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 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***