first time going to the recording studio?

Question

Im going to be going to the recording studio for the first time and im really nervous because i dont know what to expect, can anyone give me advice on how its gonna be and just some tips to prepare me?

im an r&b singer

Answer 1

Just know your material well, and try not to be nervous. I think you will find its a great experience!

Answer 2

You don't say what you're going in for.

Vocals they put you in a room with head phones and a good mic (if it's a good studio) and a spit screen between you and the mic.

In a good studio they have great mics. AT 404, AKG C-12, C-414, Sennheiser U87,89, Telefunken U47 tube (the best there is). If you have a deep voice a EV 20.

If it's a good studio they'll guide you through the whole process.

If you go in with a band there's like 2 hours set up time.

A lot depends on what you are going into the studio for.

Guitar or piano a C-12 or C-24

A studio is just a room with a mic and another room with equipment and a window or camera between you and them.

How good the studio is is based on how good the mics are and if it's digital or analog.

Analog you have to provide your own tape or pay them for tape.

Digital they usually strike off a CD

If you're doing stuff off a digital recording you usually bring in a CD of the music or you play it live and it gets recorded.

You have an option for a click track to no click track.

You give very little information.

You going in with a producer or producing yourself.

You're paying for the session you are the producer and you can boss them around, but you have to know what you are doing and be a people person.

They can slap echo or reverb on your voice if you want it.

You can ask the engineer to sweeten it and see what they come up with and say yes or no to it.

I'd get a dry track on the CD as well as a wet track so you can go elsewhere and do other things.

You sometimes have a choice between Analog and Digital echo and reverbe. If they have good Lexicon analog try those out, they are often better than the digital on the Pro Tools board.

If they have compressors or limiters try them out. Analog LA4 or LA2 or Urie 1178s or dbx 164 are better than pro Tools, but also get a non compressed track recorded.

Audition the mics if they have many. Use you're ears.

Girl vocials usually have both chest and harmic qualities, which is why the U47 tube is best.

The RE20 just has chest qualities.

If they have a limited selection try both an RE20 and a AT C-414 at the same time and have two tracks recorded. That way you'll get both highs and lows.

They can mix these and put them on a track

Keep both separate tracks and mixed tracks on your CD.

The idea behind a studio is finished product and OPTIONS for a later date.

You can mix some of these things at home youself at a later date.

Use your ears. Your ears are the best tool

If what they do to your voice sounds great get a seperate CD of both basic tracks and a final mix.

A second CD is not expensive.

It's about options and a finished product

It's about the gear they have and the skills of the engineer (the guy behind the board).

There are so many options I can't begin to detail them all.

Noise gates

Compression

Limiters

Echo

Reverbe

Chorus

Flange

Slap back

All have their place, it just depends on what you want

You can get them all on a CD and then you pick the ones that sound the best and ahve a second CD struck with those.

Make sure you keep dry tracks somewhere

Source material is important.

There is also double tracking. Going back and doing the same thing against a music track a second time and mixing them both together.

There are LOT of options you can explore at $25, $50, $100 an hour.

The engineer is your friend or your enemy, it depends on how YOu and the Producer handle it!

Some engineers know EXACTLY what to do and you let them and then you have them do other things (you play the producer).

Engineers also love to be GUIDED into new territory.

An engineer is both an artisan and a tool

Let them be Artisan first, say NICE, now let's try...

And then you make them a tool

You have to BEEF their ego and then ASK FOR MORE gentley.

A studio is like sex. You ask for what you want. If you don't get it you go back to square one and tell them what to do to make YOU feel good.

Ultimately it's about their skill level.

If you've had sex with different guys you know what I'm talking about.

You kiss them on the forehead, tell them their great and make a CD of the plain tracks and find another guy down the line!

Engineers and Producers have EGOS. NEVER let them know they are inadequate. Just find another after the session to make it better! But never tell them!

That's the cut and dry of it all from a producer/engineer who got stuff on international radio more than once!

Unless you have perfect pitch (for singing) I'd go in with a pitch pipe or find a piano and bring in a Casio.

If it's just a narrative it doesn't matter.

Answer 3

Make sure that you know your material.
Have written charts to fall back on. If you are singing, make sure that you have the words in front of you.
You will probably have the core tracks laid down first,.
This consists of Bass Drums, Possibly Keyboard (If applicable)
Additional tracks are added later including vocals, enhancements, or dubbing by musicians. Corrections as needed.
Remember, you are looking at the possibility of going through the song a number of times. If you don't get it what is considered right the first time, they can record it again, and again. Each time they will keep the track, just in case the best was done before your last try at it.
They usually have, depending on the size of the studio, so many effects that will help out too. this ranges from doublers, flangers, compressors, etc. The engineer will usually get a sound check from you and set things up. Then, you will be able to record, listen, adjust, re-record, etc.
It is an amazing experience. Enjoy it.
You'll learn about GOBEES, booths, sound checks, isolation, monitors, etc...

Answer 4

Going into a recording studio is one of the greatest experiences you will ever have. Period. You dont say what you will be doing, but just do whatever the engineer tells you to do.

You will see how tracks are laid down and how instruments and voices are overdubbed and layered. It's almost like making a cake. When you hear the song coming together in your headsets, it's quite amazing. And when you hear the first playback of your music in a studio with real amps and real speakers and real effects and sound quality, it will no doubt blow you away.

I can still remember my first time recording, and that was GULP forty years ago this year. But dont worry. Even after the years go by, it's STILL always an experience.

Good luck. Have fun.

Answer 5

Some good advice so far, but I have some things to add.

Dress lightly but have a sweater or jacket with you. Some studios are cold, others hot. Most of the ones I've been in have had air conditioning, but they turn it off when recording is occurring so that there's no noise, then turn it on again when recording stops -- so it can get rather stuffy.

Make sure you have a LOT of water. Find out ahead of time if they have bottled water there -- if not, take several 1 liter bottles with you. Stay hydrated.

You didn't mention what you're recording, but I presume you're a singer. If so, do your vocal warm-ups before going there -- studio time is generally quite expensive, so you're expected to be ready to work from the minute you arrive. Indeed, you'll find that the pace during the session is much faster than in a rehearsal hall where things can be leisurely. So be thoroughly warmed up when you arrive, but don't warm up so much that you're already tired when you arrive.

Pace yourself during the session. Numerous takes will probably be done, but always assume that each take is the only one that will be used -- so be at your very best at all times. To maximize your energy and minimize strain to your voice, refrain from socializing and idle chatter between takes -- be pleasant, but very low-key.

The above paragraph was intended if you're one of numerous singers there. However, if this session is to record a solo CD, it is absolutely vital that you have everything planned out with the musician(s) who will be accompanying you. The arrangements must be done, and you must have rehearsed everything exhaustively beforehand -- the recording session is absolutely not the time to begin making artistic decisions, excepting of course if it's decided that something simply has to be changed. Another major consideration is what the song order will be -- not for the ultimate CD but for the recording session(s). You have to determine which songs can be sung while your voice is still "waking up" and which songs need to be done when your voice is at its peak of strength, such as songs requiring a lot of energy or really strenuous notes. Oh, and if you have any guest artists who are not appearing in all the songs, they will appreciate doing all their songs back-to-back.

Best of luck. Studio work is very tiring, but it's also very gratifying -- it's a nice change of pace from live performances, and the energy level of a bunch of people working very industrious is palpable. And since stage work is completely impermanent, it's kind of nice to know that you're creating something that has the potential for being around for centuries. :-)

EDIT: One more thing. If you are a singer and are not used to hearing yourself in playback, you might find it odd to hear yourself through the earphones while you're singing. Feel free to ask them to tone you down -- or even cut you out completely so that you just hear the accompaniment. And if this session will feature everyone recording at once -- like a performance -- you could dispense with the headphones altogether.

Answer 6

Depending on what you are recording the advice would be different. If you are an instrumentalist be sure that you have your parts nailed and that you can put them all right on a metronome, make sure you that you have the right feel and know exactly what you are going to do.. every time.

As a vocalist you might try to find the method that best prepares you to sing -- is it a cup of tea? Does sitting down and meditating work best? Most of all though, know your lyrics and know what notes are the toughest for you to hit. If you are having pitch problems and there is no autotune available, I would suggest changing up the vowels a bit to make the note easier to hit. If one were to sing the word, "you" in a loud high voice, their throat might tend to close down a bit. If that same person tried opening the "you" up a bit into more of a "yoa", no one would notice the word change (our minds can translate with the context) but the note would come off more cleanly.

Most of all though, have a good time and relax -- its music!

Answer 7

The first time being recorded is kind of nerve wracking. Your voice usually sounds different than you think. Just trust the engineer and listen to him/her. Don't ACT like it's your first time or repeat that fact more than once. Studio people usually concentrate very hard at sessions and the last thing they need is someone acting like they just got their "big break". Be professional and all will go well. Good luck!

Answer 8

I am not a hip hop artist, but the last time I recorded a song, it costed $800 and I know people who have paid a lot more for a song. So I am going to see what I can do to try to record at home. It's hard though cuz I am not a musician. I just do lyrics, melodies, and I sing.

Answer 9

i am going to go in a music studio for the first time,do i have to write my self song or can i just sing one of the songs that i like...?

Answer 10

All good advice,some really great answers.I just wanted to say,congrats,You'll be fine.I'm jazzed for you.