So, how much studio time will I need?
That depends entirely on your project. If you can lay down each part in one or two takes, its possible to record a song in a day. It's a good idea to speak with the engineer before booking to explain what you want to do and get an estimate of the time involved.
What’s the procedure for recording a song?
The first step is to lay down a guide track, usually just guitar,vocal and a metronome. This gives the other band members something to play along with. The drums are then recorded before moving on to the bass, keyboards, guitar etc... Once the rhythm section is completed a rough mix is made. The vocal, backing vocals and any solo’s go on last, then the final mix is burnt onto CD, MD or DAT.
How many tracks will I need?
A drum kit uses 8-12 tracks when recorded, this can however be ‘bounced down’ to 4 to make a bit more room. Rhythm guitar usually takes up 2 tracks, one left, the other right. So speak to the engineer and ensure that what you want to do is feasible. We don’t for example have room for the London Philharmonic! |