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Are you
the next big thing waiting to be discovered? Before you dive straight in
look at the list below by way of a sense check.
You;-
- Have performed a minimum of ten live gigs
with your current line-up.
- Have a demo cd recorded.
- Have a signed contract with a personal
manager (preferably a member of the MMF) (If NO, we can help with
this.)
- Can provide dates and venues for your next
four live appearances.
- Have a Press Pack/Bio.
- Have a Publishing Agreement linked to your
own material. (If NO, we can help with this.)
- Own the name, likeness and any
logo’s used by you.
- Are not currently obligated to or have a
very short contract with any other record label.
- Are prepared to work hard to realise your
dreams.
- There is no ten, so now it’s down to
you to choose what you do next.
SO NOW THAT YOU'VE SOLD
YOUR SOULS AND YOU'VE GOT A DATE IN THE STUDIO...
BEFORE THE SESSION
1. Get a very good night's sleep.
2. Agree on which track(s) you are going to record and get them rehearsed as
well as you can (with and without vocals if you are a band!) – if
you’re not all sure you are ready, cancel the session!
3. Change the strings on your guitar or bass the day before, and make sure
they are stretched in. They will sound new on the day, but probably
won't need re-tuning as much!
4. Re-Skin your snare if you are bringing your own.
5. Make sure you have plenty of plectrums, drum sticks, leads etc.
6. Bring some throat soothers such as Vocal Zone for your singer, but not
the “Sweet” type such as Lockets etc.
7. If you are going to record to a click track, make sure your drummer and
bass player are comfortable with it.
8. From 12 hours prior to the session vocalist should only drink water (all
these various drinks claiming to Hydrate don’t come close to H2O.)
9. May be worth getting alternative songs ready, just in case the vibe is
not on that day!
10. Relax: The reason you are in a studio is because you deserve to be.
DURING
THE SESSION
1. Arrive on time, and get tuned up.
2. Bring some CD's to show the engineer what you'd like to sound like; be
prepared to play “Live” for him to give him a feel of your
sound – A Pre-recording meeting with the engineer is critical to your
success.
3. If you are used to your own amplifier bring it along, you know how to
get a good sound out of it!
4. Drummers, we know you love your live kits but if Phil Collins can record
“In the Air Tonight” on a Roland CR78 then take a leaf from his
book and save the pain of spending so much of your studio time setting up.
Save the “Live” kit for gigs where you can astound your fans
with your agility.
5. Keep your guests (friends and mother) out! It's your
recording. Guests will distract you and may sway your opinion of how
the music should sound.
6. Unless you have unique effects, record individual tracks clean and add
effects later - this way you can change your mind.
7. Get the sound you want while recording. We don't buy "fix it
in the mix" as many studios do. Never assume that you can fix an
issue in the mix.
8. Determine a band spokesperson ahead of time. An engineer getting
five different opinions on how to mix will grow tired and might cause
him/her to rush through the job. Ultimately, too many opinions will
wreck your mixes.
9. If you like to indulge in drugs or alcohol, bear in mind that these
things do not enhance performance but actually hinder performance. If
you indulge in such things before a session the end result could be far
worse than you imagined. The celebrations should start once you've listened
to your work with a clear head and are happy with good results!
10. Guitarists, Bring a different guitar along with your main one, using a
different guitar for overdubs can make them stand out!
11. The voice is an instrument.....honestly. Practice before going
for a take.
12. Bring any previous recordings with you, pick out bits that you don't
like with them, and make the engineer aware of them, and any suggested
replacements etc.
13. Unlucky for some! Don’t blame the engineer for taking a hard
stance; if we’re paying the bills then he is taking direction from us
so take up any issues with us not the engineer.
14. Don’t take offence when the engineer says that he doesn’t
think something is right. It’s his job to bring out the best sound in
you, not to be your best mate or mother!
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