Recording
Our Recording Process
Let us start at the very beginning...
Every recording project has to start somewhere, this is the time to set up all or part of the band, or maybe just a single musician. To give the recording a 'live feel' it is best if the whole band is recorded together like a gig, with all the parts recorded. Sometimes called basic or rhythm tracking, it is this foundation on which the entire recording will be based. With a typical 4 or 5 piece rock band, we will usually only keep the rhythm section from this stage for the final mix, or maybe only the drums. The other tracks will be used as guides that will be replaced later by perhaps a more polished performance. It is therefore important that the drummer and bass player are given plenty of time to work out a comfortable tempo, and are relaxed enough to play their normal routine. Getting this stage right is the key to the whole process, so please be patient if this stage seems to drag.
After the initial tracking is complete, other musical parts may be added. These will include the vocals, both main and backing parts, instrumental overdubs, solos, etc. These recordings will be the finishing touches for each song and will take time. If your budget does not give you more than a day or two in the studio, then make sure you are well prepared, and only attempt to record those songs you are really confident with.
After the recordings are finished, all of the parts must be mixed into a final stereo track. To produce an accurate reflection of your sound, we'll want you to get involved in the process at this stage. You might have a particular sound in mind and you are welcome to supply examples of commercial songs to help us, help you achieve your aims. During this stage any special effects are applied along with the relative volume and pan of each part and the equalization to be set.
Mastering is a blanket term applied to the various processes used to prepare the final mixed product for manufacturing. Strictly named pre-mastering (mastering being the production of the CD's themselves), these processes include sequencing and editing of songs into their final form, and equalization and level adjustments for each song in order to even out differences between the mixes. All tracks recorded here will be given the same treatment as a separate mastering job, and you can expect the same attention to detail (the tracks would even sound better too - as we have taken care how we mixed the track in the first place!).
|
