Other Stuff to Think About:
If you’re a songwriter working alone, and the music is not to be performed by a self-contained band, it's often cheaper in the long run to spend the money up front on “really good” players with experience in the studio, rather than spending more money in editing and mixing where there tends to be lots of …cutting, pasting, moving and wishing this or that phrase was more solid (that’s call “damage control”). That said, many great recordings have been “one-man” efforts.
At the Rhythm Room a great deal can be done with computer with technology to enhance the music. However, tracks are usually better and often faster (think - less expensive) if someone is willing to say, “lets get someone who can to this better.” This business is about getting the best tracks possible with the best players available. DON’T DEPEND ON THE TECHNOLOGY; it is not a substitute for musicianship. Technology helps you make a record, it can do wonders and fix lots of stuff, but if you depend on it to make you a record, the record may be less than you imagine. Be rehearsed and have the clearest idea you can get of how a song goes.
If the project is a “band” project, the players are set and there will be no outside help, it will be tremendously beneficial to everyone if some time is spent recording in a more private setting (whatever space or equipment happens to be around will do) to see how the playing and the songs work. Unless you have a nice rehearsal recording setup, don’t try to see how the guitar or drums etc. “sound” on your recording, let that happen at the studio.
Prepare
-Be well rehearsed!
-Depending on what style of music is involved, its often helpful to have solos and harmony parts worked ---
-out in advance. It's not as spontaneous, but it saves time. You choose.
-Be sure you know and can discuss with the engineer what is to be accomplished at each session.
-Arrive ready to do things as planned (even though plans may change).
-Guitarists and bassists should have new strings on their instruments.
-A drummer should probably have new and broken in heads.
-Keyboard players should have a thorough knowledge of the MIDI protocol of their instrument so it can ---be more easily integrated into the system.
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You probably already know this, but…
BE REALISTIC or at least open to discussion. This process is usually lots of fun even though it is a lot of work. Some folks love this environment and thrive in it. Other people get very nervous or find it tedious. In the interest of having some fun, having a good session and making good music, try to think ahead about the things that could make a great day rough…
We're happy to work with whatever you bring, but...
-If a guitar or bass doesn’t really play in tune, fix it or don’t use it.
-If a keyboard doesn’t really feel right or make the sound you want, find one that does.
-If a drum set rattles or the kick pedal squeaks, fix it.
-Don’t expect to use a pickup from an acoustic guitar and get the best recording that instrument has
-to offer. It is extremely rare that a pickup sounds as good as a wooden guitar with a good microphone.
-After recording yourself at rehearsal, have a clear idea of where your songs are going stylistically.
-Don’t hope to sound like Jimi Hendrix or sing like Whitney Houston if you’ve been playing in the style of Merle
Haggard or the Eagles all your life.
-If it's not up to the standard of a serious recording, keep rehearsing, people can tell the difference!
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