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how did you overcome red light fever?

#42
Tell everyone "I'm gonna do three takes in a row and that's it. That's how I roll. Then y'all can sort out the parts you like the best".

The engineer and producer are getting paid too. Make them do their jobs.

(then just don't make the same mistakes three times in a row)

(ok, don't really do this)
 
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#43
never was an issue back when we recorded on 4 track tape. we were in control because we paid by the hour for studio time and we played mostly originals, and a few covers. The engineer was way cool, let us control the sound, only offered advice during post production and during the final mixes. Very professional work I am proud of.
we were paying for studio and being working class guys -we did our diligence went in and knocked out most of the work on a Saturday. breaks were only for recycling the coffee the studio provided. we were also playing together 3 to 4 nights a week.
FF to the last time I recorded on a 32 track digital (it was state of the art at the time) where even the tambourine had its own track.
I played guitar and bass, some originals some covers. I am happy with the instrumental work. But, I experienced difficulty laying down a simple lead vocal part -closest thing to red light anxiety, mostly because i didn't have a guitar or bass hanging on my shoulder- I was definitely out of my comfort zone.
Know your songs, forward and back wards till you can play it reflexively.
 
#46
Several have said this already. But the mental trick is not to think of recording as a different act than performing with a band, drummer, etc. Don't add stress to yourself. Especially if you're using your own gear in a home environment the meter isn't running so you should be able to calm yourself through the process.
 
#47
Again, lots of good advice from TBers.

In my experience, there is no "magical" or "quick" fix to this. Just experience.

Same as playing live, soloing or tying a Windsor knot; the more you do it the better you get at it until it becomes so easy you can do it you eyes closed.

Good luck! :bassist:
 
#49
Start recording your practice sessions and listening back to them. If you are ALWAYS recording, recording won't seem any different after a while.

I went through a period where I took every studio session I could get. Did a lot of free work for the local recording schools in town just to get experience. Im still far from being a session ace, but I'm now much more comfortable in a studio than I used to be.

Good luck!
 
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#50
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#51
Overall, I've found that for me it never really goes away. However, I found that I could minimize it a great degree simply by doing it a lot. One group I played with recorded everything we did. We got to where recording was not a scary thing anymore, but a fun thing that we looked forward to, and an essential part of what we were after. We got so that we looked forward to the results so much that recording was the best part of what we were doing. I hope that makes some sense. Anyway, that tactic certainly turned the process around. The only time I get nervous is if I'm doing my own track by myself and feel on the spot.
I found that I enjoy live-in-studio recording a lot more than individual track-by-track. We all went into separate channels and there was no bleed-over anywhere. The results also usually had more space in them, more air if that makes sense. When we did individual track-by-track, I think we were all so uptight about it that the results felt like wearing a stiff suit and just didn't feel that great. However, getting so used to recording being an integral part of my musical practice did make track-by-track feel a lot better and did help to loosen me up for the process so I don't stiffen up as much as I used to.
 
#52
I guess, because I always had fun with it, (the recording progress) I had one thing happen once to me.
I was in the studio back in the mid 70's, it was actually my first time recording and I put on the cans
and was ready to go, it was a original song and it started with a bass part.
I was so into it, I lost myself in it and stop to listen to the bass line, which stopped? Everyone was like what the hell Rob it was sounding great?
We all had a big laugh at my duh moment.
That was the only time it ever happen to me.
 
#53
I've done a lot of recording recently. Church services (most of what I play) have become recording sessions. Rather than standing in front of hundreds (maybe a thousand on a good weekend at the first service) people, with only one shot at doing it right, I find hitting record is a FAR less stressful thing. It also takes less preparation - when I'm playing live, I have to do 2 (sometimes 3) services, with no chance to stop and start over either time. So I rehearse like a madman, until I know the material COLD. When recording, if I can get one good take out of 3 or 4, no problem.

A large part of getting past such things is experience. I've made pretty much every mistake at least once, but have always been able to recover somehow - once you realize you can climb out of any hole, you relax, and..... you make a lot less mistakes
 
#54
Something that has helped me to get past some "performance anxiety" is to do a video recording of my performance from my phone. The good news is that you can keep doing this until you are comfortable. It's OK to do 45 takes. Honest. You'll know if you're happy or not with what you recorded. If it's not up to snuff, then practice what needed work and record again. The anxiety might never go fully away, but soon you will be able to harness it's power to make you play strong and confidently.
 
#55
For me, it was more conditioning. ...or just having something that made me not think about it. I got thrown right into the fire for my first "real" band. They had already made a name for themselves and were going to high end studios and... I had never even so much as recorded a note before. So... TONS of pressure. I found it all a little oddly calming. ...but after that experience, the pressure did get to me in my future projects where the pressure wasn't really there externally. I was putting the pressure on myself. To get over it, I slowly built up my own recording setup. Nothing fancy, and I just played... and played... and played. Sometimes I just recorded my noodling. Not because there was a gem in that mess... but just to get where playing with the little red light on or off just made little difference. Of course, now I have a lazier than normal approach because if I don't get right at the time of recording to my liking them I just track myself at home and send it over. lol
 
#56
Record at home every day. Eventually it won’t be a big deal. Realize that perfection is what comes from a machine. What people want to hear is a musician.

Also listen carefully to pre-digital era recordings. A lot of great recordings are not technically perfect performances.

And you’d be surprised how many takes people took on some songs. IIRC when Blue Oyster Cult recorded Godzilla, the keeper was take 52 (or thereabouts).
 
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#58
RedBadger said:
Alcohol has only caused problems.
Drunk Drummer starts slowing down can't keep time.
Drunk singer slurring words, coming in at wrong time..... puking!
Drunk guitar player want another solo.
Drunk singer doesn't show up for a gig.
Click to expand...

ohh yeah. i have enough drunk band mate stories to fill this entire forum. the first professional recording session i ever did with a full band, our drummer drank an entire bottle of jack daniels by himself and thankfully spent the evening passed out on the couch in the mixing booth. i’ve gotten my own teeth knocked out at my own shows, i’ve watched my guitarist get dragged into a squad car after our first show, i’ve almost gotten into a fistfight while driving through Pennsylvania on tour... i could go on for days about all the very talented and very self destructive death metal bands i have played in :D
 
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#59
byacey said:
I'm not sure why people get apprehensive about recording; it's not like you're wasting tape these days. If you mess it up, clear your head and do it over.
Click to expand...

This x100000

You have literally nothing to lose, OP, as the most effort you'll have exert is hitting "Delete" if the take was bad. Break the parts into smaller chunks if you're trying to record the whole song in one take. If you feel really confident and want to do the whole part on one track, go for it. I like to do a bit of overdubbing so I'm used to working with multiple tracks anyways.
 

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