1. Practice, practice, practice. Know the material inside and out. If possible, memorize the lyrics and music well. If you are recording in front of a studio condenser microphone it will pick up page turning. Sometimes, playing in the studio is not like playing live performances. For example, if you plan to record vocals separately and record the instrumental tracks first, are you able to play the song without hearing any "guide" vocal? The studio is not the best place to learn and plan, working out things that should ideally be set ahead of time.
2. Set a realistic and clearly defined objective for each session. Remember, in the studio everything takes longer. We will be fine tuning sounds, levels, setting the headphone mix and more before the record button is ever hit. There will be pauses to play back, listen and make decisions (like keep it, redo it or trash it). Come to the recording session with a clear goal and something extra in case things go really well.
You may want to discuss your goal with the engineer to find out what is realistic and what to expect. You are encouraged to share your intentions and plans. How perfect do you want it? Are you in a hurry?
3. There is more involved than just recording. The process of recording captures your raw sounds into our digital system. It takes the raw sounds from your instrument, your voice and even your performance style and records these pieces into our computerized digital system. What then? Many first-timers are suprised to see how much work still remains as we "professionalize" your sounds with just the right treatment. This too will take time - sometimes more than it took to complete the initial recording phase. Again, how perfect do you want it?
4. Be on time. Time passing is your expense so why waste it. The clock in the studio starts at the beginning of the session, whether you are there or not. Give yourself some extra driving time. It’s ok to be early.
5. For guitar players: Change your strings 24-48 hours before recording. Leave enough time to break them in. Old strings lose tone and tend to break, causing delays. Brand new strings stretch and go out of tune. Bring a tuner and check your tuning between songs. If you play electric guitar you should check your intonation and set it at the bridge if needed. Here is a helpful link on setting intonation:
6. For singers: Be well-rested. Warm up a bit before the session. Maybe sing a few songs while driving to the studio. Keep hydrated and don't over-eat right before recording. Bring some bottled water to drink between songs. Plain water is best.
7. For bands: Take me to your leader! Some bands tend to make decisions by committee, other bands have a leader. In the studio it is a good idea to have a leader. For one thing, it saves time. This person is called the producer and it is his or her role to make decisions that affect the recording (Was that a take? Is that harmony part OK? More cowbell?). The producer can be a band member or someone who’s opinion you trust.
8. OK, so you’ve practiced, you’re all warmed up and your instrument is in tune. You’re ready to make history. You'll always remember your studio experience as a special time in your musical background. So, be sure to relax and have fun!