Tips of the Month

Each of our monthly newsletters contains a Tip of the Month. These tips are compiled on this page along with a link to the issue in which it appeared. To view other newsletters, go to our newsletter index page.

2010

• November – When recording a song, allow the final note to go to complete silence before saying anything or making a noise.
  This is one of those things you'd think everyone should know, but it is surprising how often an experienced musician (possibly in the heat of the momemt) says something like "Hot damn! We nailed it that time!" as the last note slowly decays. Well, you may have nailed it, but you're going to have to do it over. It is nearly impossible to edit out something like that.
• December – Take care of your ears before your recording session.
  If you're playing a gig the night before your recording session, you need to be mindful of your ears. We all like to rock out and playing louder is fun and more energetic, but loud music can impact your hearing. When you come into the recording studio your recording will sound better if you can hear what you're recording. You don't have to turn your amps down, just put some earplugs in. There are many varieties of earplugs that will block out the sound without makinng it sound like you're listening through marshmallows.

2011

• January – Memorize your lyrics.
  By all means bring the music and/or lyric sheet in case you need it or for last-minute changes. (And while you're at it, bring a copy for the recording engineer.) However, you will have a better performance with more passion and spontaneity if you are not constantly having to look at the sheet and worrying about what line comes next.
• February – Know when to quit.
  It's natural to try to accomplished as much as possible during a recording session. But if you or your bandmates have become tired and irritable, your performance will suffer. When that happens, call it day. You can come back fresh the next day. You'll be glad you did when you listen to the recording.
• March – Practice with a metronome.
  Click tracks have many benefits. Besides keeping a constant tempo, it makes it easier to edit tracks later on. Playing with a click track the first time can be confusing or disconcerting for some musicians. So to get used to playing with a click track, practice with a metronome. Choose the most annoying tone it has. Then you'll be prepared for whatever sound comes your way in the studio.
• April – Remember to bring extra strings, drumsticks, heads, batteries, cables, or anything else that might break or go out.
  The nearest music store to our studio is 8 miles away, but even if it were next door, you don't want to waste time while you're on the clock driving to the store to buy parts. Be safe—if it can break, bring a spare.
• May – Take occasional breaks.
  Whether you know it or not, your ears can become fatiqued. After giving them a break, things may not sound the same as they did. Also, singers need to rest their vocal chords periodically. To sound your best and to hear what you sound like during a recording session, give your voice and ears an occasional break. And remember, the engineer also may suffer from ear fatique. Give him a break.
• June – Plan ahead by knowing who’s playing what and when for each song.
  A lot of studio time can be wasted by trying to create your arrangements in the studio. Work all that out ahead of time. Then rehearse each of the parts so that you have them down pat. You'll sound better and use the studio time more efficiently.
• July – Stand when you sing.
  Your vocals will sound better if your lungs and diaphragm are not cramped due to being in a sitting position. If you prefer to sit while singing and playing your guitar, use a high stool rather than a chair. A good upright posture will produce much better vocals.
• August – Keep it simple.
  If you use mulitple overdubs of multiple instruments, before long your song will loose its sparkle and begin to sound like mush. Listen to your favorite artist on the radio. Chances are you can pick out every instrument. That's the sound you should strive to obtain.
• September – Do more than one take, but no more than five.
  Each take tends to improve, but if you reach a point where you just can't get it right, stop and come back to it later. As an alternative, you can always comp it. [For definition of comping, see the glossary.]
• October – Prepare one or two songs more than you plan to use on your CD.
  You may have trouble recording a particular song, or it just doesn't sound as good as the other songs, or it doesn't match the theme of the album. In the end if you have trouble deciding which songs to omit, you can always put the leftovers on your next album.
• November – Stow instrument cases and any items you don't need for the session outside the studio or back in your car.
  Keeping the floor uncluttered and with as much space as possible between band members will make for a better studio experience. Your mind will be uncluttered as well, and it will show in your performance.
• December – Tune your instrument before each take.
  A good instrument will stay in tune for a good while, but other factors can affect tuning. For example, if you have just brought your instrument into the studio from the cold (or heat), it may not have completely acclimated. The last thing you want is to lay down a great performance only to discover that your guitar or bass was out of tune. Be safe—tune it.

2012

• January – Listen to what you have recorded.
  When you finally nail that performance in the studio, come into the control room and give a careful listen. Don't assume that a take was good enough just because it felt right. It will be easier to fix a slight flaw now rather than later on. So make sure you really nailed it.
• February – Keep the volume down.
  It seems like everyone wants to turn the volume up. However, you will get a better mix if you reduce the volume to a moderate level. And it will help reduce ear fatigue.

Other tips for the musician:

Tips for the Musician Before Arriving at the Studio
Tips for Recording Sessions
Tips for Mixing Your Tracks

Articles that may be of interest:
Recording Studio Articles