Of course, with the rise of home studios, many artists can get away with skipping the time and expense of a professional recording studio. Then what kind of artist is the pro route right for? Tim G. says, “Really bands are going to benefit from studio recording more than Singers working to their own beats/backing tracks. Especially bands that warrant a more organic sound (i.e. less trigger samples from the drums).”
So, if your band wants the extra know-how of a Producer, in terms of shaping the sound, using effects, and so forth, it makes sense to find a studio with a similar aesthetic to your work and book some time. Tim adds, “…some bands really don’t care if they sound like samples and presets and some bands love the opposite. [As a Producer it’s] worth making a note of and deciding for yourself what you think is important to the sound of each band and artist.”
From the Engineer/Producer standpoint, Tim says “dealing with full bands obviously involves more and you have to do more work ironing out problems. You’ve also got the stress of dealing with different personalities, which can create problems. Try and have a pep talk before you start on what to do and what not to do and why it’s important.
Solo artists are much more simple and it’s really just about getting the best performance out of them and fixing any mistakes. [A good Engineer/Producer will] try and get people focused but relaxed as well.”
Once you’ve solidified which songs you’ll be recording and figured out who you’ll be working with, you’ll naturally have some questions about your chosen Engineer/Producer’s working methods and what to expect. Be sure to clarify any specific questions with the studio before you go in so there are no major surprises, and take a look at our tips for getting the most out of your first visit to the recording studio.