The Recording Project Process

The Recording Project Process

Every recording project is different, but there is a basic flow that we try to follow so as to reduce or even eliminate any unpleasant suprises. We want you to know at all times what is going on with your project and where we are in the production process.

Initial Consultation 
This is where we meet with you at the studio to begin talking about your project. It's basically a “get to know each other time.”  We want to learn all about you and your music.  We also have an online form that you can fill out that will help us in planning your project.   

 

Proposal


Here is where we write it all down.  Simply put, the proposal tells you in writing what we plan to do together, how much it will cost, how long it will take, and what the final result will be.

Working from a written proposal will eliminate any unpleasant surprises.

Just as every musician is different, every proposal is different, and it will be specifically tailored to you.

Items usually included in the proposal:

  1. Type of project
  2. Financial arrangements
  3. Time line for completion, i.e the schedule - includes what we have to do, and what you have to do as well to keep your project moving along on schedule.
  4. Policies on changes, rescheduling, etc.
  5. List of deliverables.
  6. List of milestones.
  7. List of required resources.

 

First Recording Session

 

Now the fun begins!  How it begins depends on the type of project you are doing, and how you are most comfortable performing in the studio.  There are several different ways to approach recording a song:

  1. If the artist is a guitar-playing (or keyboard playing) songwriter, they may begin by laying down an instrumental track along with a “scratch” vocal (a vocal that will later be replaced). He or she may play to a “click” to help them keep time, or perform in “free time” if they are more comfortable that way, or if your song has tempo changes.
    1. Some artists will lay down an instrumental track, and then come back and record a vocal.
  2. We then fill in the rest of the track with other instruments such as bass, keyboards, drums, percussion, backing vocals, etc.
  3. The artist may choose to re-do the lead vocal
  4. We edit and produce a “first draft” mix. This is not a rough mix, but our best effort towards a final mix. We will produce several “rough mixes” as requested during the course of the project to help the artist.
  5. The artist will review the mix Usually two or three mixes are required until the desired result is achieved.

We have also worked with songwriters who did not play an instrument, or chose not to play on their recording.

  1. So we start by producing a basic track for the song, trying to get the right feel and tempo. A basic track might be something like piano or guitar, bass and drums.
  2. The artist will come in and record a lead vocal, which may be a final vocal or a “scratch.”
  3. We go back and “fill in” the rest of the track, with lead guitar, strings, backing vocals, horns, percussion, etc. We add whatever the arrangement calls for.  Some artists will have a great deal of input in to the arrangement; others will leave it to us. 
  4. After that the artist will re-do the lead vocal if needed.
  5. Editing and mixing.

This is a very basic outline of the process, based on our 21 years of experience in producing. Every project is different, and we outline the recording process for every project in the written proposal.