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The
Recording Process & Tips here are just a few suggestions
on how to make your project go smoothly.
 Your
best bet when scheduling your session is to talk to the studio
personnel and give them as many details as possible about
what you are trying to accomplish with your recording. They
do this everyday and probably can help.
Decide
how many and which songs you'll be recording and have them
prepared BEFORE your session. Practice the songs straight
through, including intros, endings and dynamics. Work out
all your solos before you get to the studio. Be prepared to
play with headphones on.
If needed,
put a new set of strings on your guitar at least 2 days before
the session. Do not change them the day before, as they will
go out of tune quickly.
Check
your equipment for buzzes, ground irregularities, squeaks
and rattles, and fix any problems.
Get
a good night's sleep; don't stay up partying the night before
your session. [unless you have to...]
ARRIVE
ON TIME for your session. Remember - the clock starts at your
scheduled session time.
What to Bring to the Studio
Guitarist:
Bring your guitar, tuner, any effects pedals (don't forget
batteries), cables, picks and extra strings. We have amps
available for recording, but you are also welcome to bring
your own.
Bassist:
Bring your bass, any effects pedals, picks, cables and extra
strings. Bass guitar is almost always recorded directly through
the board, so a bass amp is not necessary.
Drummer:
At a minimum, bring your cymbals, snare, kick pedal and drumsticks.
We have drum kits available for recording. If you would like
to bring your own drum kit, remember it will add time to the
setup.
Munchies:
You may bring snacks or beverages to the session (within reason).
We also have bottled water, iced tea, soda, chips and candy
bars for sale, and there are also several restaurants in the
area that deliver (including a great Italian restaurant up
the street).
Consider
leaving friends and fans at home. Extra people may distract
you and in the long run cost you money in wasted studio time.
Our studio is not set up for large groups - we have "standing
room only" for anyone beyond a couple of guests.
In the Studio
Don't
be shy! Introduce all band members to the engineer and discuss
your plans for the session (songs, order, length, anything
out of the ordinary). Know what kind of sound you're going
for.
TUNE
YOUR INSTRUMENTS! Guitarists and bassists should all tune
with the same tuner, and drummers should tune their drumheads.
If it's out of tune for the performance, it will be out of
tune on your final mix.
When
ending a song, WAIT until the engineer tells you it's OK to
talk, which can seem like forever. Too often, someone yells
out "YEAH!!!" while the last note or cymbal is still
ringing and ruins the take. |
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DIRECTIONS
I-84 EAST: Take Exit 5 (in Connecticut) go straight
through stop sign at end of ramp. Make right at first light
(at Bottom of hill) onto RT 53 (Main St). Go straight through
5 lights. At 6th light make left onto Keeler St. Park in the
1st or 2nd lot on the left.
I-84 WEST: Take Exit 5 (in Connecticut)
make a right off the ramp onto RT 53 (Main Street). Go straight
through 6 lights. At the 7th light make a left onto Keeler
Street. Park in the 1st or 2nd lot on the left. |
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The
Mixing Session
The
best mix is achieved by an excellent recording. A "fixing
it in the mix" attitude will make it harder to get the
final product right. A common misconception is that a lot
of reverb or delay will make a bad track sound good. Nothing
could be further from the truth. An out-of-tune note with
a huge amount of reverb on it gives you a lot of out-of-tune
reverb! Remember: a bad track will always stick out. No amount
of effects or anything else will make it sound better. The
only way to fix it is to remove or replay it.
Mixing
has three stages. First, you go through each recorded track
and adjust the sound so that the instrument (or whatever)
sounds as good as possible. Secondly, the effects are added.
Effects are things like reverbs, delays, flangers, phasers,
compression, gating, and all the other wonderful "toys"
that modern technology has provided for us. The third part
of mixdown is the actual balancing of all the tracks together
to get the best blend. Levels will have to be adjusted, and
some tracks will have to be turned off and on at particular
times during the song.
Your
most important asset in the mixing session is having "fresh
ears." Get a good night's sleep and make sure your ears
are rested before the mixing session.
Your
worst enemy at the mixing session is a short attention span.
The number one mistake bands make when mixing is losing interest
halfway through mixing the first song, goofing off for the
rest of the mixing session assuming the engineer will take
over and make all of the mixing decisions for them, then complaining
later that the mix isn't what they wanted. Remember that this
is YOUR mix - be prepared to sit still for a long time and
hear your songs over and over and over again. Stay involved.
Some Final Things to Remember
Live
sound and recorded sound are two completely different worlds.
The sound you have when you play live will change when you
play in a studio.
The
quality of your recording is directly related to the quality
of your instruments. In other words, a crappy drumset or guitar
will still sound like a crappy drumset or guitar no matter
how good the engineer or recording equipment. Use the best
quality instruments you can! Also, don't expect all this wiz-bang
technology to make something sound fantastic if its badly
played. You can't polish a turd!
Above
all, treat the engineer with respect. His job is to make you
sound good - do what you can to make that job easier. Remember
that he is the expert on his equipment, placement of people
and mics, and how best to capture the sound. Follow his instructions
on where to stand, what not to move or touch, when it is and
isn't OK to play or talk, etc. Temper tantrums, rough-housing,
obnoxious yelling, drunkenness, and drug use are all unacceptable
behavior in the studio.
Guidelines
for Booking Time
We take pride in our clean, comfortable, spaces. Your respect
for the following guidelines will enable us to be of better
service to you and our fellow artists.
Payment for all sessions and goods must be made with cash,
or money order, on the day services are rendered, unless other
arrangements have been made ahead of time.
For the sake of everyones sanity, please carry out any beverages,
or other rubish that you carry in. Recycle bins and garbage
dumpsters are at your disposal...
For
the health and safety of our clients, smoking is prohibited
in all of our studios. |
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Studio E | 155 Main Street | Danbury CT 06810 | T 203 702 4423 | F 203 702 4426 |
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