Tracking/Recording 101: Dos and Donts

[Slough Feg Bass]

yup, totally about the pre-production.
If you have garage band, or logic or whatever, try to record your band parts individually first before entering the studio.
That will give you some insight into how you want to do things once you get there.
a somewhat famous producer once told me, "It's always so much easier if you record the entire album BEFORE you go in to record the album."

 

[AMJBASS]

Checking your technique and your bass setup before going into the studio can help things run more smoothly at the session. Your playing and sound will be under the microscope when you record and any sloppiness that you get away with in a ''live'' setting may not be so easy to get away with in the studio. String muting, position shifts, tapping the strings with your plucking fingers to keep time and unwanted pushing down of the strings (especially the G) can create unwanted noise. I've found this to be especially true with steel strings. So, if your action is super low you might want to consider raising it a bit for recording (make sure you adjust the intonation on your bass if you do this) and if you use steel strings you might want to check out some nickels or flats for recording. Practice playing your parts as cleanly as possible at home, paying attention to where you might be creating unwanted noise. The more you take care of at home the more you can relax and just play once the ''tape'' is rolling. Have fun!

This is good advice.

All of us start off inexperienced(as far as I know ) The best advice I can give is know your parts the best you can, and don't over play. There is nothing at all wrong with inexperience, but being under prepared musically is another story!

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

From my experience, I'd suggest the following:

- make sure you know your parts. It's a waste of everyone's time (and money) if you are not prepared.

- learn to play with a click track/metronome.

- make sure your bass is set up correctly and working correctly, electronics are quiet, new strings if you're using rounds, intonation is perfect, etc.

- tune, after every take, with a quality tuner.

- bring a backup, of everything. If something is going to fail on you, it's going to be in the studio when all eyes are on you.

- keep it simple. Play only what's needed for the song, leave the chops at home.

- leave the ego at the door. No time for this during a recording session. Engineer/producer and artist get final say on everything, including what you play and what your tone sounds like.

- Make sure you look after yourself, lots of water, plenty of sleep the night before.

- Make sure you have fun!

 

[Biggbass]

No chicks
No booze
No drugs
No distractions
Know the songs forwards and backwards
Know how to use a tuner between each take
Know when to move on to the next song
Know when to listen to the engineer and take his advice

 

[Phildevoid]

Embrace being in the dark and use it as an opportunity to learn. Not like getting in the way learning but pay attention to what is going on. You then will learn how things work and what works for you. If I would give advice I'd say be prepared on your parts, make sure your gear is at 100%, batteries, strings, etc... Bring one of all flavors of cabling you have just in case. You may not need it but I know I did at one time. Don't restring anytime close to a session and make sure you are in tune before you start, and throughout the session. Just stuff that worked for me.

 

[Pumpkin]

Practice to a click and record to a click. If you want to do any post-correction, the click is essential. Can't overstate this.

Be careful putting on new strings. I like the sound of new strings, but they accentuate string noise from hand movement before they're broken in, and a studio recording will catch everything.

Otherwise, TB's advice is looking pretty good. Have fun

 

[delta7fred]

I almost forgot, be sure to report back how it went.

 

[pbass2]

So many tips obviously, but I agree, don't worry about being new at it, just go have fun and watch and learn. You may decide you want to get into engineering/production!
Anyhow aside from knowing the material to the best of your ability, and being able to play to a click, I agree to make sure your bass is set up--take it in for a pro setup ideally. You really don't want to have a bass with an intonation issue going down "to tape". That's a REAL pain to fix later (trust me, I have had to painstakingly pitch-correct individual bass notes on stuff I've been given to mix--it sucks). Aside from setup, if you can, bring at least two basses that are a little different sounding, even if it means borrowing/renting one.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Had a guitar player in a group who never changed his guitar strings until the day we were set to record. Our recording engineer stopped us six times for him to tune up again because his strings kept going out of tune.

So...a word to the wise...DON'T LET ANYONE CHANGE THEIR STRINGS LESS THAN 2-3 DAYS PRIOR TO RECORDING. You need these guys to stretch out and hold their tune before hitting the recording studio. Constant retakes get expensive fast!

 

[RoadRanger]

So...a word to the wise...DON'T LET ANYONE CHANGE THEIR STRINGS LESS THAN 2-3 DAYS PRIOR TO RECORDING. You need these guys to stretch out and hold their tune before hitting the recording studio. Constant retakes get expensive fast!

Or better yet put them on properly so they don't do that. I've had to teach most of the guitarists I've played with how to do it:

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Or better yet put them on properly so they don't do that. I've had to teach most of the guitarists I've played with how to do it:

Of course you have to have a guitarist who is willing to listen...

And you still need to let the string stretch out before it will keep tune. Granted your method will keep the string from slipping and once it stretches out it should stay in tune much better, but you're not going to get around the strings initial stretch out phase. Looks like it does lock it down nicely though. I'll have to use that method on my own guitars.

 

[yodedude2]

this thread could be a sticky somewheres

 

[electracoyote]

Do know the material in your sleep, like the back of your hand, forward and backward, and so well you could play it during the worst part of a hurricane and not make a flub.

Don't get distracted by all the weirdness that happens in the studio. Keep your mouth shut, focus, and lay it down.

Good luck, have fun!

 

[twinjet]

this thread could be a sticky somewheres

It already is. Check below!

I might (might) be tracking sometime soon and it will be my first time doing so. I'm only in high school so I don't want to come across as naive or oblivious when I get there so I'm asking the all-knowing TB. What are some dos and donts when it come to tracking/recording?

Any advice would be appreciated,

Thanks

Hey, congrats! I got my first session job around your age. I think I was 17.

Make it a habit of reading the "Aspiring Pro" thread by @tommixx . It's pure gold. I make it a habit to read it at least once a month. It's entertaining and useful information!

Advice for aspiring Studio Players or anyone that wants to "Go Pro"

 

[RoadRanger]

And you still need to let the string stretch out before it will keep tune.

Metal strings don't "relax" (stretch ?) under tension. It's the turns around the tuner slipping tighter that makes it seem that they do. Minimizing the turns and giving the string a tug or two as you tune them the first time eliminates all that grief.

 

[Londo Molari]

Eat lots of beans and cabbage several hours before the sessions.

 

[Bass'd on a true story]

If there are any interns helping out, make sure you are extremely rude to them. If you are nice to them, the engineers will see you as weak.

 

[Helix]

If anything goes wrong or doesn't sound right, immediately blame the drummer and recommend that he'd be fired.....

 

[Earwaxsculptor]

Lots of great advice here I would like to add some of my advice...

Everyone is telling you to practice to a click, which is surely great advice but I would be absolutely sure that your drummer can play to a click in headphones where he can barely hear the band PRONTO. If he cannot do this proper prior to entering the studio it could be a waste of time and money. Studio time is expensive, make it worth your while. I've done plenty of recording in a handful of studios big and small, bedrooms to buildings designed from the ground up for it and I don't think I have ever heard a drummer say anything close to "This headphone mix sounds great! I can hear everyone and the click is fantastic!" It is very much the exact opposite.

I'm not trying to be a downer I am just telling you my own experiences through 20 years of doing this on and off, mostly on.

Now, with that being said.....not all bands absolutely need to track to a click, depending on the style of music and/or abilities of the drummer it very well may not be required.....but since this is your first time tracking my advice would be to get everyone involved on the click track train to studio town, especially the drummer. Have him practice to a click with headphones on while you guys play along, if he has trouble hearing all of you GOOD. Have him concentrate on playing to the click and you guys follow him. If he does not practice like this and get used to the awkwardness of it now he will really be rattled in the studio. If you all get good at playing to a click you will be much more comfortable in the studio when it comes time to deliver.

I'm in the don't change your strings right before you enter the studio camp, I prefer rounds that the really high top end sizzle has worn off of a little myself. To each their own though.....you do you.

Practice everything you plan on recording ad nauseam, then do it again.....and again.......and again.

If possible see if you guys can play your parts in the control room with you cabs isolated elsewhere or go direct no cab whatever. This way you can all rock out to the studio monitors pumping the drums and guitars etc....instead of playing with headphones on.......well everyone except the drummer, he gets his own special closet to hide in with headphones on.

Get plenty of rest, bring water and snacks.

And most of all, relax and have fun.

Also I forgot to add, if you bring food make sure it is the stinkiest food you can possibly find. Studio owners love nothing more than when you use their microwave to heat up a nice curry dish or some funky seafood.

Okay that last piece of advice you might want to forget..........don't ever do that.

 

[Bassnomer]

I might (might) be tracking sometime soon and it will be my first time doing so. I'm only in high school so I don't want to come across as naive or oblivious when I get there so I'm asking the all-knowing TB. What are some dos and donts when it come to tracking/recording?

Any advice would be appreciated,

Thanks

What kind of music?