You’ve finally taken the last step to getting your music out to the masses. You’ve booked yourself a recording session with an Albuquerque recording studio. It can be easy to get so lost in the excitement of heading into the studio to lay your tracks that you forget the things needed to help your session go more smoothly.
Booking an Albuquerque recording studio isn’t cheap. It pays to anticipate any issues that can happen and have a backup plan for handling them. Know your goals for the day. Get everything in order before you step foot in the studio to get quality tracks that support your music career.
Consider these five tips for laying tracks in an Albuquerque recording studio easier before your recording session.
1 – Create realistic goals
Wasting time can get costly in an Albuquerque recording studio. The words “let’s just see what happens” should never cross your lips when consulting with a music studio technician. It’s a surefire recipe for disaster. Even the most experienced musicians never show up to lay tracks without a solid plan to follow.
The three most important questions to ask before booking your session include:
- Who will be involved (musicians, singers)?
- What songs do you plan to record?
- How much time do you anticipate for the session?
If you can only afford two hours in the studio, be realistic about your goals. It’s unlikely you can record five songs in two hours (at least not versions you’d be proud to share).
Working with a competent producer or sound engineer can help you pinpoint a sensible set of agenda items for your Albuquerque recording studio session.
2 – Examine your gear before the session
One of the worst things that can happen to a musician is to have your equipment fail when you need it most. Professional musicians have backups they can quickly switch to when performing live to ensure the show goes on seamlessly.
Most amateur musicians may find it expensive to have backup instruments and other critical equipment. However, you should at least come with the basics, like extra strings for your guitar and picks if you use them.
Top-of-the-line Albuquerque recording studios keep spare parts handy. Sometimes they can even rent out instruments and vocal talent, but they must know in advance you need them.
3 – Know your parts
Disorganization can kill a music recording session faster than anything else. If you show up to the studio without an action plan, it wastes everyone’s time and your money.
Do you know what else is a time suck? Forgetting your parts. Hey, it can happen. Even for songs you wrote and think you know by heart. Get plenty of practice before the big recording session. If you think you need it, bring music or lyrics along for easy reference.
It’s important to make sure any other musicians or vocalists also know their parts. Practice together as much as possible before you attempt to lay tracks. While it’s still possible to make an error or two during your session, it’s less likely to be a total disaster if you’re prepared by knowing your parts.
4 – Listen to the recording engineer
You hired a professional Albuquerque recording studio to lay your tracks for a reason. One of the worst things you can do is argue with the recording engineer or other staff during the session about how things should go.
When working with a reputable Albuquerque recording studio, you can be sure the sound engineer and other employees know what they’re doing. It’s their mission to make you sound the best they possibly can. Do them and yourself a favor by following their directions and suggestions to the letter.
If they tell you that you have too much bass, turn it down until they tell you to stop. If something is humming mysteriously or giving feedback, start troubleshooting instead of arguing.
One last tip: there’s no such thing as a dumb question during your session. Don’t waste takes because you’re afraid to ask the sound engineer or other staff a question you think is unworthy of their time.
5 – Predict possible complications
There’s an unspoken rule in the universe that goes something like this. No matter how much you plan and prepare, something is bound to go wrong. Unforeseen obstacles aren’t uncommon when visiting an Albuquerque recording studio. Be prepared to be flexible to fix any unexpected issues.
What kind of disasters can possibly happen at the last minute? Well, maybe the mix of instruments you practiced with isn’t producing the sound you’d hoped for in the studio. Don’t be afraid to eliminate something until it’s more audibly smooth.
Maybe a hook you’d written into an original song just doesn’t have the same relevance you felt when you wrote it. Skip over it!
The best advice we can offer is to stay calm and trust your sound engineer. There’s no unexpected problem we can’t tackle together.