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Any advice for recording in a studio?

#61
+100 on all the prep yourself and your instrument posts

I have limited experience, but I think engineers typically prefer a dry signal and then they can dirty it up for you in post. But ask. If you don't have contact with the studio or in doubt, have everything you might need in you car. You should practice it dry so it's not an odd sound in your ear when recording.

The only thing that hasn't been said enough is to relax and roll with the day. If you are the only instrument recording, you'll have some control over the day, but if several of you are recording there could be a lot of hurry up and wait going on. If you are the only one, you may get asked to do a lot of takes, so be prepared for that.

Be respectful of anyone giving you direction, but have the confidence as if you've been there before.

If you haven't done any recording, for sure try to record yourself at home, so you are used to the pressure of "this take is important". It can really mess with people at first.

Good Luck
 
#62
If they're going to have you play to a metronome, that's a skill not many studio newbies have. This has been the number one time killer in my studio experiences. If you're starting from scratch, you'll probably have to play to a metronome, so take some time getting used to it. I've found treating it like another instrument to play along with makes it easier for me. It took a little while, but it's not impossible. I took to it pretty quickly, so this is something you could get used to in a few weeks. (I'm not saying getting to studio pro level, just getting to competent play along ability.)

Getting used to playing to songs through headphone is another one. If you have a nice set of headphones, toss them in the car. Some studios have terrible headphones (especially for bass). You don't have to bring them in, but if you have a hard time hearing the bass clearly through theirs, consider trying yours for a take.

Making sure your bass is properly intonated is good advice. There are lots of tutorials on the internet, so you can do this yourself. (It's mostly just using a good tuner and a screwdriver to adjust the bridge saddle lengths.) Just google "intonating a bass" or "guitar intonation" or something like that. (It's the same process for bass or guitar.)

With digital recording and editing, you really need only a couple of good takes. If they use a metronome to lay down the basic tracks and you're just playing along to those, it's easy to copy and paste a good part done someplace else (another take or even within the same take) over your one mistake.

Relax. Sounds simple, but it's not worth getting all worked up over it. You'll play better if you just try to have fun with it, and you're more likely to get better takes. Your first one or two takes will probably be nervous ones (which is why the energy is often better on early takes), while the later ones will be more relaxed (more accurate, possibly with a bit of lower energy). Some place in between these two extremes is usually the one you're looking for.

If you find you're having trouble lining up a particular run in time, or "nailing it", try simplifying the part. The biggest lesson in recording I've learned is the old cliche "less is more" applies in spades. Whenever I'm having trouble with a part, I find simplifying it fixes the problem. It's bass, and while John Entwistle gets away with playing a blizzard of notes, most of us mere mortals don't have that exquisite timing and precision. It's challenging enough to play a simple part in time. And too many bass notes can clutter up the sonic space, which can be less desirable depending on the genre you're playing. Just like live playing, you want to mesh with the drums, so try to complement what the drums are doing, rather than trying to carry the groove all by yourself.
 
#63
no secret... know the music inside and out.

a common technique in classical bass playing is to rehearse music in variations, for example turning an 8th note pattern into an uneven dotted-8 + 16th rhythm, and so on. Things like this build a much deeper connection to the music, and make so nothing can "throw you off" so to speak. practicing any tricky licks this way will make it so you can seriously nail it - even under some pressure. As many ways to practice it from a new perspective as possible.

trust your ears, listen to the whole ensemble not just yourself.
 
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#64
Congrats on studio time! I'd say everyone on here has been pretty solid in giving recommendations. I'll say in my time in the studio getting the cleanest signal is most important. Almost every engineer I've worked with cares about that first and foremost and thus usually I bypass the pedalboard all together. Just like any other job coming prepared, as everyone said, is really important, but that also means bringing the right tools. I usually have a bass with rounds and flats with me for sessions, and while my Precision bass usually does most of the work having that something different can inspire the people around you, I've seen it happen.

Be flexible, and have fun. Everyone there is hopefully trying to achieve the same goal.
 
#66
The first thing you need to pack when headed to the session is your sense of humor. No, you haven’t been hired to be a comedian, but there’s likely to be a point somewhere where a good sense of perspective - not taking something too seriously will be a help.

Just like live gigs, the ability to kill time while someone else is doing their job, but without developing self destructive habits, is a key skill.
 
#67
Nephilymbass said:
1 final drums while bass and guitars simultaneously track scratch tracks....
2 drum editing /quantizing
3 track rhythm guitars
4 bass
5 lead guitars/keys and other layering
6 vocals.
Click to expand...

Oh man
I've recorded several EPs and an album in this way, spending days making individual tracks for each instrument and layering them together in the mix. Obsessing over the individual perfection of each part in isolation.

Then we deiced to hire a studio guy who did live video tracking: Record the performance as a live multitrack, no overdubs or individual tracking, simultaneously video the band. The tracks were not perfect, but it was the best we ever sounded IMHO, and it took a fraction of the time. (if you don't count the years of rehearsals and gigs that polished our execution up to that point...)

If I ever hit the studio with a band again I will always push for a live multitrack with minimal overdubs.
 
#70
night_mail said:
Hello, I will get to record in a studio setting in a couple weeks, which i have not done before. Only taking one day for bass so must make best use of time. Any tips on how to best prepare; what did you bring, how did you manage pedals, amp settings etc.? Would like to hear other's experiences with recording in a studio and any advice on how to make it go smoothly.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Be prepared. Know your material. Make sure your gear is in top flight condition. I.E., bass is in tune up and down the fingerboard, no buzzes (electronic and or fret buzz), or humms. I always install a new set of strings allowing for enough time for them to break in before the session.

Be rested, sober, and show up with a good attitude. Breathe.

This being a first time in a session, understand it can be a long drawn out process. Just to get an acoustic drum kit setup and mic’d can take an hour or more. I’m sure you are going to want to take it all in, but until you are directly working on your part for this recording, stay out of the way, quiet, and still.

In my experience with studio sessions, 99% of the time I’m running direct into the board with no amp or effects. I’m pretty comfortable letting the engineer take care of anything else sound wise.

It sounds like your set up will be a little more complicated. If you use effects, it would be helpful to bring a recording of what you would like your bass part to sound like for the engineer as they aren’t mind readers. A cell phone recording should be good enough, a digital pocket recorder would be better.

Also keep in mind A, you may not get exactly what you want, and B each one of your effects is going to add more time/work to the session which is an important consideration especially if you are paying for the time.

I would also suggest that if you will be recording with live mics, either on your gear, anybody else’s, I strongly suggest you get used to playing with headphones or earbuds, preferably before you get to the studio. Your gear not going to sound the same using headphones or earbuds as you do playing ambiently with your rig. I’m sure you don’t want to be distracted by that when you are laying down your track.

When it time to record your part, since you are prepared, you know your gear is up to scratch, and you could play your part in your sleep, record like you are playing in front of 30,000 cheering adoring fans.

Best wishes, and have fun!
 
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#71
Listen closely to the replay, don't go for a coke or smoke, be honest whether it's good or if you can do it better. ... If you're playing to a track, already laid down, play it right through from beginning to end without punching in and out. ... It's harder than it sounds and if you can do it you'll hear a much better track. ... Remember, for every action there is a reaction so, position shifting is under the microscope when recording. ... Leave your ego at the door or it'll get bruised and you'll get angry. ... In the studio time is money and you want you part to be time and money well spent. ...
 
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#73
Before my last session in October, I did a couple of pre-production rehearsals for just me & my drummer. Identified all the BPM's and practiced the songs without any other instruments or references except a click. Bass, drums & click. We were surprisingly tight with it, but I've played in other bands with him before and we have an established rapport. It can be incredibly difficult to play thru a song without vocal references as signposts, but where there was anything shaky about my comprehension or approach to a song it came out then. Just those transitions that you get used to sorta faking your way through. Cleans 'em up.

Point is, if anything about precision is gonna be humbling for you, let that happen on your own time.

Oh yeah, and wear a comfortable mask.
 
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#74
Know the music. Like others have said, the person paying the bill is the boss.
A good engineer will know how to help people who are new to the studio. Listen to them, you get no points for proving you know everything. Take direction. Relax. Don't stop for mistakes, they can be corrected later. Do what you are told.
 
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#75
Ron Berenato said:
Chuck Rainey once told me that he goes for a flat tone in the studio - as close as he can get to an upright and lets the engineer adjust accordingly.
Click to expand...

I do too. That and a hot signal. On a bass with an onboard preamp, set to flat. OPB, both volume and tone controls wide open. Don’t worry, the engineer will take all that nasty treble out of your monitor when you are recording.
 
#76
I know that many that have responded have spent waaaaaayyyyyy more time in the studio than I have. But I will echo some points. Know your parts, make sure you are comfortable with how your bass is set up, listen to the engineer and producer, be flexible, relax and have fun.

There's a reason you were chosen or hired...
 
#77
You are paying for time. If you don't know your parts, your amp settings and your pedal settings, you aren't ready to record. As other's said, make sure everything is in good working order.

Also, I would say (after checking to make sure I'm not in effects forum and getting a certain someone's panties in a wad) think about whether you really need your pedals for a studio recording. If you do, you do, but just be aware that each thing you add has the potential to add to the complexity (and cost) of the recording and it may not be worth it for a subtle change that's probably going to be lost in the mix anyway.
 
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#79
night_mail said:
Hello, I will get to record in a studio setting in a couple weeks, which i have not done before. Only taking one day for bass so must make best use of time. Any tips on how to best prepare; what did you bring, how did you manage pedals, amp settings etc.? Would like to hear other's experiences with recording in a studio and any advice on how to make it go smoothly.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Practice. With a metronome (nothing like doing extra takes because your timing is off due to nerves and/or lack of drilling). Know your parts inside an out, fingerings, dynamics, have everything you can think of under control and well rehearsed.

Have your gear ready. Is your bass properly set up? (have you checked the intonation). Have fresh strings on - or properly broken in strings if that's your thing. But have strings ready to feel and sound exactly how you want them on record - i.e. no amount of studio trickery in post will put zing into your bass if the strings are dead to begin with.

And listen to the engineer.
 
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#80
1. Know your parts.
2. Practice at home like you'll be in the studio (standing, sitting, headphones, etc.).
3. Run two signals if you are using any type of dirty or effects included tone. One clean, the other for your dirt, pedalboard, etc.
4. Listen to the engineer, it is a great chance to learn. You may find what you thought would be your best setup for tone is not what is working or needed. Our EP we just finished, I planned on using 3 basses on 4 tracks. The producer was insistent I do it all on one bass that he thought just sounded the best. So you have to be able to change up any preconceived notions. I swear that on every album we've done, what you think is gonna be the best track and what you think is just ok flips on its head. If you picked your first single on what you thought before it is done, you'd be wrong all the time.
5. Make sure your gear is in good working order. Don't hesitate to get a tune up on a bass if needed. You don't want fret buzz, intonation issues, or setup problems messing you up. Have a bag with extra cables, batteries, etc. No one wants to stand around on the clock while you futz with your pedalboard trying to figure out the issue.
6. Relax and have fun!!!Remember that it is so stupid easy to punch in fixes these days, so if you flub don't let it throw you for the rest of the track (especially if you are playing live with the drummer).
7. As I once heard Rudy Sarzo say about touring (but this could easily apply to the studio), if you look around and don't see the *******, the ******* is you. Someone is gonna let the pressure get to them and be a dick at some point, don't let it be you.
 

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