|
|
|
|
|
|
|
          |
How many of you are in bands or play an instrument???? Give me 3 of your favourite CD’s that help you with your music?? REHEARSE, REHEARSE, REHEARSEBass player says: “That chord’s an A chord”Guitarist: “No it’s not!!! I’ve always played a C chord!!!” Drummer: “I quit” Moral of story – know your songs before you go into the studio – save money!! ROAD TEST YOUR SONGSYou will possibly find that your 3 minute song called “I woke up this morning” will go down better than your 12 minute epoch about post-war global greed. The longer and trickier the song is, the longer it will take to record. Have you ever noticed some songs get more reaction than others. Record THEM (tell Billy Thorpe story) |
Don’t spend $10,000 on a 2-song demo for a local pub gig. However, don’t spend only $200 on a demo for the Sony A&R guy who wants to hear the band.
Similarly, don’t go to a $3,000 a day studio to a guy who’s worked with Pink and Korn for your demo. Also, don’t go to a $20 an hour studio with a guy who has just recorded ‘Smelly and the Farts’ to record your upcoming worldwide release CD. If the owner starts telling you how great his gear is and starts ratting off things like “signal to noise ratio’s” run away immediately!!!
Go and see the studio, check out the vibe, see if things look like they all work, and make sure the place looks organised.
It’s not a good idea to plan a 12 hour session and spend 11½ hours recording band tracks for 10 songs and leaving ½ an hour for all the vocals, harmonies, tambourines, cowbell, choir and glockenspiel!!!
Plan roughly 1/3 band record, 1/3 vocals and overdubs, 1/3 mixing time.
“Congratulations. You’ve got it first take!!!! ”- don’t count on it.
Book that studio, plan the CD cover and organise the CD launch - NOW!!!!!
The cover is the hardest bit!!!!!
Meet the engineer when you check out the studio – not just the owner. The owner could be a goose and the engineer a good guy – or worse – vice versa!!
Roughly, an engineer gets sounds, sets the session up, plugs stuff in, talks to the band about guitars, amps, drums, microphones, runs the desk and records the band.
Roughly, the producer shapes songs, has an overview of the CD i.e.: vibe, sounds, songs, talks to band about songs, structure, singing, solos etc.
Don’t waste $100 in studio time due to not buying a new set of $20 strings.
ALSO – you are unlikely to get a John Bonham drum sound from a kit of drums with skins which are celebrating their 40th year in the business.
Once it’s mixed, you can’t UN-mix – just like a cake – so pay attention!!
What the hell’s mastering?
Got a mate with a computer - Wotch yore speling.
Is it a good idea to release your new blues CD at Big Daddy Puff Groove’s Hip Hop Dance Ecstasy party??
To sign away 30% or not???!!
Printed with permission.
Jeff Cripps
A# Sharp Recording Studio
Email: jeff@asharp.com.au
Phone: +612 9153 9988