What can I expect in a recording studio?
surferdude
Posts: 2,057
Background: I'm a pretty sloppy/poor guitarist but I think I can write some decent songs even if I can't play some of them all that well. Through friends I can call in some favors and get some free studio time and musicians for a weekend. All it will cost me is booze, food and coke (I think).
Questions;
1. Some of the musicians have sold millions of albums. Will they laugh me out of the studio when I try to show them songs I can barely play?
2. How much can I expect to get done in a weekend if these guys have never heard the songs before? And by songs I just mean guitar and vocals. We'd have to be working out drums and bass and leads on the fly.
3. Is it worth the risk of calling in a lot of favours and then owing some? When all I'd end up getting for the trouble is probably a pretty cool souvenir. As much as my ego would like to think other wise there's no market in rock for non-performing songwriters.
Questions;
1. Some of the musicians have sold millions of albums. Will they laugh me out of the studio when I try to show them songs I can barely play?
2. How much can I expect to get done in a weekend if these guys have never heard the songs before? And by songs I just mean guitar and vocals. We'd have to be working out drums and bass and leads on the fly.
3. Is it worth the risk of calling in a lot of favours and then owing some? When all I'd end up getting for the trouble is probably a pretty cool souvenir. As much as my ego would like to think other wise there's no market in rock for non-performing songwriters.
“One good thing about music,
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
If you dont know the musicians you are gonna play with, I would copyright your stuff. You cant trust anybody with that stuff, esp. if it has any hooks at all. Make a cheap, but audible recording, mail that to yourself, and leave it unopened.
This never occured to me. Thanks for the heads up.
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley
The best thing you could do for yourself is ensure that you get "songwriter" copywrite. Ensure that you sing or read the full lyrics of your song (this should be recorded at the session). Just a simple statement that "you'd like to read/sing and play the song you wrote. Note the part that you feel is the "killer riff". Ensure that you get an "original" demo of the "first" session, even if it is incomplete. After that, depending on how much the musicians contribute and as you are fully dependent on them, they can claim limited or full copywrite to the music. .
Friend or not, all bets are off once you walk into a studio to cut a demo, so be careful if you seriously think you have a good song.
I usually say count on one hour of studio work for every minute of music, but in your case, I would count on 3 hours for every minute of tracking that will be worth keeping. This does not include setup or tear-down, or mixing. For mixing, I usually say count on 4 hours per minute of music. So...
30 minutes of music for experienced musicians = 30 hours + setup, tones, and tear-down at the end of the session
mixing = 120 hours.
for you...90 to 120 hours of recording for 30 minutes worth listening to more than once That would be safe considering you have to teach songs that by your own admission you can barely play.
A weekend could be Friday-Sunday, 12 hour days. That would give you about 30 hours of record time, or 10 minutes.
old music: http://www.myspace.com/slowloader
I think my next step may be to corner my ex-wife's cousin at the next extended family get together. He was and still is the lead singer in a huge 80's arena rock band (worldwide album sales well over 20 million). It just seems like setting myself up for dissapointment in going to a cokehead for advice. That and he doesn't come off as the most intelligent guy in the world.
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley
That's what I'd do. Recording yourself will also make you a better player and help you realize your ideas before you rally the troops and have a go at the studio.
Good luck to you. Don't be discouraged...you can do it if you put in the time to do it right. Otherwise, you will just piss yourself off.
old music: http://www.myspace.com/slowloader
There are thousands are bands and musicians that have good songs and put in hours of practice but cannot get any recognition.
The saying "dont run before you can walk" seems to come to mind.
**I am also very concerned about "all it will cost me is alcohol,food and coke ! " only one of these is essential for a recording session.
On a positive note, you first need to write and record some of your so songs onto any basic audio tape recorder and play them to your freinds and anyone who will listen , if they are as good as you think they will be then people will want to practice with you develop how your songs should sound , a song written in your room on an acoustic guitar will sound quite different played loud with a band in a practice room.
Once you have practiced and become a tight unit then think about doing some local shows to a small crowd, you will soon know if your songs are any good from the response you get, if you raise the roof and people want a CD from you then it is time to think about recording.
Somebody once told me - "If you cant keep the attention of 10 people then you have no chance with 10,000"
Then I'll enter it in the local radio station yearly band contest. Mostly to say to myself that I wasn't afraid to put it out there.
I'm too old and too much a family guy to chase this as a dream, and besides it's not my dream. Had that chance 20+ years ago and passed it up. But there's just some music that, as Robert Plant would say, "it's in him and it's gotta come out".
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley
This is about me finding my own way through the jungle. I'm pretty sure I could just call this guy up and ask him and his guitarist and drummer to help me but I know I'd lose control of what I'm wanting to do then. I do wish I knew the drummer better though. He's managed to play a few really cool, instantly recognizable beats, something I have zero ability with.
There's a damn near orchestra in my head with a couple of the songs. My goal is to capture at least 10% of what I hear. That's it.
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley
decent player and make a four track of your songs with him playing and a drum machine. You don't want to sit there and struggle through playing your songs to these guys. 1) Their impression of the song will not be what it would be with a different recording and 2) It's been my experience that the more sucessful a musician is, the less patience they have for mediocrity. Put your best foot forward, bring in a four track recording that has been well put together and let them work from that.
If you go into a recording studio with professional musicians and you cannot play your own songs or have them written and arranged you will look like a chump! I am not calling you a chump now..just giving you the heads up.
On top of this you obviously dont want to waste anyones time and you would be best to get a decent player or yourself up to speed on playing the tunes very well before stepping into a recording booth so that your time in the studio will not be wasted. Make the most of it and get the best recordings of your best songs done.
Producers and Techs getting shitty when people come into their work space unprepared.
Delivered him wings, "Hey, look at me now
MY BAND!
jay_2_the_kay@hotmail.com