7 STAGES OF RECORDING STUDIO SESSION PROCEDURES PREPRODUCTION

7 STAGES OF RECORDING STUDIO SESSION PROCEDURES

PREPRODUCTION • Begins before the recording session • Includes: picking songs, working out tempos, rehearsing, instrument repair/maintenance, recording and evaluating songs • Helps save time and money

SETUP • Involves: picking mics, preparing headphone mixes, addressing isolation issues, starting track sheets or templates, labeling the console/gear, tuning up • Often includes troubleshooting and solving issues before you press record

BASIC OR RHYTHM TRACKS • The ”bed” or “foundation” of the recording • Song needs to be “in time, in tune” to move on to overdubs • Can include: scratch tracks, multiple takes, correcting rhythm tracks

OVERDUBS • Layering of tracks • This stage usually involves fixing any mistakes • Overdubbing: vocals, solos, additional instrumentation • Editing and clean up

ROUGH MIXES • Used to evaluate performances • Can occur or after initial tracking or overdubbing • Kind of a quick sketch of what has been done so far • Great for a soloist, horn player, string player, or anyone coming in to overdub

MIXING • Final stage before mastering • Balance of instruments • Compression or limiting • Panning • EQ • Additional editing • FX applied • Automation • Don’t be afraid to compare your mix to another mix

MASTERING • The final stage • Prepares your mixes to be sent off for duplication or replication • Details include: equaling levels and tones between different tracks, stereo compression, creating song order, inserting space between tracks, CD track text, ISRC codes, master copy • Fees are typically separate from engineering fees