What Is Mastering and Why is it Important?

Congratulations, you’re almost there! Mastering is the final step of the production process; the light at the end of the tunnel pre-distribution. We at Studio 45b are proud of you for making it this far. In planning your big release, researching the importance of mastering a song and shopping around for engineers might feel overwhelming at times, but it can also become an empowering part of your journey as an artist. 

You don’t have to become an engineer to comprehend why mastering is important, and we want you to understand some basics about what mastering is and why your song needs it before you send your song off to be mastered. The more you know, the more you will feel comfortable advocating for yourself, asking questions, and communicating with your engineer about what you want your music to do. The more you do that, the happier you will be with your music. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Is mastering different from mixing?

Chances are if you’re planning a single, EP, or album release and you’re curious about mastering, you know a thing or two about mixing already. If you haven’t yet, check out our blog “What Is Mixing and Why Does My Song Need It?” This will give you a bit of a basic understanding about the art of mixing, and define a handful of important terms before diving into mastering. Speaking of which….

The short answer is yes, of course mixing and mastering are different, but as with many pieces of the music production puzzle, there is overlap. For example, both the mixing and mastering engineers may use EQ to balance frequencies and compressors to enhance dynamics, but what exactly they are applying these tools to differs and the lens through which they look to apply these things to may be different. We’ll explain.

The common goal of mixing and mastering is to get the song or album to a place of ultimate cohesion, artistry, and clarity. However, mixing engineers are working with several tracks within a song to create one cohesive mix or “two-track” (the two tracks being the left and right ears) to send off to the mastering engineer, whereas a mastering engineer is working with that two-track mix to create a balanced, enhanced, and cohesive “master recording” to prepare it for all sorts of listeners.

Three simple reasons why mastering is important:

1. Quality Control

Your mastering engineer is the final step in the production process of your song or album. They are the fresh and final pair of ears on the project that act as the ultimate editor. They have also invested in the necessary equipment to listen to and master your music in the most state-of-the-art way to create a beautiful musical product. As we mentioned above, they use all sorts of tools and techniques to enhance, balance, and refine the sound of your master recording. They are the fine-toothed comb that removes any and all unwanted sounds and noises such as hisses and clicks, false starts, and frequencies, and boosts more of what we want in the final recording. 

2. Cohesion across an album

If you’re recording an EP, a full length album, or any version of a project that

entails the release of more than just a single, mastering engineers tackle the added challenge of making that entire project as a whole sound like it all belongs together seamlessly. This includes:

1. Making all songs roughly the same loudness and tonal balance

2. Considering and ensuring the correct order of the songs

3. Adjusting fades at the ends of songs and silence/time between songs to create the auditory and artistic effects we want throughout the project

There is a lot of potential artistry in releasing an entire project, and the mastering engineer is keen to every detail. 

3. Best sound for all platforms and mediums

The mastering engineer considers whether the song or project will mainly be listened to via streaming platforms (the more common main focus of artists nowadays) or physical mediums such as CDs, vinyl, etc. (much less popular as a primary means of release nowadays, but still important for artists who are more interested in making their splash through selling their music as merchandise at their shows, festival slots, and online stores). Additionally, the mastering engineer considers all the environments and technology through which your music may be played; i.e., AirPods, car stereos, phone speakers, headphones, bluetooth speakers. etc. Each of these changes the sound in some way, and mastering engineers are trained to find the best version of the song for as many mediums as possible. Which brings us to streaming services.

YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, Pandora, TikTok and Instagram and so on and so forth…. Each platform has loudness standards (loudness units relative to full scale or LUFS). These platforms enforcing their loudness standards is commonly referred to as audio normalization, meaning each song that is played on the platform, whether it’s a folk ballad or funk jam, will have the same relative volume level so as not to be overly obtrusive in either extreme dynamic direction. If your track is outside of that loudness range for any platform, whether too quiet or loud, streaming platforms will impose a “loudness penalty” to get your songs’ audio levels to where they need to be, adjusting up or down depending. In doing so, these platforms can sometimes entirely change the sound of your song. The loudness penalty may throw off the overall dynamic range and completely drain your music of any of its energy or sparkle, or even cause distortion. Your mastering engineer ensures your music is within these loudness standards to maintain the integrity of the mix and to make your music competitive within the platforms’ algorithms. 

If you still have questions on mastering and why the process is necessary for your music in the process of getting it ready for release, reach out to us here or on Instagram. We’re here for you and all of your questions, and when you’re ready to get your songs mastered by our very own award-winning, Nashville-based engineer, we hope you’ll give us a call.

***Written by Singer/Songwriter Kayla Lunden***

Pre Production - What is it and why is it important in recording? - The Recording Process Start to Finish - Part 1

People often talk about “Pre-production” for a record, but very rarely do they explain what it entails.

Imagine walking into an unfamiliar space to record your music with an unfamiliar team, without knowing the purpose of your recording, your budget for the recording, your creative direction for the project or how to perform on the record. How would that make you feel? Pretty under prepared, to say the least! Nobody ever warned you that there is a process to recording before you even step foot in the room.

We are here to help guide you through some key points to help prepare yourself for the studio to make sure you tackle your recording projects like a pro.

1. Establish your goals

We’ve briefly touched on this topic in our previous blog that you can find here about how to create a great song. It is very important to focus on this point again, allow us to tell you why!

If you are spending your hard earned money on multiple hours or days in the studio, isn’t it worth it to explore why?

Why are you releasing this music? Is it for yourself? Is it to be featured on television or major films? Do you think your music project should be added to a certain major playlist? Have you researched and found that playlist that you think it would fit best on? Are you looking to be at the top of the charts? Which chart?

Giving your project a purpose will give yourself and your team a vision that will help define the production. It will also help for you to sit down a research your end goal.

Let us give you an example. If you decide that you’d like to be on a major Spotify playlist, that’s wonderful! Do you know which playlist and why? Do you know what other songs have been selected for this playlist and how you can create a song that might resonate with the rest of the playlist?

These are all important questions to answer in the pre-production process.

2. Song selection and arrangements

Next up! Lots of songwriters have written numerous songs. Which ones do you believe have the best potential to reach your goals?

Live shows and recordings are two very different things. For example, in a live show you might have an extended solo to really show off your guitar player. However, if you’re looking to have the same song on radio, you might consider making a “radio edit” to cut the solo down.

Having a clear direction on your song arrangement before you head into the studio can help your producer in the long run. Hey, while you’re at it, make sure you choose the right key, and the correct BPM (beats per minute) before you head into the studio. This saves time for your engineer and producer as well.

You might want to take a look at our previous blog to dive more into “What Makes a Strong Song.”

3. Take care of your physical health

This is one that us musicians tend to forget about. You need to take care of yourself before you head into the studio! If possible, we suggest to book some days off beforehand to take care of your voice and be rested up.

• get 7-8 hours of sleep the night before

• do a full vocal warm-up before singing your vocal take

• drink plenty of water

• avoid alcohol, fast food and dairy the day before and the day of recording

• make sure to do some stretching before playing your instrument

• avoid smoking/vaping

• use a humidifier in your room overnight. Better yet, a vocal mister like this one here is a great tool to keep your voice in top shape.

• Avoid performing the night before your studio time

4. Define your budget for the project and find a studio that has rates within that budget.

The music industry can be very financially demanding. You want to be sure that you are able to accomplish everything you’re setting out to do. Research, research, research! We can’t say it enough.

Find a Studio that is within your budget, that you feel creatively comfortable with. Do you need to hire musicians? How many? What is the cost of each musician? What is the mixing and mastering cost per song? How much does studio time cost? These are all very important questions to ask yourself before you start your project.

We suggest to contact multiple studios that you find and ask them their budgets, processes, and how much time they think your project will roughly take. An experienced producer will have an idea of how long it takes to achieve a certain sound - listen to their advice!

That’s it for today. Check back next week for the next part of our series - how to find the perfect studio for your recording project.

If you would like to set up a free consult call with our producer to discuss your upcoming project, click here!

What is the Difference Between Tracking and Producing a Song?

Have you ever been talking with a fellow musician about releasing new music and you hear them say something like, “The new album is all tracked, now it’s just in post-production?” You nod and congratulate them but you walk away feeling kind of behind. What does it mean to have an album “tracked?” Is post-production the last step? If it is in post-production, does that mean there is also pre-production? And when does the actual production happen? Do I even know what producing a song is? 

Don’t worry, guys. We are here to remind you not to feel stupid; the language associated with recording, refining, and releasing music is not only complex, but it is also often vague and variant depending on each musician’s processes and preferences. However, there are basics that we’re here to explain to get you thinking in the right direction, following along in the conversations, and starting to plan your own process with your music.

The Basics

First, let’s define the difference between tracking and producing. 

Tracking

The term tracking really just speaks to the technical action of physically recording each element of the song in the studio. As we have learned in previous posts, tracking or recording instruments requires physical equipment (hardware) and digital programs (software). Each time an instrumentalist or vocalist steps up to the microphone and the engineer hits “record,” a track is created as its own unit of audio within the digital session in your digital audio workstation (DAW). The culmination of all the individual tracks of each carefully selected instrumental and vocal take creates one song file that is then sent out for mixing and mastering; which is what musicians are referring to when they say their song has entered “post-production.” This means that what also happens during tracking is…

Production

The producer can be a complex and malleable role to understand. What’s important to know here is that every artist has their own production culture, and system for applying the role of a producer within their writing, recording, and releasing process. Some artists do it all themselves, many outsource or consult other trusted industry professionals. Some artists budget for a heavily involved and hands-on producer who creates schedules, budgets, etc. Some producers just step in for the session to offer guidance and suggestions, while others are involved from the very beginning during the songwriting process itself. Lots of production roles are rolled into (or at least very closely linked with) the artist’s sound engineer, or even their marketing and PR team. If you’re a hip-hop, rap, or pop/R&B artist, often your producer is also the one creating the beats/backing tracks for your music, and even if you’re not in those genres, many producers often lay down tracks themselves based on musical suggestions they make within the session. 

The point is, producing a song can look very different from artist to artist depending on their sound, preferences, and goals, but at the core, the role of the producer is to supervise the recording process of the song and offer guidance and suggestions with multiple perspectives in mind to enhance the musical product as well as the potential for its post-distribution success. Producing is an intersection of many things creative and logistical, musical and practical, feeling-driven and data-backed. Here are some things a producer may consider at some of those intersections:

• The original intent and authentic center of the artist’s song to maintain its integrity

• How it can best be enhanced to create a product that better reflects that initial intent

• New creative visions for the song’s evolution once out of the writer’s head and into the more limitless space of the studio

• Expanding the song into territory that the artist wants to breach; whether that be in terms of genre, feel, performance/career goals, target audience, etc.

• Technically-informed sonic choices in accordance with whether the song is intended for radio play vs. touring, festival stages vs. small and intimate venues, and so on

• How the song will translate on different streaming platforms and on social media

• The promotional plan/marketing strategy for the song, or the goals for the type and amount of traction it will gain (One of our favorite marketing companies is “Moons & Things Co.” Check them out here if you’re looking for help with all things marketing!)

• How much to coach/push

• How to communicate sound balance and effects suggestions to the sound engineer, keeping in mind how all of that interacts with the artist’s goals for the song

What Production Can Look Like

As we said, the degree of involvement from the producer can vary. This can look as simple as deciding to add some lap steel if the artist is looking to appeal to a folkier side of their artistry or wanting to tap into a “western” audience. Or, if the artist is producing something very raw and singular but the producer knows she wants to play full band sets on festival stages, she may suggest a new arrangement of the song that includes background vocals, a groove change, or a horn section. The producer may bring in session musicians (learn more about why we make a case for that here) or suggest incorporating/removing specific audio effects an engineer has applied based on whether the artist has a goal of radio play. A producer evaluates everything from the structure of a song to the energy behind a vocal take in relation to all those factors listed in the previous section to help get the song where the artist ultimately wants it to go. 

Want to Chat More?

As you may be beginning to understand, a good producer has to speak many different languages and understand music from nearly every vantage point imaginable. It’s important to work with a producer you like and trust, and whom you feel understands you and your vision. If you have more questions about the recording or production process, reach out to us here to speak to our producer and maybe even book your next recording session with Studio 45b.

***Written by Singer/Songwriter Kayla Lunden***

5 Reasons to Record with Sessions Musicians Instead of Your Band

Okay, we know this is a hot take; let us explain. We’re not here to win over those of you who are sold on bringing in each member of your band to make your record! Some of you have co-invented your sound with your band and feel your collective electric energy and collaboratively-constructed public image is as important as anything else about your record. If you wouldn’t dream of hiring a studio’s session players over your own, and we totally respect it. However, if you’re having some doubts, we want to make a case.

Whether you’re feeling entirely bogged down by the impending logistical tornado, questioning your band’s level of commitment, professionalism, or even skillset, or you’re just looking to save some money, keep reading! If you’re an artist who patches a new band together for every gig, or usually plays solo acoustic shows but are looking for a more filled-out sound for your record, this could be the most important blog you read for your music all year. Here are five cases for going with a studio’s session musician(s) when recording your big new project. 

1. Cost-Effectiveness

As rising independent musicians, navigating a tight budget begs the constant question, how do we cut costs without sacrificing the quality of our musical product? Studio time, mixing and mastering, distribution, artwork and photoshoots, merch, tours and live show costs… it all adds up faster than we think.

At Studio 45b, our award-winning producer and engineer, Grady James, plays all instruments you would need on your track. If there’s something he doesn’t play, he knows exactly who to call. We roll Grady’s playing costs into your studio package, saving you hundreds of dollars on session musicians. 

We’ve seen lots of artists with friends who are happy to “play for free,” but we’ve also seen a lot of those favors go sideways. Just like anything else, the work we are paid for tends to get bumped to the top of the priority list in terms of prep, professionalism, and commitment, and the rest tends to fall to the bottom. 

2. Logistics

If you’ve ever been called the “mom” of the band, this one’s for you! If you’re the vocalist, and we can’t stress this enough, you are not the manager of your band. Many bands underestimate how difficult it is to coordinate uninterrupted time for every member to be present, prepared, and playing for your project. Conventional studio sessions are held during working hours, and accommodating multiple schedules almost always proves more difficult than we think. We’ve seen too many bands waste time in the studio tracking down other members, or working through the record in a less-than-intuitive instrumental order of operations due to logistical nightmares. 

Going with your studio’s session musician(s) gives you reassurance that the professionalism, logistics of being present when necessary, and level of commitment are built into the job. You are entirely freed up to immerse yourself in the creative process and focus on the musical job you have to do. 

3. Skillset

We’ve seen artists excitedly bring in musicians they previously watched absolutely shred on stage, only for the player to fall flat in the recording booth. Being a great player does not equate to being a great session player. 

These session musicians are masters at their instruments. However, they have also quite literally spent their lives honing their craft in this exact setting. With a studio’s session musicians, you are getting top-of-the-line musicians to elevate your music and bring the kind of live passion and energy into the recording studio and throughout your record.

4.  Time Efficiency 

Being able to quickly and easily pivot with new ideas is crucial and makes for a fun and creative session. Session musicians have an unparalleled ability to bounce around between songs and sections, get the take, get creative with the extra time, and keep things moving. Ultimately the efficiency not only helps with the creative flow but also saves you time and in turn, of course, money. 

5. New Connections and Expertise

One of the biggest benefits of working with session musicians in the studio is that they show up to every session equipped with their wide-ranging experience in recording with all kinds of artists in all kinds of genres. They have played and seen what works and what doesn’t, and often have a lot of valuable insight and perspectives to color your music. Not only that, but you are forging new connections and creating a new group of people who are invested in what you are doing; a built-in support network who have connections and support systems of their own. 

At Studio 45b, we have found that when people come in and work with Grady, his playing and musical instincts often inspire new creative ideas and directions for their music. What’s more, Studio 45b has created our own family of musicians and network of industry professionals that we are proud to connect with every artist who walks into the studio. Send us a message and let’s set up a session today.

***Written by Singer/Songwriter Kayla Lunden ***

How To Choose The Perfect Studio For Your Recording Project

We know it can be hard to find a studio that you trust to record your music. It is a major decision when picking someone to take your most cherished writings and turn them into a fully produced hit song that you hear so vividly in your own head. Don’t fret - we are here to help with this decision!

We’ve had countless new clients coming to us explaining that they didn’t feel like their artistic vision was met when they recorded elsewhere. This can be for many reasons, but one reason is that a lot of studios sell their time without a producer, and rush you through the process in order to make sure you are in and out quickly. Lots of Studios are out there to make money, and are not invested in the final product.

We want to stop this problem from happening! Here are three ways to find a studio that will work for you, and not take from you.

1. Are there artists on your level that have a recoding that you are blown away by? Ask them where they got it done.

A lot of artists love to help other artists. Ask them. They will be honest with you and tell you their experience. One of the best compliments we have at Studio45b is a client referral.

Ask other artists questions and research what their process was.

Did they work with a producer? What musicians did they hire? How long did the recording process take? How fast was the turnaround? How long did mixing and mastering take? Did they feel like their artist input was heard in the studio? Did they feel rushed? Would they do anything differently the next time around? Was there anything they would’ve changed?

We could go on and on with a million questions, but the main point is to ask a million questions to people in the industry that you trust. The more you know, the better the outcome will be.

2. Talk to multiple studios before you decide on a winner.

Research online studios in your area (or that record remotely) that you would love to work with. Read through their entire website, listen to the projects that they’ve worked on, and research their clientele. Research their team and see who on their team you think you would vibe with. We use the word “vibe” because that is what a studio is all about! Setting the best recording “vibe.”

Do not settle on the very first studio you come across. There are a ton of very talented producers, engineers and coaches to choose from. Make sure you are making an educated decision before you take action and book a date.

If they give you an option to have a free phone call with them, absolutely do it. It’s so important to utilize every chance you can to get to know the people that will be working on your project with you. Make sure to ask them those millions of questions that we mentioned in point #1!

3. Know your budget.

We get it. Recording at Abbey Road Studios might be a huge dream of yours (that can absolutely happen some day!) but before you get too far into loving a studio, make sure that you ask what the prices are. We don’t want you to be disappointed.

We talked a little bit about this last week in our blog post. (you can find that post right here.) We wanted to expand a little more on this!

You might not know your budget right off the bat. Perhaps you need to call around to a few different studios before you figure out what recording costs are, before you know what budget you have in mind for your own project. Calling around and asking for prices will give you a better understanding of what a full project might cost. Once you figure that out, and your own finances, then search for studios within that budget.

Our point is, find a studio that you can afford before you fall in love with a studio that you can’t afford.

If you’re ready to do some research, contact us today for our rates.

4. Decide which producer to work with, and if one is needed at all.

Believe it or not, a lot of people aren’t quite sure what a producer actually does. (If you’d like more info on that, check out our previous blog here!) We will get more into detail on our next post, but here is a quick rundown of a producers job.

Generally speaking a music producer overseas and understands the project as a whole, alongside the artist themselves. A producer knows how to create a certain sound within certain genres and can help the artist pull bring those sounds to life on their recording.

Lets give an example. What makes Brad Paisley’s guitar playing so different from John Mayer’s guitar playing? A producer knows that a Brad Paisley guitar tone will come from a Fender Telecaster, and a John Mayer signature sound will come from a Fender Stratocaster. Not only that, a producer knows what notes, bends, stylization and chords make a country sound, and knows the difference in that sound and a pop rock sound.

A good producer will know the styling, tone and instruments in certain genres and how to get your song sounding the way you want it to sound.

There are instances where you might not need a producer. We will cover that next week on our blog about finding a producer for your project.

Contact us here for your free consult call with our head producer, Grady James.

5. Listen to your gut.

It feels like we say that quite often. However, it is true. You need to find a studio that you are comfortable with. That comfortable sound will come across in your recording. Choose a studio that listens to you, pays attention to you, and is excited about your project. You will know when you chat with them if it is the right fit or not. Follow your instinct and you won’t be wrong!

If you are thinking of launching your project into action, give us a call today! We would love to help you on your recording journey.

***Written by Singer/Songwriter Danielle Todd ***

Three Reasons to Get Vocal Lessons Before Heading Into the Studio

We are going to nip this right in the bud—needing vocal lessons does not make you a bad vocalist. In fact, it makes you the best kind of vocalist: one who puts product and progress before pride! Just as the best authors need editors for their novels, and the most successful therapists need a professional of their own, and every great cosmetologist needs someone else to apply their touch-up color, so do we vocalists need vocal coaches. Whether you’re doing a few gigs a month at your local brewery or you’re Lady Gaga on tour, every vocalist benefits from a vocal coach. 

1.  Studio Stamina and Spot-Training

Whether you are in the studio for a few hours or a few days, take after take of vocals can 

be taxing on anyone’s cords. Add any nerves or jitters into the mix and you may find your voice is just not as controlled as you’d like for it to be, or lasting in quality throughout the day. Then you get frustrated and start to spiral, which only makes matters worse. Many singers start to get fatigued after just a couple takes. A few great lessons can help with all of this.

As vocalists, we have to know when to “bring it,” and when to bring it back. A vocal coach will teach you about how to conserve your vocal energy for the whole session, how to make the hard stuff sound and feel easy, and what to do to give yourself rest throughout the recording process. You will learn how to give it your all while still pacing yourself. You can even select a coach that works specifically with session musicians to ensure you are getting the best expertise for the studio. Many of these coaches will work with you on the specific song(s) you plan on recording to help perfect your product and map out a vocal plan for each tune, touching on so many areas of technique so you are good to go for the whole session. Which leads us to our next point…

2. Sustainability

Coaches who have studied and trained in-depth are so knowledgeable on the human voice and its mechanics. In addition to maintaining stamina throughout the session, a vocal coach can teach you how to properly take care of your instrument long-term so that you can rely on and build a career around it. A huge part of that maintenance is dependent upon properly warming up and down (yes, down!), engaging breath rather than muscle, and other basic techniques to correct unhealthy or damaging singing. Vocal lessons can provide so many easy tools and exercises to get you on the right track.

You may have seen vocalists (or are one, yourself) who can do crazy riffs and runs, “screlt,” or add a rasp to their tone that feels so soulful, but quickly feel or sound tired, strained, or even experience pain after just an hour of gigging, or long days in the studio. We’re sure you’ve heard this a hundred times, but just in case— it should never be painful to sing. If you are experiencing pain while singing, that is a giant red flag that you could hugely benefit from just a little coaching to ensure healthy singing and avoid vocal fatigue or even injury. Remember— you don’t have to give up your unique sound and magic in order to sing healthily and sustainably, but integrating those things will take trust and patience. You’ve got this!

3. Awareness

Lastly but probably most importantly, another set of trained ears and eyes will be able to help you become more aware of your particular vocal strengths, pitfalls, and all details in between regarding your unique vocal constitution. Once you start vocal lessons, you will be shocked at how many vocal habits you have developed that you weren’t even aware of. Not only that, but your coach will show you how to lean further into your strengths and develop your weaknesses. For example:

If you tend to sound nasally on certain vowels or within a certain range, your vocal coach will help to identify those tendencies and give you tips and tricks to fix your tone that you can apply quickly in the studio. If you have a well-developed belt or chest voice but struggle to maintain a healthy mixed or floaty head voice, or if you have a gorgeous breathy tone but want to build more power and presence into your voice, your coach will be able to show you short and long-term exercises to help melt those registers together. You might find that you sound really “pinched” or strained during high notes which feels entirely out of your control, but a vocal coach may easily identify tension in your neck and shoulders and show you how to remedy that. Many of the best vocal coaches incorporate methods and solutions that seemingly have nothing to do with the voice itself; including breathing exercises, stretches and yoga or meditation, lifestyle changes, and more. Trust them, and you will get to know your instrument  a lot better. You know what they say, the first step toward change is awareness.

If you’re planning to head into the studio soon to record a single, EP, or full-length album, we at Studio 45b could not recommend quality vocal lessons enough. It’s about more than just “sounding better.” It’s about knowing yourself and your voice, and making sure it lasts you a long, long time. Afterall, it is your livelihood! Or at least it’s what brings you a ton of joy. Either way, it’s worth the investment. 

If you’re feeling convinced, Studio 45b offers a chance to connect right now with our professional vocal coach, Danielle Todd. Danielle has 17 years of experience performing, and draws from her own expertise, teachings from top industry professionals, and your specific needs as a vocalist to work on tone, vocal agility, vocal range, timbre, strength, and more. Everything from practical warm-ups, to emotional connection within your vocals, to singing through nerves, to developing the very fundamentals that define your artistic expression, Danielle will elevate your technique and artistry. Ready to chat? Reach out to book a consultation and we’ll talk about exactly what you want and need to take your musicianship to the next level.

We want you to feel healthy, confident, and prepared to come into the studio. Let’s connect today!

***Written by Singer/Songwriter Kayla Lunden ***

What is Mixing and Why Does My Song Need it?

You’ve made the courageous leap and decided to release some music, but you want to do it the right way. It’s a huge undertaking, from finding the right studio to planning promotional content. The creative stuff can be so fun, the prep and logistics can be overwhelming, and the more research you do on processes like distribution, mixing, and mastering, it seems the more there is to know.

There are thousands of resources claiming to teach you the “basics” of audio mixing that still leave you confused. Don’t feel stupid! There are entire degree programs dedicated to this topic, and we can’t all be experts in everything. However, if you’re going to release your music to the public and pay for the service, you should know what it is and why you need it. We’re going to answer some questions to make it all seem a little less scary. Let’s start at the beginning.

Does my song need to be mixed?

Yes. That’s an easy one, next!

Why?

A song well-mixed is like indulging in a cup of really great Ethiopian pour-over after living the last 7 years on diner drip coffee. You had no clue you were missing that kind of quality until after you got a taste of it! Still, as with coffee, there is an adjustment period while you refine your palate. Hearing that raw file (diner drip) and then hearing the first pass of a mix (Ethiopian), will reveal clear sonic differences and improvements in quality even to the most undiscerning of ears. However, it takes practice, patience, and curiosity to start to identify the subtle magic; like tasting notes in coffee.

Okay fine. Then what even is mixing?

Most basically (and vaguely, to start), mixing audio is the process of controlling several aspects of sound within and between multiple audio tracks to create an overall sense of cohesion, balance, and artistry. It requires a combination of both technical knowledge and skill, and creative intuition and awareness. Sound is a science, but it is also an art.

The basic targets of mixing sound deal with balancing levels, frequencies, and stereo image (more on this later) to provide sonic clarity to the listener, while creating something more interesting and pleasing to the ear than any raw audio file could ever be. A good audio engineer will take all of the individual audio tracks and apply all sorts of effects, filters, and techniques to make them sound more cohesive; like a family of sound rather than a bunch of strangers shoved together in the same room. This process occurs within a digital audio workstation (DAW), which consists of three components: a computer, an audio interface (a device that converts audio from mics, mic pre-amps, or a mixer into a signal for the computer), and a recording software.

The Basics:

Let’s begin our descent down the rabbit hole. Most of these definitions come straight from the Bartlett & Bartlett text “Practical Recording Techniques: The Seventh Edition.” Then, we’re going to try to break each down a little and add some context. It will be helpful to imagine your song existing in three-dimensional space; aspects of sound within your mix can move up and down, forward and backward, and side to side. Mixing audio in many ways is about sliding sounds along those different axes to create a rich and compelling sonic product.

Frequency: “The number of cycles per second of a sound wave or audio signal, measured in hertz (Hz).”

Sound waves travel quickly (high frequency/pitch) or slowly (low frequency/low pitch), or lots of speeds in between. Oftentimes in raw recorded audio, there are extra, unnecessary frequencies that “muddy” up the mix, or make it sound messy or garbled to our simple human ears/brain. To fix that, audio engineers will EQ the tracks.

Equalization (EQ): “Adjustment of frequency response to alter the tonal balance or attenuate unwanted frequencies levels.”

Stay with us. We EQ tracks to cut (remove) unwanted frequencies, or boost (increase) frequencies we like or need more of in order to make the overall mix more clear, crisp, and colorful. You can apply highpass filters (HPF) or lowpass filters (LPF) to make the best/necessary elements within tracks stand out, and get rid of the frequencies that muddy the mix. An audio engineer might apply a HPF to a guitar track to remove extra frequencies going on in the low end, and then go in more thoroughly to cut or boost specific frequencies to curate a more intentional sound.

If we are imagining our song in three-dimensional space, this is the axis that runs up and down. Soundwaves manifest as bass (low; 60-120 Hz), mid (middle; 400-2.5k Hz), and treble (high; 8k-15k Hz) frequencies.

Compressor: “A signal processor that reduces dynamic range or gain by means of automatic volume control.” Compression has to do with level, or volume control. Recording real musicians often means a wide dynamic (volume) range. A compressor automatically reduces gain (amplification) when the signal exceeds a preset level (threshold).

This is the part of mixing that happens on the axis running forward to back; think of it as someone stepping closer to you/the microphone (your ear will interpret this as louder) or away (softer).

Panning: “The act of placing or moving a sound anywhere in the stereo field of a stereo playback system.”

We experience recorded music through a stereo system, meaning there is a left and a right speaker (even in your phone). This tricks our brains into processing audio as if it’s coming from a single, center source, creating what we call a phantom image.

Before mixing, all tracks more or less sit “center.” This not only sounds flat and singular, but also auditorily confusing. Our brains struggle to isolate instruments, tracks, or interpret anything interesting going on. Panning combats that by spreading the sound sources of the tracks out along that left-to-right axis. When our brains can organize and localize the different tracks, it allows for certain instruments, embellishments, and tonal qualities to shine through that might otherwise be lost.

These components are only the beginning. There are tons of effects like reverb, chorus, echo, and more that enhance depth, mood, and tone of the song, and plenty of space for a mixing engineer to get creative and take the tune to the next level. The best way to learn more about what makes a good mix and your audio preferences, is to stay curious. Ask your audio engineer lots of questions, do your research (think podcasts, articles, books, YouTube videos), listen to different kinds of music and start to try to identify elements of the sound that you like. If you want, make your audio engineer a playlist of reference tracks with sonic elements that move the needle for you. Remember, you don’t need to know everything to start speaking the language, you just need to start speaking it.

***Written by Singer/Songwriter Kayla Lunden

How to Prepare Yourself for a Day of Recording

Do you get antsy thinking about heading into the studio for a day of recording? Are you the musician who does nothing but cross your fingers and hope for good vibes, or the type who obsesses over every detail of your EP before the session? A successful day of recording in the studio is all about balance. Here are some long-term insights and short-term tips to enhance your recording experience and make the best of your studio time.

Your body. As musicians, we’ve all been guilty of neglecting our bodies and just hoping they pull through for us; and it’s true— our bodies are amazingly resilient! However, meeting basic physical needs can profoundly impact your recording session and save you time, money, and stress.

• Hydration: As research advances, we’re understanding more about the best way to hydrate (guzzling three glasses of tap water right before your session won’t do what you think it will). Water takes about four hours to even reach your vocal cords! Tap water is also stripped of the minerals our cells need for true absorption. Drinking one glass of water with electrolytes or steeped with fruits/veggies high in sodium, magnesium, potassium, and/or calcium will do more for you than a gallon of tap water. Products like Gainful, LMNT, and Trace Minerals are also great. Read more here.

• Nutrition: It may seem basic, but coming into the studio properly nourished can be a game-changer for a successful recording session. What we produce is contingent on what we consume! Hydrating and anti-inflammatory foods are a great choice for vocal health, even if that means (dare we say) limiting yourself to only... a couple cups of coffee? We’ll circle back. Like we said, balance.

• Rest: Do NOT sleep on this one! Sleep is one of the most important things you can do to prepare your body and mind for recording in the studio. Vocal rest is important. Stepping into the booth after three consecutive nights of 4-hour bar gigs is less than ideal. Not getting enough sleep can affect you physically, cognitively, and put you in such an emotional funk. Which brings us to....

Your mindset. Once you prime your physical body for success (no shakes, tired vocal cords, foggy brain, etc.), you have more energy to spend on your mindset. To get excited and aligned creatively, you may find there are things you need to shed. Here is what we suggest leaving at the door of your session:

1. Other people’s expectations. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advice from a trusted team of people who know and stand behind your vision. However, we are all guilty of entertaining opinions of those who only know us through social media, or an old mentor, bandmate, or ex’s idea of what we should sound like. Your opinion, ideas, and expectations matter most in our studio. Be present and trust yourself to create the most authentic sound.

2. A self-deprecating attitude. We have all seen wildly talented musicians step into the booth and after a couple imperfect takes, spiral into self-doubt. Insecurity is a productive session’s worst enemy. We are a part of your team now, which means we are here to coach you through your doubts and questions. We believe in you! But we recognize that can only go so far. Confidence and groundedness are key.

At Studio 45b, we believe in finding the sweet spot between planning and leaving room for ideas to take off, branch out, and reroute. This may mean detaching from expectations and connecting with the heart of your project. Some questions to ask yourself before entering the session:

• What are your nonnegotiables?

• What do you want this song/project to “do?” You can think of this technically, but we also encourage you to do so abstractly. What feelings do you want it to evoke in people? Any questions you want it to raise?

• Where are you not sure that the song/project is doing what you want it to? Are there any spots that feel weak, inauthentic, or “filler?”

• If you could release two versions of this song, what would the second version sound like?

• Think of your song in terms of all of the senses. Does it have a texture or color palette? When you picture this song being played, what does the room look like that best showcases it? Who is there? Are you playing it live?

Preparing to record is all about balance. By the time you get in the studio, so much work has already gone into your project— it’s your baby! While it can feel like recording is the pinnacle of all of that hard work, remember that this is just one summit of many in your musical career.

You’re ready! Contact us to book your recording session today.


***Written by Singer/Songwriter Kayla Lunden.

Three ways to prepare yourself for a day in the Studio

We are going to keep this short and sweet! Let’s get right to it.

1. Take into consideration who you are bringing with you into the studio and why.

This is our number one point. Whoever you bring with you into the studio can really make or break the day!

First off, some people want a support system with them on their recording day. We typically tell our clients to bring in one or two people who they trust, and who understand the recording process. The less people in the studio, the better. Too many opinions can lead to disagreements, and it wastes time and your money. Make sure every single person who comes along with you is aware that you call the final shots.

Secondly, multiple people can cause distractions, or noise during recording takes, resulting in wasted time and wasted money. We find that singers, and musicians, can sometimes feel anxious, nervous or feel an immense amount of pressure in front of too many people. We always want our clients to feel relaxed enough to make a mistake, and feel confident enough to try out new ideas on the fly without feeling judged.

We suggest to bring a manager, friend, or family member that is supportive, can capture some social media posts for you.

2. Finalize lyrics and rehearse your band before hand.

It is imperative that your entire band knows their parts like the back of their hand, and that every player feels confident enough to improvise. Too many times we’ve seen singers bring in their own band that was completely under prepared. Your rhythm guitar player should know every chord change, and be well versed enough to change a chord on the fly. Your backup vocalists should be able to hear new vocal harmonies and parts on the spot. Your lead guitar player should have three or four solos completely practiced and figured out before hand, and be able to improvise on those solos on the day of.

If your band is not prepared, it will cost you money. ALSO - No matter HOW strong your band is, make sure they can all play to a metronome.

It can be worth your money to hire a session musician, so as not to waste time with a band member who might not be as quick, skilled or practiced. We can’t stress this enough - being in the studio is not the same as performing live. There are studio cats who have worked in the studio for years and know how to get the proper sound for you. Our producer, Grady James is confident in most instruments, which can save you time and money. Feel free to contact us for connections to amazing studio musicians, or to set up a call with our producer!

3. Make sure you’ve found the right fit.

It is truly a big decision taking your music into a studio. Before you head into the studio be absolutely sure that the team you are working with is producing music that you love. Take the time to research your producer, engineer, and studio. Listen to examples of their work, read testimonials, talk to the producer. Make sure that it feels right. If you don’t vibe with the team, it’ll be hard to feel comfortable in the studio. Research, research, research and take the time to ask questions. If it is a great studio, they will be happy to take the time to make you feel confident, and comfortable.

If you’d like to get to know Studio45b a little better, please set up a free consultation phone call today to see if we are the right fit!

***Written by Danielle Todd***

5 things that make a strong song - it’s not what you think!

First off, lets remember that music is subjective. What you think is a great song, some others might not like at all. Always keep that in mind when you’re writing, or entering the studio. There is only one you in this world, and your unique musical palette is what will ultimately set you aside from other artists in the industry.

Okay! Let’s get to our five points.

1. Really know the purpose of your song.

There are a lot of reasons why musicians write and record. For example, perhaps you have lost a friend and you’d like to write a song to express your emotions around your loss. Maybe you are writing a song to release specifically to country radio in the USA and compete with other A-list country artists on the charts. You could also be looking to get onto a specific editorial playlist on Spotify, or Apple music. Whatever the true purpose of the song is, understanding your song goals can really help you during the recording process and even the writing process.

Lets take the second example and expand a little more on this. If you are looking to record a #1 song in the USA, then chances are you need to fit into a certain genre of music and you need to really know that genre. It would be a good idea to research all of the #1 singles in the last couple of years so you can follow production trends, lyrical trends, and melody trends. This is not to say to copy another persons #1, but if your goal is to be on top, you need to know what’s already at the top of the mountain so you can shoot and aim for it!

Like we said, there are many reasons to write and record a song. Having a better understanding of your songs purpose will help you write, produce, mix and master it so that your song has the best chance of reaching it’s full potential.

2. Space.

It is so important in production to give your song space. There are exceptions to every rule, but in general, having room to breathe between verses, or even between phrases really allows your mind to process the message of the song, or the message of a particular line. Sometimes productions can be overwhelming and having that little break can create a moment for the listener to process what they’re hearing.

Space can also be used creatively when you’re creating tension for a strong build. For example, if there is a point in your song with an intense production, it might be a good technique to take every instrument away suddenly, and just have the vocals in the recording. A similar example of this would be Zedd and Maren Morris in “The Middle,” where in the very first chorus, it drops to just vocals and a ticking clock sound, after having a pretty full production leading up to that moment.

Space is vital to create dynamics and make the music breathable. Take a listen to your own songs and see if there are places where you can create some breathing room.

3. Creating a unique vocal production.

Vocal production can often be overlooked in a recording session. Singer/songwriters can have a tendency of writing the song, and singing it exactly the same way as the first day they wrote it when they walk into the studio to record. While you want to have some melodies set in place before entering the studio, it is incredibly beneficial to have an open mind to suggestions on vocal recording days.

Lets start with harmony. One of the Queen’s of harmony in country music is Cam. Check out her song, “Diane,” which kicks off with acapella harmony. This is both powerful on a recording, but also in a live setting. Imagine being in a theatre and having the opening song just live vocals? It’s such a moving moment in a set, and on a recording.

How about vocal call backs? One of the easiest examples of this is Motown music. For a modern version of this, check out “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars. Take a listen and try to pay attention to all the detail in the backing vocals. The vocal production in this song is absolutely incredible. A vocal baseline, with vocal pads, call backs in the pre-chorus, and an absolutely untouchable lead vocal. The vocal production on this song is what makes it so catchy, memorable and different. (Okay, there’s also a ton of production on here that isn’t vocal production, but you get what we mean!)

Once the vocals are tracked, including harmony, vocal pads (oo’s and ah’s), and a strong unique lead vocal, its time to mix and master the vocals. This is the last step in vocal production and one that you do not want to skimp out on.

4. Emotional connection.

It goes without saying that your audience needs to be emotionally connected to your music. But lets take a closer look - how can your music be emotionally connected to your song?

It is crucial to find a producer that understands your song. What emotion are you trying to convey? What are the lyrics about? Are they happy, sad, inspirational? Your production should align with these emotions.

To list a few songs that emotionally connected with their lyrics, take a listen to “Happy,” by Pharrell Williams (sorry in advance, this song will now be stuck in your head for days!) But lets be honest here, can you think of a “happier” sounding song? Take the lyrics away and listen to the melody and production. That song is upbeat, exciting, cheerful and makes you want to dance. Pharrell and his team found a way to make this song explode with happy endorphins. It is a great example of how important it is for the lyrics to emotionally connect with the production.

On the flip side, Adele’s song “Someone Like You,” focuses on a sad, nostalgic breakup. Can you think of a more successful sad song in modern years? It goes without saying that Adele’s vocals are on point, and convey her emotions on every level. The imperfections in the vocal take make you feel like she is almost on the verge of tears when she is singing it. Her lyrics and subtle vocal inflections take you on a journey, taking you back to the very moment of her breakup, evoking the same emotions within you. You barely notice the piano in the background, and the subtle vocal production changes throughout the song because you’re so immersed in her story. The producer on this song knew when to step back and give Adele the space she needed to knock this song out of the park. This emotional connection is powerful.

5. Be You.

Okay, we get it. You’ve heard this before. But it’s true. You need to be authentically, loudly, fearlessly, unapologetically yourself for your music to stand out and become a work of art. Nobody in the world has the same ideas that you have floating around in your brain. You need to shine in your songwriting, vocals, and production. If you don’t set yourself apart from other artists in the industry, you will fall by the wayside. Trust yourself, your instincts and believe in your craft. You will thank yourself for it later.

Think of Lady Gaga, Adele, Zach Bryan, Cody Johnson, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton. These are all incredibly successful artists that stood up for what they believe in and didn’t waver, while paving the way for artists to follow. They made their stamp and changed the music industry.

Do it. Be you. See what happens.

6. Bonus! High quality recording.

We couldn’t let you leave without explaining the importance of hiring a team that knows their craft inside and out to help make you sound the best you possibly can. Heading into a studio can be overwhelmingly intimidating. You need to have a team on your side that believes in you and wants to help you create your unique masterpiece.

Pick a studio, engineer, producer and session musicians who are experienced, have a great track record, listen to you, and who you feel comfortable and confident working with. Don’t be afraid to speak up and call the final shots.

We are here to say that if you have an amazing song, with killer vocals and a great backing band, you need to have a high quality mix and master of this track or it will not get the recognition it deserves. Do not bring your music this far without making sure you spend the proper amount of care on polishing and refining it. It has to have a radio standard quality for anybody in the industry to give it the time of day.

Now that we’ve covered 5 points that make your song amazing, what are some points that you have to work on? Are there any other points that you would add?

We believe in you and want you to succeed. Contact us today if you feel like you are ready to start your recording process.

***Written by Danielle Todd***

Caleb Mills - Feature Artist of the Month

We’d love to introduce you to Caleb Mills!

Caleb found Studio45b through word-of-mouth, as so many artists did in the beginning days. When he initially came into our Studio, we were blown away with his voice. For such a young man, he had an incredible amount of feeling and soul radiating from each note.

It wasn’t long before we noticed his hit songwriting skills. S-U-R-V-I-V-E is a cheeky song that came to life with Grady and Caleb working alongside each other. This song catapulted Caleb on TikTok, gaining hundreds of thousands of followers overnight.

We sat down with Caleb to get the insight on his newest EP, "You Only," that he recorded right here at Studio45b.

Let’s get to it!

Studio45b: Caleb! It’s so great to chat with you. Congratulations on your new EP release. Can you tell us a little bit about the process for picking these songs, and how the EP came together?

Caleb: I honestly didn't plan for these songs to go on a project together at all. Once I had all 3 back though, I slowly connected them all, and to me they fit perfectly as a collective. 

Studio45b: Tell us about your recording experience. Did you face any challenges and how did you overcome them?

Caleb: Not really, but it is funny that initially "Me And You" was going to be a demo to pitch. I ended up loving it so much that I had to put it on the EP.

Studio45b: Good thing, because we love that song! How do you balance creative direction with commercial appeal?

Caleb: For me, I try not to think too much into commercial appeal, as long as the song isn't 5 minutes long I feel like my creativity is enough to make a song commercial. 

Studio45b: What do you think is the most challenging aspect that musicians face in todays industry?

Caleb: I think the most challenging aspect of today's industry is the immense amount of music/musicians. It is extremely competitive with so many people having the ability to release their own records. The constant demand for new music by fans is great but it takes away from a lot of artists' ability to stay relevant.

Studio45b: Tell us about your TikTok following. You've blown up! Congratulations. Are you finding that it's helping your career? Is it a good platform for you?

Caleb: Without TikTok I wouldn't have anywhere near the amount of support that I have. I tell every artist, writer, producer, etc. if they aren't on TikTok it needs to be the very next thing they do. It has furthered my career more than anything else. At times, the constant need to put out content is a lot, but in the end it's 100% worth it!

Studio45b: Tell us about the most memerable show you've played!

Caleb: The most memorable show I've ever played is probably Whiskey Jam at Winner's in Nashville. It's such an iconic place and event to play. It was so much fun and is an honor to be a part of that family. 

Studio45b: We love Whiskey Jam. Congrats on playing such a prestigious gig! What is the best piece of musical advice you've ever received?

Caleb: "You can't sing it if you don't feel it" - My Grandaddy

Studio45b: We love that! Do you have any favorite songs on the EP?

Caleb: My favorite song from the You Only EP is definitely "Keep On". It's more of a slow jam love song which is my favorite style to write. I also wrote it alone so it means a lot to me.

Studio45b: Can you share who collaborated on this album with you? Writers, producers, players, if any?

Caleb: The legend himself, Mr. Grady James, played everything on this EP other than a few acoustic guitars that I did. We produced it together, mostly me making weird noises with my mouth and him turning them into real music. My co-writers on this project were Eric Michael Taylor, Parker Leblanc, Caleb Lathrop, Ethan Wynn, and Andrew Parris.

Studio45b: Hey, I think we’ve heard of those guys! Thank you for sending them to our Studio. Lastly, we have a legendary Mexican restaurant down the street from our studio. Pedro’s has become a client favorite around here! What is your favorite thing on the menu?

Caleb: ALL OF IT! If you're recording with Grady, and he asks if you're hungry, just say yes. Pedro's is worth every penny.

Thanks so much for chatting with us, Caleb. We can’t wait to see you in the Studio again soon. Congratulations on all your success!

Check out Caleb’s new EP here.

Check out Caleb’s website here.

Check out Caleb on TikTok here.