8 Things to Do Before Recording Music in a Professional Studio
If you have been passionate about making music from a young age, the natural progression is to head into a professional studio and record your own songs. While many people look forward to taking the next step, being in such an environment can be intimidating and fill you with anxiety, and you’ll need to factor in how much it can cost.
No matter what your goals are, the recordings you make need to represent you in the best light possible, especially if you’re going to use them for many years. Before you head into the studio, here are some things you need to do first to ensure you’re well prepared.
Set Realistic Goals
Before heading into a professional recording studio, you need to have realistic goals in place. You will only have so much time there, which is why you need to establish how many songs you want to record and what parts. Having a plan of attack allows you to get inside the studio and get everything recorded in the timeframe allocated, so that you can leave without any regrets.
Finishing Writing Before You Arrive
Turning up to the recording studio with half-written songs won’t do you any favors in the long run. While you may think of the studio being a good environment to get your creative juices flowing, you need to factor in how much money you’re paying for the luxury. It’s much better to finish the songwriting process before you arrive, otherwise you will be wasting valuable time and money.
Bring a Backup of Your Files
Before heading into the recording studio, you must have your projects and sessions backed up in three different locations. These should be your desktop or laptop, a cloud server like Google Drive, and on an external hard drive. There is nothing more soul destroying than losing all your hard work, and disasters can happen for even the most experienced musicians, so to give you peace of mind and ensure your music is safe and secure, backing it all up is key.
Check Equipment
Arriving at the recording studio to find that your equipment isn’t working is every producer’s nightmare. Every second counts, which is why you must take time to check that everything works before arriving. Replacement amps can be very expensive, which is why you can avoid the problem by ensuring your gear is serviced or checked over beforehand.
Bring Snacks
If you have a lot of music to record, the chances are you will be in the recording studio for a long period. This means you should bring snacks that will keep your body and mind fueled. If you begin to burn out, your productivity levels will decrease, meaning you won’t put your full focus and concentration into recording. Plan for the eventuality that there will be nowhere to eat nearby the studio, otherwise you may need to go out to get food which will ‘eat’ into your recording time.
Allocate Rehearsal Time
Many musicians make the mistake of failing to rehearse before heading into the studio. If there is one piece of advice to take on board, it’s that one rehearsal isn’t going to cut it. With your time and money being put into your venture, you want to get the best results possible, which is why you need to allocate plenty of time to go over everything and ensure you’re confident in your abilities. What’s more, if you have a team of musicians playing alongside you, everyone needs to be on the same page. Rehearsal time is a good opportunity to iron out the kinks.
Mix on a Different Day
You should never arrange to mix your track on the same day you record. The reason for this is because you will tire your ears out during the day, which will make it hard to have a clear perspective on what you have just recorded. If you have the money to do so, it’s advised to pick a different day to mix.
Research the Studio
Most importantly, you need to pick a recording studio that has all the facilities you need. Unless you do your research, you could end up putting all your money into a studio that doesn’t cater to you. Pirate.com is a good example that has studios in many different locations, and they even have a Berlin recording studio situated in Tempelhof that you can use. The studio is open 24/7, allowing you to produce, practice, and mix without any distractions. Pirate Berlin features high-quality equipment and acoustically treated studios. Check out this Berlin recording studio to learn more and how it can benefit you.
While there is an endless array equipment you can purchase and use at home to record songs, nothing captures the moment quite like a professional recording studio. To ensure that you get your money’s worth and finish your session with high-quality tracks, take all the tips above on board to prepare in advance.