I think one of the biggest challenges of owning a home studio is time management. In fact, I think any type of creative professional can find themselves running up against this thing called time. Whether you’re a recording engineer, photographer, graphic designer, musician or even just a human – time management can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
I’m no expert in this area by any means. I have plenty of responsibilities that frankly trump anything that I “need” to do in the studio. However, I’m starting to learn how important it is to use my time wisely as soon as I set foot in the studio. All of us have different reasons as to why we do what we do. Whether you are a recording hobbyist, engineer or a recording musician, the final outcome remains the same: music.
That great sounding drum part, bass line, vocal take, etc is all well and good. But the end result of the entire recording process is to make good music. So, if that’s true then why do we spend so much time with things that don’t really matter? Over the next few days, I’ve provided just a few simple things that I’ve learned in being more productive in the studio:
Session Preparation & Homework
This is one tip that often can be overlooked. Even the most seasoned recording musicians are often reminded of this very important step. Before you even set foot in that studio, do yourself (and everyone else involved) a favor and prepare for the session. What does that mean? Well, it depends on your situation but here are some examples:
Set Up Your Templates and Microphones Before the Session
This may seem like a no-brainer, but how many times have you fumbled with mics, recording levels and guitar strings when you should be recording? The key here is to clearly set aside preparation time and recording time. For some, this may mean you have to dedicate these times on separate days. For others, it may simply require a break in between. The point here is to always separate the two. You’ll always get better sounds and better takes – which in the end means better music.
Do Your Homework
Before even thinking about stepping into that recording studio (or your bedroom) make sure you do your homework. This especially rings true for session players but is equally important for any musician who is deciding to record. What I mean by doing your homework is this: Whatever is required to get the job done in 2-3 takes max. For example: As a session drummer, when I receive a rough mix from a client I don’t immediately go to the drum kit and start banging away. I listen to the song on my headphones, in the car and even in the studio first. Only when I’m ready to give it a go will I hit the record button. Even then, I may practice a few times and listen back before committing to the part.
The point here is this: Quality preparation and practice will not only help save you valuable time, it will result in better sounding music.
Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow where we discuss goals and time limits.
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