There can be a great deal of pressure placed on a band when they enter the recording studio, especially if it is for the first time. The anticipation of a session can keep a person up at night with excitement and nerves. They begin to envision what the following day will bring. They ask themselves if they are ready, if the band is ready, what do they need to bring, are there any parts of their songs that they should have developed more, did they book enough time? The questions continue to float about them, until they are finally able to lay head to pillow.
As the next day greets them, the band steps foot into the recording studio, knowing that the clock is ticking. Each member of the group focuses on laying down their best take, a task that can feel both daunting and exhilarating. The undulating wave of emotion, energy, and will continues through the long recording days. When the whole process is complete, the band is rewarded with a document of their achievements. With their songs captured, they are now able to move onto mixing, mastering, and finally the album release. As the musicians wipe the sweat from their brows, they internally ask if they did all they could do to display the best of themselves on the recording. The answer any musician hopes to give is a resounding yes. The question is how does a musician create the environment in which success has a greater chance of being attained?
Often times answers to complex questions come from simple solutions. Fundamentals are fundamental for a reason. While they are less glamorous than exotic techniques, and do not necessarily create the most exciting tales, the fundamentals inherent in an excellent recording band increase the chances for studio success. The pillars that support bands entering a recording session are: 1. Rehearsal, 2. Research, and 3. Preparedness.
Pillar 1, Rehearsal:
There is a reason why some producers have bands record to tape. Not only does it force decisions to be made, but the nature of tape requires a band to be in solid form. Knowing that they will not have the luxury of endless edits and punch-ins, bands have no choice but to rehearse, lest they add extra hours to an already expensive session. Bands should have the high bar goal of one take recordings, while not allowing themselves to be disappointed if they are unable to reach this mark. To even begin to entertain this task each member must be practicing on their own time, using honest self-evaluation to work on their weakest areas, while gaining confidence within themselves when they acknowledge their strongest. They should then rehearse as a group to the point where the songs can be performed with confidence, without hesitation, and without noticeable mistakes, before they have booked time with a recording facility. Basic recording demos (anything from smartphone recordings, to great mics paired with a Digital Audio Workstation) can help this process, so long as the band is able to give and receive constructive criticism and is able to build their bandmates up by highlighting what each member does well.
Please keep in mind that the band should not be redlining. The recording studio is a place to document a moment in time, and the energy poured into that period should be based on achieving emotionally driven performances that underscore a song’s (as well as the album’s) concepts. I highly recommend that singers take a full day break from singing the day before a session, and if possible, decrease talking as well (complete silence is best). This will allow their vocal chords to rest and can assist in a better result the following day. Each member should also be as rested as possible before the session. If the group is feeling some pre-recording jitters they should do a quick, early run through of their songs (without the vocalist singing, though the vocalist should attend) in a relaxed setting.
Each bandmate should think of themselves as a high performance athlete, because they are each undertaking a high performance task. It is one that will be demanding on their bodies, minds, and emotions and it will drain energy from them, much like running a marathon. Band members need to function optimally, and thus should take advantage of the time they have before entering the studio. High performance athletes do not do intense training the day before a competition and likewise musicians should not do intense work the day before a session. Cramming will burn a musician out and can hinder focus. It is best to play the long game by practicing early and often in the weeks and months before setting a date to record with an engineer.
Lets not also forget that within the studio walls the band should take time to enjoy themselves, as they on the beautiful endeavor of self-expression. The nature of this endeavor should help fuel them. Taking moments for merriment will also help lessen negative stress, in turn creating a better recording environment. The better rested, the better rehearsed, and the better the attitude in the studio, the better the chances are for a successful recording.
Please be sure to check out the Phantom Center Media Blog next Tuesday for part two.