RACS Newsletter – Spring 2013

5 Tips for Artists Heading Into the Studio

by Michael Chambers (aka moon:and:6) of Catherine North Studios

http://catherinenorth.com/

1. Pre-production – Demo, demo, demo

Demos are one of the most important things to do before going into the studio. Pre-production is a lot of work and it isn’t sexy. However, proper pre-production is the key to having a great experience in the studio. I think of the demo as a road map. It doesn’t mean you can’t explore, but you always know what the goal is, and where you meant to go. 

Pre-production is also a good time to find out if you need a producer. The term producer can mean a lot of things these days, but what I’m talking about is a person to help work out musical arrangements, budgets, and much more. Producers’ production styles and fees vary widely. It’s best to find a producer through a referral. Make sure you like her/him as a person, and that you like his/her previous work. 

2. Communication (band and studio)

Communicate! Over communicate if you must. It’s always better that everyone (band members and studio staff) know the goals of the session. This goes along with pre-production. The better you plan and communicate, the better your experience will be. Talk about albums you like with the studio staff. The more studio staff know your likes and dislikes, the better and faster they can get you on track to a great experience. 

3. Instrument set-up, repair and maintenance

Make sure your equipment is in good repair. Make sure all your patch cables are working! 

Guitarists: Have your guitar set up before going into the studio. There’s nothing worse than finding out the intonation is off during tracking, or that there’s a buzz on the low E string at the second fret. I’ve done a number of on-the-spot guitar set ups, and it’s bit of a drag for the rest of the band. 

Change your strings at least a couple of days before recording. New strings have better tone and hold their tune better than old ones, but they take some time to be worked in. Don’t change your strings on the day you plan to record. Acoustic guitar strings should be changed at least a week in advance. Brand new acoustic strings can sound thin and brittle on recordings. 

Finally, electric players, make sure your amps are free of buzzes, crackles and random noises. It’s much easier to trouble shoot when you know the equipment was in great shape before going into the studio. 

Bassists: Same as above, but with the exception of changing your strings! I generally prefer the tone of old bass strings on recordings. Of course there are exceptions to this rule; I know some metal bassists that love the ‘ping’ of new bass strings. 

Drummers: Learn to tune your drum kit. Listen for rattles and any noises that shouldn’t be there. Make sure your kick pedal doesn’t squeak, your hi-hat stand is whisper quiet, and the lugs are secure on your drums. New drum heads usually sound better as well, but like bass strings, there is some room for interpretation here. 

Keyboard players: make sure you’re happy with the patches you chose if you’re playing synth. If your keyboard has built-in effects, learn how to turn them off. Sometimes the effects on offer at the studio can be a better choice. 

Vocalists: Learn to warm up correctly. This will help for live shows as well, but especially in the studio. When your parts are under the microscope, you want to sound your best. Don’t rely on being able to pitch correct your vocals after the recording. There’s nothing wrong with using pitch correction software, but it shouldn’t be relied on to fix a mediocre performance. Finally, avoid consuming any dairy, caffeine and alcohol before your recording session. 

4. Take the time to find the best studio for your needs

If you’re planning on recording at a studio, one of the most important decisions to make is what studio to use. Rates and equipment vary widely. It’s best to take the time to go for a tour of any studio you plan to work at. It’s like a job interview. You’re hiring the studio to record your music, so make sure you feel they can do the best job for you. You’re going to be spending a lot of time there, so make sure you get along well with the people first – then worry about the rest of the stuff.

When hiring a studio here’s what you need to look out for: 

The People – Make sure you like the people. You’re going to be working very closely with them. The better you get along and respect each other, the better your recording will turn out.

The Space – Once you’re happy with the people, assess how the space feels. Acoustic properties are not as important as how comfortable you feel.

The Gear – The equipment are simply tools used by people. Equipment makes a difference, but not as much as the marketing departments will have you believe! A good engineer can make a great recording with mediocre equipment, but a bad engineer can’t make a good recording with best equipment in the world!

5. Nothing is sacred

Remember, nothing is sacred. That means that even though you did all that work on your demos, be ready to make some changes in the studio.

Click here to read the latest newsletter:  Fall 2012 E-News

Click here to read the latest newsletter: RACS e-news

Copyright Board of Canada Certifies Re:Sound’s Physical Activities Tariff
July 6, 2012

The Copyright Board of Canada today certified Re:Sound’s Tariff 6.B (Use of Recorded Music to Accompany Physical Activities, 2008-2012). This is Re:Sound’s inaugural tariff to compensate recording artists and record labels when their recordings are used in venues such as fitness clubs and dance studios.

This tariff was first proposed in 2007 for the period 2008-2012 and a Copyright Board hearing was held in April/May 2010, during which the Board heard submissions from both Re:Sound and fitness industry representatives. At this hearing, Re:Sound presented significant econometric and consumer choice modelling evidence to show the substantial value that music provides to gyms, fitness classes and other activities.

“Anyone who has been to a gym or attended a dance class knows the integral role that music plays in these venues,” commented Martin Gangnier, Re:Sound’s Director of Licensing. “Prior to this tariff, fitness venues in Canada did not pay artists and labels for the recorded music they use, even though music provides them significant value.”

In Canada, songwriters, composers and publishers have long been remunerated when their music is used in gyms and other fitness facilities. Re:Sound’s Tariff 6.B will ensure that artists and labels also receive compensation when their work is used in fitness venues in Canada.

“It is only fair that artists and record labels – the people and companies that create recorded music – are compensated for the broadcast of their music in these venues,” added Gangnier. “In this respect, Canada is only catching up with the rest of the world where fitness clubs and classes in most developed countries already pay royalties to artists and labels.”

Oak Recording Studio’s Top 5 Tips before going into the studio. 

by Damon de Szegheo 

1. Songs – Make sure they are great 

Everything in the music industry – the record, the shows, your success or failure starts with the quality of your songs. Don’t just record your newest – record your best. If you are not sure which ones’ those are asks friends, family, and especially your fans. If you ask 30-50 people you’ll get a good idea of which songs really resonate.  

2. Make Demos 

You’ll work more efficiently in the studio is you take the time to know how your songs are going to come together on tape. Get a home recording setup – could be a simple protools rig or a 4 track, what ever will help you lay down the basic parts and reflect on them to see if everything the band is playing ‘works’ together when sitting back as a listener. I can’t tell you how many bands come in and discover they are playing incompatible notes at the same time. 

3. Talk Budget and Timeline with the Studio 

Have a sit down meeting with the studio to hash out your general budget restraints and the timeline you want to accomplish things in. Put it down on paper so everyone is fully informed of the plan going into the studio. That way you can work at your best without worrying the budget is going to balloon too much or it’s going to take a year to finish your record (Unless you are Metallica – than that’s cool). 

4. Plan Meals 

A simple one but usually completely overlooked. If you ignore breakfast, record all day then go for the pizza at 7:00pm, your blood sugar will go on a roller coaster that will make you feel irritable, scattered, & not at your peak abilities. Your time in the studio will run the smoothest if you take care of yourself. Make sandwiches for everyone, bring slow burning foods like nuts to snack on. You’ll work better, longer, and later. 

5. Be Open 

Yes, the plan might change when you are in the studio. Go in ready to listen to further input from the engineer / producer on arrangements, and parts. Leave some time in the budget to allow things to take a little longer to put those final needed touches on the recording. A little extra time can turn a decent recording into a great one. We know you are excited to get your record but don’t rush the final steps. Six Months to a year down the road you’ll wish you took the extra time.

Whether it is your first time or you’re a seasoned pro, our friends from Brixton Music have given us these great tips on how to prepare for your next trip to the studio:

1) Pre-production.
We’re clumping a lot together, but pre-production is all the work you put in before production starts. Make sure everyone in the band knows their parts. You don’t want to have to lay down 6 takes until you’re finally getting your parts; you want to do 6 great takes so you have lots of great parts to pick from. When we work with a band we often go over the performance and take notes and point out things to work on. For example vocal performance, are they singing in key? Is the drummer mashing the cymbals or does the band tend to rush in spots? Make lots of notes so when you are going into the studio you have a solid game plan.

2) Gear.
Have an idea of what gear you will be using. If you want to have a specific sound for your guitar or drums, make sure you have the right gear for it. If you want your guitar to sound like a Fender Strat, use a Fender Strat. Studios can do a lot of effects but starting with the right gear gives you much better sound.

3) Practice.
Practice, practice, practice. And practice with a click track. If you aren’t use to it, it can eat up a lot of time getting use to it in the studio. The click is your friend, and whoever is editing will thank you. You’re sure to get your money’s worth if you have the click down from the get-go.

4) Breakables. Â
Anything that can break will. So when you are going into the studio, make sure you have extras of everything that might break. Guitar strings, tuners, drum sticks cables etcetera. There’s nothing that sucks more than doing a session late Sunday evening and the guitar breaks a string and you can’t get another one because the local music shop is closed.   

5) Nutrition.
Recording sessions can run long and late so make sure you are prepped for it. We don’t want to sound like your Mom but pack good food to snack on. Sugar is great but crashing halfway through a session can really kill your creative vibe. No booze or drugs. Being in the studio is a fun experience and can be looked at as a milestone for a lot of new artists. Somehow many musicians get the idea that now that they have hit this milestone they can party like Rockstars. But unfortunately alcohol can cripple your playing abilities pretty quick.  

Take away:  Think of going into the studio like getting ready to play in the Super Bowl. The game may be over in a couple of hours but the journey started way in advance. 

About Brixton Music

Brixton Music offers a school of music for a multitude of talents, a recording studio for professional sound production, a media team for exposure and publicity and a record label for artists in business. Find us at www.brixtonmusic.com, /BrixtonMusicMedia on Facebook or @BrixtonMusic on Twitter.

Click here to read the latest newsletter:  RACS e-news

How do we here at RACS stay focused while processing the cheques of hundreds of performers?  Easy.  Last month (May), we kept our brains in order and the cheques rolling by listening to the sounds of the following recording artists: Read More

We asked our friends over at Noble Street Studios if they had any tips for recordings artists heading into the studio, and Donny Da Silva tapped into his years of experience to offer the following: Read More