Entering the recording studio can be an adventure, but between the rush for the money invested, the songs that do not sound the way you want, and the clock that ticks, it can happen that everything quickly becomes hell.

Throughout our career as musicians , there comes a time when we find ourselves in need of entering a recording studio. Whatever format we choose to record and the way we do it, we must always take into account some steps to follow to achieve a good result and have a good experience.

Consult various recording studios

Going into a studio to record can often be tedious, especially if we don’t have a producer or manager who is specifically in charge of the “administrative” part of the matter.

That’s why I recommend not having a single studio in mind as an option when recording. Listening to the previous works of the studies can give us a glimpse of the way of working and results that you could obtain.

It is not one hundred percent a rule but it will give us an idea of ​​the audio they achieve. Always taking into account the budget we have for the project. At this point we can consider: cost / experience / equipment / availability.

Live and feel the study “at home”

Relaxing during the recording process is very important since what we try to convey through our songs is directly linked to feelings and moods. 

If we are not comfortable when recording, it will be reflected in the final result. Consequently, when we hear our recording finished, we will hardly be satisfied if the recording process does not treat us well.

Therefore, it is best to feel comfortable in the recording , which will be heard in the execution, not getting nervous will save us from having to re-record.

The recording process is an investment

Either because of the economic cost or because of our time, entering a recording studio is an investment. Therefore this implies seriousness, discipline and organization to obtain good results.

During the recording we must focus on our songs and if we are organized during the process we will not have to worry about other issues, thus discarding anything that distracts us from our goal.

During the recording, look for the interaction between technique and feeling in the shots

We never have to forget that music is an art and like all art it is decoded in different ways depending on the person who receives it. Therefore, the cross between a good execution and the emotion that comforts us at that moment is what we must look for in the shot. To achieve this, it often helps to keep the following points in mind:

• If you make a mistake try to continue and finish the song . Then the parts where the error is are rewritten in case it can be done. Starting from scratch often exhausts us more easily, can be tedious and puts everyone in a bad mood. Today it is easier to correct the error and continue recording.
• It is worth recording a couple of extra takes as it could be used to put together a good take with the best parts.
• Nor is it advisable to think that everything can be fixed later in the mix, only if it is very necessary, the ideal is that the takes have naturalness when executed during the recording.
• Trying to recognize when you feel exhausted is good to not waste time. If we have any symptoms of fatigue it is better to take a break since exhaustion can affect our way of executing the shot.
• In the case of an instrument it is always good to check the tuning constantly . Many times in the midst of the enthusiasm we can get out of tune and if just the execution convinced us, it would not be good to have to discard it due to a question of tuning when playing it.
• While new ideas can be added to songs, it is best to avoid incorporating very difficult and complicated parts once the recording process has started. Well, having it rehearsed will delay us and will only waste time. Remember that many times the simpler melodies are more effective.
• Have a positive attitude, and don’t lose patience if something doesn’t come out. If you don’t feel safe, you have to postpone and continue with other parts so as not to delay. Later it can be completed.

I hope this small contribution will help you and make your experience easier when entering a studio to record. Always remember that you must enjoy what you do, if not do not do it.…

Every musician wants to write and record songs that will be heard by as many people as possible. But how does this process take place? How to start creating a future hit potential?

As a musician and composer, I know that each of us’s goal in our home studio is to create killer hits that sound equally good on radio and TV, as well as on social networks and other sources.

We will not talk about any specific techniques: from this guide, you will not learn which knobs to turn on the equalizer and mix the bass drum. I’m going to talk about how to work on quality music, nothing more.

High-quality and hit songs begin long before visiting the studio. Their starting point is good lyrics and a bright melody. Even the coolest vocal microphone is useless if the lyrics are boring, and the melody is not remembered.

Despite these words’ obviousness, it never ceases to amaze me how home musicians ignore the work on the text and the melodic component of the composition. The song hasn’t been invented yet, and painful discussions about equipment and recording techniques are already in full swing.

Before thinking about recording, you have to write a great song. You cannot write down what does not exist.

It’s hard to say what defines a hit – these are very subjective things. However, I do believe that good songs have several ingredients.

Every great song has a catchy melody

The melody takes the song forward and makes it memorable. With the help of the melody, the track “gets stuck” in the listener’s head. If the melodic line you have invented is too simple and faded, it will quickly be forgotten: after 2-3 songs, the listener will no longer remember what you wrote there. Do everything to make the melody sticky and catchy.

Every great song has catchy lyrics

Words are inextricably linked with the melody – through it, they go straight to the listener’s brain. It’s not about writing lyrics with deep philosophical meaning: just one really good line or phrase that people will remember. By combining decent lyrics with a bright melody, you will ensure your song is memorable.

How do you start working on a song: from the lyrics or the music? I usually start with music, with vocal melodies – I create them without thinking about the lyrics. It seems that starting with music, we impose pleasant restrictions on ourselves, which make the lyrics better and, at the same time, iconic.

Every great song has something special

Most songs follow a tried and tested script: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, breakout, chorus, ending. Walking the beaten path is normal; there is nothing wrong with that.

However, there must be an element in the song that will surprise the listener and make a good impression. It can be an unexpected loss, some unique instrument, or sound in the arrangement, even a vocal move.

Listeners need something to make them think, “This is cool! This is unusual! “

Regardless of your favorite style (EDM, rock, jazz, pop), you must write a bright, boring melody, decent and catchy lyrics, and come up with at least one unusual element for the song.

It is not simple. The good news is that everything comes with experience: the more you compose, the better your songs become, and the easier it is for you to come up with cool melodies, lyrics, and arrangement elements.

You don’t have to be a genius from birth to write good songs. You can become one over time. The songs are bound to get better, just make sure they have these three secret ingredients.

The bad news is, songwriting is hard work. You cannot sit back and wait for the muse to come to you. Songwriting has to be treated like a job – the best songwriters do just that.…