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Here are some tips to help
you make a good choice. In
my 30+ years of recording experience, these four items have always
been a part of making the right choice. They are listed in order
of priority..........
1.Experience
level of the engineer.
This is number
one for good reason. A more experienced engineer will do a better
job faster than a less experienced engineer. Your
engineer will have a greater impact on the sound and cost of your
recording than any other variable. Look for an engineer
with the most experience working on the kind of product you will
be recording (i.e. song demo, radio ad, release music album, etc.)
The best equipment in the finest studio will only sound as good
as the engineer will allow it to.
2.Suitability
of the physical facility
Here is the
second most important criteria. Consider the
physical Location. If you have to travel thousands
of miles to record at a particular studio, be sure to factor in
the transportation and lodging costs, which can add up fast. Consider
using a facility closer to home if possible. It is much easier to
organize your band member’s schedules if the studio is within a
reasonable drive. Also, you may end up having to make some additional
return trips for a re-mix or some post-production.
Is the facility large enough to accommodate
your needs? Your music group must be able to fit and work
comfortably in the studio. Check out the acoustic design for
your style of music. A huge live room may be required for orchestral
sessions, while a smaller dry room is generally used for typical
pop music recordings.
Be sure there is a relaxed, pleasant, creative
environment in which to work. Remember, you may be there
for days on end, so the vibe of the surroundings can have a big
impact on your mood.
Are there adequate creature comforts like
lounge area, kitchen facilities, seating for everyone, quiet
places to get away and polish performances, lyrics, and charts.
The acoustical sound quality of the control room
and monitoring system is critical. If this item is not up
to par, your recording may sound great in the studio, but not translate
well into the real world of car stereos and boom boxes, which is
critical to the success of your project. A facility that has
been designed from the ground up as a recording studio will
be more accurate and sound better than retro-fits in existing buildings,
homes, or garages.
3.Equipment
available
 Surprised
that this is not number one? The fact is that a very experienced
engineer can make a great sounding recording on not-so-great equipment.
But experienced engineers working with the
best equipment consistently make the best sounding recordings.
Don’t be misled by the huge list of equipment offered by many
recording studios, as you probably wouldn’t need to use 90% of
it anyway. It’s kind of like taking your car to the mechanic.
He has a huge tool chest with hundreds of specialized tools, but
will probably need only a select few to get the job done.
The
staples? The best sounding recordings include the use of high-end
mike preamps, a selection of major name microphones, and some
classic and high-end outboard gear. Nowadays, the lion’s-share
of release-quality recordings include the use of hard-disk recording
and editing systems like MOTU Digital Performer, or Protools.
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Just
remember, impressive equipment alone does not make great
recordings. But in the hands of a
master engineer, great equipment becomes an important component
of great recordings.
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4.
Rates
Surprised again
that this is not number one? It’s funny how the hourly rate is usually
top priority for newbys, and becomes much lower priority for recording
veterans. Here are a few things to consider about rates:
All
studios are not created equal. If all recording engineers
and studios were equal, then the cheapest hourly rate would be the
best value. But in reality, there is a big difference in the
quality of product and the speed of production from one studio to
another. While the better engineers and studios
cost more per hour, they end up using less studio time while producing
a better product. So the client ends up with a much better
product in less time.
Hourly
rates can be misleading. More is better. Or is it? If you
are shopping for cheap studio rates, you are certain to find them.
If your goal is to find and buy a large quantity of the cheapest
studio time, then go for it. If, however, your goal is to produce
the best-recorded product for your dollar,
you will need to seek out the more experienced engineer in a
great facility. In the end, this is always your best value by far.
In a tape-based
studio, analog or digital, up to 25% of your studio time will be
spent waiting for the tapes to rewind and locate. After every take
and punch-in, you will have to wait for the playback. This means
that 25% of your studio dollars are wasted, compared to a studio
with a random-access hard-disk recording system like MOTU or Protools.
Hourly
rate vs. Project rate. Recording veterans seldom do a recording
project on an hourly basis. A more efficient approach is to work
on a project basis. Discuss the overall goals for your recording
project with the studio you would like to record at, and set a reasonable
budget for your time and finances. Then produce your project within
these parameters. This is the approach used by every major recording
artist and record label I have known, because it works so well.
Instead of being distracted by watching the hourly rate clock tick
off the studio hours, the artist is freed to concentrate on the
overall project. For more information, check out our rates
and services link
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Choose
your recording studio based on these priorities; engineer,
facility, equipment, and value.
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SUMMARY..........
- Your
engineer will have a greater impact on the sound and cost
of your recording than any other variable.
- Be
sure the studio facility is a relaxed, pleasant, creative
environment in which to work.
- Great
equipment becomes an important component of Great recordings
in the hands of a master engineer.
- If
your goal is to produce the best-recorded product for your
dollar, remember that a cheap rate is not the same as a
good value. My advice is to seek out the more experienced
engineer in a better facility.
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Choosing
the Right Recording Studio, from Back at the Ranch Studio
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