Tips
GUITARISTS
- If you don't have good pickups in your guitar then forget getting a good tone. Using stock pickups will sound duller and fuzzier no matter what amp you go through so make sure you have your guitar well armed with good active pickups like EMGs or quality passive ones like Dimarzios or Duncans.
- CHANGE YOUR STRINGS! There can be no cheaping out on this one. Don't come in with strings that are almost new, or have only been gigged once, or are a month old but have only been played a few times. Strings MUST be between 2 and 12 hours old when used for recording and must be changed every 3 to 4 songs for maximum effect. Those initial two hours should be used to gently break them in, preferably the night before you record. Strings at this stage of their lives will give you brightness, attack and a crisp tone that you will get at no other time so be sure and grab that window for your recording. If you ignore this rule your recorded tone will sound like shit. You have been warned!!
- Invest in some good quality shielded leads that are used solely for recording. The shorter the better but not patch short.
- Wash your hands right before recording and between songs or in breaks. This will remove the acid from your paw sweat that contribute to string degradation and keep those tones sounds that bit brighter for longer.
- Buy some new picks. Old picks are worn down and the texture of the worn edge can take away from the attack of your tone without you even realising it.
BASSISTS
- Same as guitarists.
DRUMMERS
- As with guitars a good sound starts at the start so if you are using your own gear, make sure you invest in a good drumkit with quality wood and REPLACE YOUR SKINS a day before the recording to get that brightness and attack that makes a great drum sound.
- Tune your drumkit. You should know how to do this by the recording stage.
- Here at A-Star we strongly advise the use of a click track (Metronome) no matter what you are recording. This makes editing and fixing small mistakes thousands of times easier, it makes your songs sound much tighter and it will save you time and money in the long run. Drummers are advised to practice to a metronome (there are many free online ones) for a week or two before the recording session starts.
VOCALISTS/SINGERS
- Don't get pissed the night before and avoid smoking. Foods like ginger & honey are excellent for the throat so have them in a smoothie or a juice for a few days beforehand. Avoid dairy as it tends to gum the throat up.
- The vocal chords are a muscle and like every muscle in your body they must be warmed up. Take 20 minutes and do some vocal scales and techniques which will help you to warm up but won't blow your voice. If you don't know any scales or vocal warm-up techniques then you really shouldn't be recording.
GENERAL
- Give your engineer a heads up and provide him with any sort of rough or live recordings of the songs you are laying down.
- When booking, give a few examples of some bands that influence you.
- Listen to and trust your engineer. I know you may love that trusty old Zoom pedal or Metal Zone that has 'your'' sound in it, but trust me, that ain't what the big boys are using to record so when you are politely told "we won't be needing that!" then tuck it away and don't cause a fuss. If however you walk in with a 5150, Diesel or Mesa head then by all means set up without question.
- The recording session starts at the time allocated not when you decide to turn up, so make sure you are unhungover and well fed before the recording session begins. Hours of paid time have been lost with band members hobbling in 20 minutes late after a night on the lash, then creeping out again to go and get a roll and sausage then taking another half an hour to eat and only THEN set up their gear. After which half the day is gone and the bands money with it so don't let it happen to you.
- Go with what's necessary and not what people have told you. Mountains of layered rhythm guitars and 15 vocal tracks are 9 times out of ten completely unnecessary and will mush your sound, as will lashings of reverb everywhere. Your engineer will advise with these things but keep it in mind before you ask. Less can be more.
- Make sure you are well rehearsed and know your songs and bandmates playing abilities inside out. Don't go in with half chewed songs as well. If you are still thinking about maybe something here, or maybe an effect there or have an 'idea' for a solo then you are not ready to record. You must know exactly what you want from every second of your song.
- Don't Assume! Don't show up at a studio and expect everything to be ready and set up for you to use without specifying whether you are using your own gear or not. This is importaint as drumkits need to be set up 24hrs prior to recording. 99% of the time there will be gear to use, but just ask and make sure something is arranged!
- Make sure any extras like backing tracks, self written click tracks, half finished projects or samples are handed to your engineer in good time prior to the recording and not at the last second on the day. Recording minutes are precious and shouldn't be wasted on things that can be set up beforehand.
- Don't stress! Recording is fun and it's a memorable experience for a band so even though there is pressure on you, it's good pressure and if the red light syndrome does crop up and bite you on the bum don't freak out! Take 5 minutes out, have a drink or something to eat and reset your head.
- If you don't have good pickups in your guitar then forget getting a good tone. Using stock pickups will sound duller and fuzzier no matter what amp you go through so make sure you have your guitar well armed with good active pickups like EMGs or quality passive ones like Dimarzios or Duncans.
- CHANGE YOUR STRINGS! There can be no cheaping out on this one. Don't come in with strings that are almost new, or have only been gigged once, or are a month old but have only been played a few times. Strings MUST be between 2 and 12 hours old when used for recording and must be changed every 3 to 4 songs for maximum effect. Those initial two hours should be used to gently break them in, preferably the night before you record. Strings at this stage of their lives will give you brightness, attack and a crisp tone that you will get at no other time so be sure and grab that window for your recording. If you ignore this rule your recorded tone will sound like shit. You have been warned!!
- Invest in some good quality shielded leads that are used solely for recording. The shorter the better but not patch short.
- Wash your hands right before recording and between songs or in breaks. This will remove the acid from your paw sweat that contribute to string degradation and keep those tones sounds that bit brighter for longer.
- Buy some new picks. Old picks are worn down and the texture of the worn edge can take away from the attack of your tone without you even realising it.
BASSISTS
- Same as guitarists.
DRUMMERS
- As with guitars a good sound starts at the start so if you are using your own gear, make sure you invest in a good drumkit with quality wood and REPLACE YOUR SKINS a day before the recording to get that brightness and attack that makes a great drum sound.
- Tune your drumkit. You should know how to do this by the recording stage.
- Here at A-Star we strongly advise the use of a click track (Metronome) no matter what you are recording. This makes editing and fixing small mistakes thousands of times easier, it makes your songs sound much tighter and it will save you time and money in the long run. Drummers are advised to practice to a metronome (there are many free online ones) for a week or two before the recording session starts.
VOCALISTS/SINGERS
- Don't get pissed the night before and avoid smoking. Foods like ginger & honey are excellent for the throat so have them in a smoothie or a juice for a few days beforehand. Avoid dairy as it tends to gum the throat up.
- The vocal chords are a muscle and like every muscle in your body they must be warmed up. Take 20 minutes and do some vocal scales and techniques which will help you to warm up but won't blow your voice. If you don't know any scales or vocal warm-up techniques then you really shouldn't be recording.
GENERAL
- Give your engineer a heads up and provide him with any sort of rough or live recordings of the songs you are laying down.
- When booking, give a few examples of some bands that influence you.
- Listen to and trust your engineer. I know you may love that trusty old Zoom pedal or Metal Zone that has 'your'' sound in it, but trust me, that ain't what the big boys are using to record so when you are politely told "we won't be needing that!" then tuck it away and don't cause a fuss. If however you walk in with a 5150, Diesel or Mesa head then by all means set up without question.
- The recording session starts at the time allocated not when you decide to turn up, so make sure you are unhungover and well fed before the recording session begins. Hours of paid time have been lost with band members hobbling in 20 minutes late after a night on the lash, then creeping out again to go and get a roll and sausage then taking another half an hour to eat and only THEN set up their gear. After which half the day is gone and the bands money with it so don't let it happen to you.
- Go with what's necessary and not what people have told you. Mountains of layered rhythm guitars and 15 vocal tracks are 9 times out of ten completely unnecessary and will mush your sound, as will lashings of reverb everywhere. Your engineer will advise with these things but keep it in mind before you ask. Less can be more.
- Make sure you are well rehearsed and know your songs and bandmates playing abilities inside out. Don't go in with half chewed songs as well. If you are still thinking about maybe something here, or maybe an effect there or have an 'idea' for a solo then you are not ready to record. You must know exactly what you want from every second of your song.
- Don't Assume! Don't show up at a studio and expect everything to be ready and set up for you to use without specifying whether you are using your own gear or not. This is importaint as drumkits need to be set up 24hrs prior to recording. 99% of the time there will be gear to use, but just ask and make sure something is arranged!
- Make sure any extras like backing tracks, self written click tracks, half finished projects or samples are handed to your engineer in good time prior to the recording and not at the last second on the day. Recording minutes are precious and shouldn't be wasted on things that can be set up beforehand.
- Don't stress! Recording is fun and it's a memorable experience for a band so even though there is pressure on you, it's good pressure and if the red light syndrome does crop up and bite you on the bum don't freak out! Take 5 minutes out, have a drink or something to eat and reset your head.
© A-Star Audio