How To Choose The Perfect Studio For Your Recording Project

We know it can be hard to find a studio that you trust to record your music. It is a major decision when picking someone to take your most cherished writings and turn them into a fully produced hit song that you hear so vividly in your own head. Don’t fret - we are here to help with this decision!

We’ve had countless new clients coming to us explaining that they didn’t feel like their artistic vision was met when they recorded elsewhere. This can be for many reasons, but one reason is that a lot of studios sell their time without a producer, and rush you through the process in order to make sure you are in and out quickly. Lots of Studios are out there to make money, and are not invested in the final product.

We want to stop this problem from happening! Here are three ways to find a studio that will work for you, and not take from you.

1. Are there artists on your level that have a recoding that you are blown away by? Ask them where they got it done.

A lot of artists love to help other artists. Ask them. They will be honest with you and tell you their experience. One of the best compliments we have at Studio45b is a client referral.

Ask other artists questions and research what their process was.

Did they work with a producer? What musicians did they hire? How long did the recording process take? How fast was the turnaround? How long did mixing and mastering take? Did they feel like their artist input was heard in the studio? Did they feel rushed? Would they do anything differently the next time around? Was there anything they would’ve changed?

We could go on and on with a million questions, but the main point is to ask a million questions to people in the industry that you trust. The more you know, the better the outcome will be.

2. Talk to multiple studios before you decide on a winner.

Research online studios in your area (or that record remotely) that you would love to work with. Read through their entire website, listen to the projects that they’ve worked on, and research their clientele. Research their team and see who on their team you think you would vibe with. We use the word “vibe” because that is what a studio is all about! Setting the best recording “vibe.”

Do not settle on the very first studio you come across. There are a ton of very talented producers, engineers and coaches to choose from. Make sure you are making an educated decision before you take action and book a date.

If they give you an option to have a free phone call with them, absolutely do it. It’s so important to utilize every chance you can to get to know the people that will be working on your project with you. Make sure to ask them those millions of questions that we mentioned in point #1!

3. Know your budget.

We get it. Recording at Abbey Road Studios might be a huge dream of yours (that can absolutely happen some day!) but before you get too far into loving a studio, make sure that you ask what the prices are. We don’t want you to be disappointed.

We talked a little bit about this last week in our blog post. (you can find that post right here.) We wanted to expand a little more on this!

You might not know your budget right off the bat. Perhaps you need to call around to a few different studios before you figure out what recording costs are, before you know what budget you have in mind for your own project. Calling around and asking for prices will give you a better understanding of what a full project might cost. Once you figure that out, and your own finances, then search for studios within that budget.

Our point is, find a studio that you can afford before you fall in love with a studio that you can’t afford.

If you’re ready to do some research, contact us today for our rates.

4. Decide which producer to work with, and if one is needed at all.

Believe it or not, a lot of people aren’t quite sure what a producer actually does. (If you’d like more info on that, check out our previous blog here!) We will get more into detail on our next post, but here is a quick rundown of a producers job.

Generally speaking a music producer overseas and understands the project as a whole, alongside the artist themselves. A producer knows how to create a certain sound within certain genres and can help the artist pull bring those sounds to life on their recording.

Lets give an example. What makes Brad Paisley’s guitar playing so different from John Mayer’s guitar playing? A producer knows that a Brad Paisley guitar tone will come from a Fender Telecaster, and a John Mayer signature sound will come from a Fender Stratocaster. Not only that, a producer knows what notes, bends, stylization and chords make a country sound, and knows the difference in that sound and a pop rock sound.

A good producer will know the styling, tone and instruments in certain genres and how to get your song sounding the way you want it to sound.

There are instances where you might not need a producer. We will cover that next week on our blog about finding a producer for your project.

Contact us here for your free consult call with our head producer, Grady James.

5. Listen to your gut.

It feels like we say that quite often. However, it is true. You need to find a studio that you are comfortable with. That comfortable sound will come across in your recording. Choose a studio that listens to you, pays attention to you, and is excited about your project. You will know when you chat with them if it is the right fit or not. Follow your instinct and you won’t be wrong!

If you are thinking of launching your recording project into action, give us a call today! We would love to help you on your recording journey.

***Written by Singer/Songwriter Danielle Todd ***

Three ways to prepare yourself for a day in the Studio

We are going to keep this short and sweet! Let’s get right to it.

1. Take into consideration who you are bringing into the studio with you into the studio and why.

This is our number one point. Whoever you bring with you into the studio can really make or break the day!

First off, some people want a support system with them on their recording day. We typically tell our clients to bring in one or two people who they trust, and who understand the recording process. The less people in the studio, the better. Too many opinions can lead to disagreements, and it wastes time and your money. Make sure every single person who comes along with you is aware that you call the final shots.

Secondly, multiple people can cause distractions, or noise during recording takes, resulting in wasted time and wasted money. We find that singers, and musicians, can sometimes feel anxious, nervous or feel an immense amount of pressure in front of too many people. We always want our clients to feel relaxed enough to make a mistake, and feel confident enough to try out new ideas on the fly without feeling judged.

We suggest to bring a manager, friend, or family member that is supportive, can capture some social media posts for you.

2. Finalize lyrics and rehearse your band before stepping into the recording studio.

It is imperative that your entire band knows their parts like the back of their hand, and that every player feels confident enough to improvise. Too many times we’ve seen singers bring in their own band that was completely under prepared. Your rhythm guitar player should know every chord change, and be well versed enough to change a chord on the fly. Your backup vocalists should be able to hear new vocal harmonies and parts on the spot. Your lead guitar player should have three or four solos completely practiced and figured out before hand, and be able to improvise on those solos on the day of.

If your band is not prepared, it will cost you money. ALSO - No matter HOW strong your band is, make sure they can all play to a metronome.

It can be worth your money to hire a session musician, so as not to waste time with a band member who might not be as quick, skilled or practiced. We can’t stress this enough - being in the studio is not the same as performing live. There are studio cats who have worked in the studio for years and know how to get the proper sound for you. Our producer, Grady James is confident in most instruments, which can save you time and money. Feel free to contact us for connections to amazing studio musicians, or to set up a call with our producer!

3. Make sure you’ve found the right fit - music producers decide your sound with you.

It is truly a big decision taking your music into a studio. Before you head into the studio be absolutely sure that the team you are working with is producing music that you love. Take the time to research your producer, engineer, and studio. Listen to examples of their work, read testimonials, talk to the producer. Make sure that it feels right. If you don’t vibe with the team, it’ll be hard to feel comfortable in the studio. Research, research, research and take the time to ask questions. If it is a great studio, they will be happy to take the time to make you feel confident, and comfortable.

If you’d like to get to know Studio45b a little better, please set up a free consultation phone call today to see if we are the right fit!

***Written by Danielle Todd***

5 things that make a strong song - it’s not what you think!

First off, lets remember that music is subjective. What you think is a great song, some others might not like at all. Always keep that in mind when you’re writing, or entering the studio. There is only one you in this world, and your unique musical palette is what will ultimately set you aside from other artists in the industry.

Okay! Let’s get to our five points.

1. Really know the purpose of your song.

There are a lot of reasons why musicians write and record. For example, perhaps you have lost a friend and you’d like to write a song to express your emotions around your loss. Maybe you are writing a song to release specifically to country radio in the USA and compete with other A-list country artists on the charts. You could also be looking to get onto a specific editorial playlist on Spotify, or Apple music. Whatever the true purpose of the song is, understanding your song goals can really help you during the recording process and even the writing process.

Lets take the second example and expand a little more on this. If you are looking to record a #1 song in the USA, then chances are you need to fit into a certain genre of music and you need to really know that genre. It would be a good idea to research all of the #1 singles in the last couple of years so you can follow production trends, lyrical trends, and melody trends. This is not to say to copy another persons #1, but if your goal is to be on top, you need to know what’s already at the top of the mountain so you can shoot and aim for it!

Like we said, there are many reasons to write and record a song. Having a better understanding of your songs purpose will help you write, produce, mix and master it so that your song has the best chance of reaching it’s full potential.

2. Space.

It is so important in production to give your song space. There are exceptions to every rule, but in general, having room to breathe between verses, or even between phrases really allows your mind to process the message of the song, or the message of a particular line. Sometimes productions can be overwhelming and having that little break can create a moment for the listener to process what they’re hearing.

Space can also be used creatively when you’re creating tension for a strong build. For example, if there is a point in your song with an intense production, it might be a good technique to take every instrument away suddenly, and just have the vocals in the recording. A similar example of this would be Zedd and Maren Morris in “The Middle,” where in the very first chorus, it drops to just vocals and a ticking clock sound, after having a pretty full production leading up to that moment.

Space is vital to create dynamics and make the music breathable. Take a listen to your own songs and see if there are places where you can create some breathing room.

3. Creating a unique vocal production.

Vocal production can often be overlooked in a recording session. Singer/songwriters can have a tendency of writing the song, and singing it exactly the same way as the first day they wrote it when they walk into the studio to record. While you want to have some melodies set in place before entering the studio, it is incredibly beneficial to have an open mind to suggestions on vocal recording days.

Lets start with harmony. One of the Queen’s of harmony in country music is Cam. Check out her song, “Diane,” which kicks off with acapella harmony. This is both powerful on a recording, but also in a live setting. Imagine being in a theatre and having the opening song just live vocals? It’s such a moving moment in a set, and on a recording.

How about vocal call backs? One of the easiest examples of this is Motown music. For a modern version of this, check out “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars. Take a listen and try to pay attention to all the detail in the backing vocals. The vocal production in this song is absolutely incredible. A vocal baseline, with vocal pads, call backs in the pre-chorus, and an absolutely untouchable lead vocal. The vocal production on this song is what makes it so catchy, memorable and different. (Okay, there’s also a ton of production on here that isn’t vocal production, but you get what we mean!)

Once the vocals are tracked, including harmony, vocal pads (oo’s and ah’s), and a strong unique lead vocal, its time to mix and master the vocals. This is the last step in vocal production and one that you do not want to skimp out on.

4. Emotional connection.

It goes without saying that your audience needs to be emotionally connected to your music. But lets take a closer look - how can your music be emotionally connected to your song?

It is crucial to find a producer that understands your song. What emotion are you trying to convey? What are the lyrics about? Are they happy, sad, inspirational? Your production should align with these emotions.

To list a few songs that emotionally connected with their lyrics, take a listen to “Happy,” by Pharrell Williams (sorry in advance, this song will now be stuck in your head for days!) But lets be honest here, can you think of a “happier” sounding song? Take the lyrics away and listen to the melody and production. That song is upbeat, exciting, cheerful and makes you want to dance. Pharrell and his team found a way to make this song explode with happy endorphins. It is a great example of how important it is for the lyrics to emotionally connect with the production.

On the flip side, Adele’s song “Someone Like You,” focuses on a sad, nostalgic breakup. Can you think of a more successful sad song in modern years? It goes without saying that Adele’s vocals are on point, and convey her emotions on every level. The imperfections in the vocal take make you feel like she is almost on the verge of tears when she is singing it. Her lyrics and subtle vocal inflections take you on a journey, taking you back to the very moment of her breakup, evoking the same emotions within you. You barely notice the piano in the background, and the subtle vocal production changes throughout the song because you’re so immersed in her story. The producer on this song knew when to step back and give Adele the space she needed to knock this song out of the park. This emotional connection is powerful.

5. Be You.

Okay, we get it. You’ve heard this before. But it’s true. You need to be authentically, loudly, fearlessly, unapologetically yourself for your music to stand out and become a work of art. Nobody in the world has the same ideas that you have floating around in your brain. You need to shine in your songwriting, vocals, and production. If you don’t set yourself apart from other artists in the industry, you will fall by the wayside. Trust yourself, your instincts and believe in your craft. You will thank yourself for it later.

Think of Lady Gaga, Adele, Zach Bryan, Cody Johnson, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton. These are all incredibly successful artists that stood up for what they believe in and didn’t waver, while paving the way for artists to follow. They made their stamp and changed the music industry.

Do it. Be you. See what happens.

6. Bonus! High quality recording.

We couldn’t let you leave without explaining the importance of hiring a team that knows their craft inside and out to help make you sound the best you possibly can. Heading into a studio can be overwhelmingly intimidating. You need to have a team on your side that believes in you and wants to help you create your unique masterpiece.

Pick a studio, engineer, producer and session musicians who are experienced, have a great track record, listen to you, and who you feel comfortable and confident working with. Don’t be afraid to speak up and call the final shots.

We are here to say that if you have an amazing song, with killer vocals and a great backing band, you need to have a high quality mix and master of this track or it will not get the recognition it deserves. Do not bring your music this far without making sure you spend the proper amount of care on polishing and refining it. It has to have a radio standard quality for anybody in the industry to give it the time of day.

Now that we’ve covered 5 points that make your song amazing, what are some points that you have to work on? Are there any other points that you would add?

We believe in you and want you to succeed. Contact us today if you feel like you are ready to start your recording process.

***Written by Danielle Todd***