So you think you or your band is worth listening to over and over?
Recording Tips by Kevin Rose of Elevated Basement Studios
Some general things to do before recording or paying to record your fine tunes:
Practice. Sounds dumb, you’d be surprised…
Make sure your beginnings and endings aren’t all the same and every song doesn’t have a Spinal Tap ending. Unless you are Spinal Tap.
If you’re not in a prog-rock or jam band make sure your songs are short and to the point. Repeating things endlessly is helpful learning a second language but can make the ADD music listeners of today lose interest faster than your parents 401k.
If it doesn’t serve the song first and foremost it probably reflects more of your overdeveloped ego than your musical prowess. So ditch it…
Be prepared. New strings and a fresh intonation setup on all guitars before you show up. Mostly new strings on basses. If the studio has a well maintained kit, seriously think about using it. New drum heads are cool too… Insist on bringing your own touchy feely stuff i.e. Kick pedal, high hat stand and trash can lids.
Know the tempos of the songs before you start to record. It eliminates the possibility that nerves will translate into a band on meth playing ballads. It’s a cool concept, but not for everyone.
Don’t bring friends, enemies or significant others unless they are paying for it. Studio policy is usually fine with visitors but after the first entourage overload and wasted time/money most artists opt for the lone wolf concept.
If you have a cool engineer/producer that understands what you’re doing (hopefully this is the case) listen to them. Chances are they have your best interest in mind and have the experience/hindsight to help you out.
Make demos up until the real deal. Hearing yourself, even on a boom box, can be a real eye opener.
Your amp sounds way different blasting at your ankles than aimed at your ear. Remember this when placing your microphone.
Home recording and the democratization of audio can work to your advantage, it can also work against you. Don’t let the process get in the way of your art, make sure it enhances it. Choose the best method, establishment/non-establishment and people to get you there.
Above all else: Have a blast or you might as well be in lawncare.
