Beginning the tracking process of a new song or record is a very exciting time. You are FINALLY going to be able to release that song you and/or your band have been practicing. Though, sometimes it can be such an exciting and fast-paced time that you overlook many extremely key aspects to making sure that experience reaches its full potential and you end up with the result you were hoping for. Well no fear, treat this list as a cheat-sheet to make sure you NEVER forget to do these things before entering the studio, and you will always be happier with your studio experience.

1. Get ALL your guitars set up and in shape.

Many producers will tell you to put new strings on your guitars before the session, but rarely do I find they also tell you to get them set up in the process. In my opinion, there is absolutely no point in having fresh sounding strings if they’re gonna sound out of tune because your neck is warped, or even worse, you have dead sounding frets and can’t hear the note at all! If you plan on using many guitars for a record, I understand this could get really expensive, so maybe look online and see how you can give your guitar a basic setup on your own (if you feel comfortable enough with how guitars work to know you won’t mess anything up or damage your guitar). I typically like to record on 2-3 different guitars when I’m recording something so this is what I do: a good neck adjustment, adjust the bridge for intonation and height, check pickup height, and change the strings. This will ensure that your intonation is great, tone is great, and it will be more comfortable to play so your performance will be the best it can be!

*TIP* - It is preferred amongst most producers/engineers that you wait to change bass strings until you’re right about to record it. Since the notes on a bass are so low, you need as much clarity in the tone as possible, and this is best achieved when the strings are put on just moments before the recording of it.

2. Doing as much pre-production as possible.

Whether it’s going to an actual studio to record pre-production or just doing it on your laptop, there are an uncountable amount of benefits with recording demos of your songs before recording the versions you will be releasing. Hearing them in a recorded format for the first time will open your ears to so many things you didn’t notice before: spots in your song that sound empty and could use some layering; places where instruments’ parts are clashing and need to be re-written; realizing the tempos you chose were too fast/slow; and anything else you can think of. Although I feel one of the best reasons to do this is because all of those issues will be resolved PRIOR to coming in, so your time won’t be spent fixing problems, but instead will be focused on being creative and getting great takes! I have personally noticed a DRAMATIC difference in quality of projects that did extensive pre-production before recording their record, and I can’t recommend it enough. It truly is the difference between what makes a record good and what makes a record GREAT.

*TIP* - While working with an actual producer on your pre-production is preferred since it’s a professional second-set-of-ears, pre-pro on a budget is still very feasible and beneficial. Download Audacity, Garageband, or other free/cheap recording softwares, get a small interface, and one studio mic. A small investment and will EASILY pay itself off with the money and time you will save when recording the released-version. It could also help with your future songwriting.

3. Bring lots of food and water.

Another huge thing that bands overlook is the fact that they will be sitting in a studio for 8+ hours and that they are human and need sustenance. Some studios are lucky to be located downtown or in areas that have places to get food, but mine is an example of one that would require a band trip to any place that serves food. I usually keep a case of bottled water in the studio, and some coupons for pizza delivery, but bringing your only can obviously be cheaper and accessed at any time. This is important because there is nothing that impacts your performance than being fatigued by hunger or thirst. This is extremely important for vocalists especially, because your body IS your instrument. So eat well, stay very hydrated, and you’ll have the energy to perform your best and the motivation to think and be creative! Also I will include in this point that you make sure you get a solid amount of sleep and avoid heavy drinking the night before.

4. Send the producer mix references.

Having a plan of attack prior to tracking the record is very important. If you want your drums to sound a certain way, they need to be recorded a certain way; it is a common misconception that most things can be “fixed in the mix”. Yes, there is some studio sorcery that can be performed to fix a lot of things, but nothing will sound the way you envisioned without it being initially tracked that way. That goes for everything: drum sounds, guitar tones/arrangements, vocal layering, auxiliary instruments/synths, etc. If the producer knows exactly what kind of production sound you’re trying to achieve, they will know exactly how to approach it. If this is not done, the producer will just approach it the best way they are comfortable, which is not always what you as a band will want. Just avoid any confusion and establish the goal of the recording before entering the studio.

5. Practice to a metronome.

Practicing to a metronome BEFORE entering the studio is very essential. This goes for all band members; not just the drummer. It is important everyone’s brain and body is used to the same timing of the songs. This way everyone will sound as tight as possible. It will also help best establish perfect tempos for songs and will make the recording process go much faster since you most likely won’t get off-time as much (especially guitarists who are recording scratch tracks before the drums have been recorded). Start practicing to a click the moment you book your session so you have days or weeks of rehearsal with it, and try practicing alone and as a band. Even if you know you are good with recording to a click, it will still do wonders to improve your performance by making the metronome just second-nature in your mind, so all you have to focus on is what you’re playing.

There are many more essential preparations that can be taken prior to entering the studio, and I may make another article in the future with them. The ones I listed above are what I feel bands could benefit most from, based on my experience as a producer. Hope you can use this to your advantage and it helps improve your studio experience!