Whether you’ve recorded in a studio hundreds of times or you’ve never even stepped inside one before, it’s important to be prepared when you go to record in a professional studio.
Below are 10 ways you can prepare for a successful day at a studio.
1 - Set a goal for the session
Setting goals is an important part of life. They help you stay on track and subconsciously work towards where you want to be.
When you set goals for a studio session, write down what you want to achieve. This will help you keep your priorities in focus.
Some examples of goals you could set for your session:
Today I am going to record 3 albums
I am going to mix 4 songs today
We’re going to finish recording the album today
2 - Finish writing songs before the session
It’s always a good idea to finish writing your songs before going to the studio. Otherwise, you will be using precious recording time to write songs, something you could be doing at home, not spending lots of money.
Come prepared and don’t waste your time or other’s by writing your songs before you get there.
3 - Check to make sure you equipment works
Have someone look over your instruments, amps, and any other equipment to make sure they are all working condition. Again, you do not want to be wasting studio time on things that could’ve been done beforehand.
4 - Have working backups of your files
Backups will be a big help if you ever lose the primary files that your work was on. It may seem like a lot, but it's a good idea to have 3 copies of your files. One to take with you to the studio, one at home, and one to be backed up onto the cloud so you can access it no matter where you are.
5 - Compatibility
Don’t assume the studio you are going to will have the same plugins that you use at home. In order to have a successful day at a studio, make sure there is compatibility between your working set-up and the studio set-up.
6 - BYOS (bring your own snacks)
Food creates energy which is something you’ll need a lot of for a day at the studio. The studio you’re going to will most-likely not offer you snacks and don’t bank on there being food nearby. Be prepared and bring your own snacks and water.
7 - Rehearse
If you have your songs written, you should have rehearsed as well. Making sure that everyone who is recording has the parts down will help the session flow as effortlessly as possible.
8 - Research the studio
Research the following before going to a session:
The DAW you’ll be working with
The sound engineer/producer
Reputation of the studio
Any additional equipment you might need
Directions to the studio
9 - Mix on Another Day
If you can, avoiding mixing any recordings on the same day. The songs should be mixed on another day so they sound fresh and you can hear any mistakes better. If you mix on the same day as recording, tiredness might cloud your judgement.
10 - Aim for Excellence
When you go to a studio, you create songs that you want to release to the rest of the world, so make sure you are putting your best effort in.
Take your time getting the best takes and focus on getting a good sound. If you prepare, you should be able to focus on making good music instead of all the little things that could go wrong.
Written By: Leah Gerber
Conclusion
Preparing will contribute largely to your success in the studio so don’t overlook it. So take some extra time to rehearse, check your equipment, and research the studio.
Have you recorded in a professional studio before? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below.
