved. At the end of your session, you will head back to the control room and listen to the work you did. This is when you can tell the engineers if anything needs to be adjusted (i.e., lower the guitar riff, raise the vocals, etc...).
What happens next really depends on your plans with the track. If you plan on coming in for some more studio days to record, they will likely send you an .mp3 bounce so you can listen to it until your next session. If you are planning on releasing this as is, and need no further production, they can send you a final stereo mix as a .wav file. If you are planning on handing this track over to a mix engineer, they can bounce every track for you separately as .wav files.
In many studios, including TRS, the sound engineers double as mix engineers. If you plan to use the same engineer you’re working with to mix your track, let them know and they will likely want to have a discussion about the sound you’re going for!