Do you have rules/laws/norms in your studio?

[The-Zeronaut]

Months ago i feel like a needed to be very clear with those things
because the 90% of the musicians i know doesn't know a fuck about studio recording.

something like:

1º use a click track always

2º designing a "band leader" to give his opinion about the mixes
because we know that everyone in the band will want their instrument like
20 db above the others so he/she can hear his "great" performance clearly.

3º Strings changed the day before enter the studio

4º New skins for the drums

5º instruments with a good set-up (no buzz, good intonation , etc)

6º the instruments will be tuned after every take.

7º practice the songs with a metronome 2 or 3 weeks before enter the studio (especially drummers)

8º NO ...It cant be fixed in the mix...(i don't have a magic button that fixes bad takes)

What are your "rules" in the studio or before enter the studio for recording/producing/etc??

 

[Ermz]

I always provide my clients with a checklist a few weeks or months in advance of commencing recording. Whether or not they actually have the courtesy/common sense to look at it or not is another matter altogether..

 

[garry666]

Always bring whiskey.

 

[Notuern]

Ive done ONE recording for another band so far, and i had like 20 rules they had to follow, if they broke a single one of them i made it very clear that i would just GTFO and take their cash with me(Dont remember exactly what the rules was, but allot of them came from the old thread about this.).

 

[-Noodles-]

If you're paying me, negotiation possible (on how much, schedules, technical stuff etc).

If you're not paying me, I'll do stuff when I can fit it in or when ever suits both parties (if it does not detract from other commitments).

That's pretty much about it. Kinda easy with the rules, but "the man with the gold makes the rules" - so if you've got no gold, you ain't got no rule [over me].

 

[greyskull]

no eating in the control room,
do your own washing up,
clean up after yourself,
practice to a click before you come in
New skins and strings,
shut up when im mixing

 

[Rex Rocker]

I think your rules are perfectly reasonable, Zeronaut.

 

[Seizure.]

1: Know the songs before you enter the studio, or i'll charge you a shitload extra.. useally works..

2: New drumskins.. i don't allways get it.. but snare and kickskins are must, toms i sooometimes cheat with if they aren't all denty and crappy!

3: new guitarstrings + intonated guitar.. else i'm going home..

 

[Chryst Krispies]

No pizza,
No crappy instruments (FIRST ACT)
No mention of FDR's polio
No bullshit

Failure to follow rules = We step outside.

 

[ahjteam]

I am kind of a control freak nowadays because the livesound business made my super cynical because nothing usually worked when they were "just agreed", so nowadays I usually try to make contracts for everything business related possible. For example the technical riders I write are are usually 5-8 pages long (the average length in Finland is 0-2 pages) and even my personal contract terms is 3 pages long, when it just basically says that I charge X euros per gig + travel and accomodation expenses.

And in general I usually whip the musicians quite harshly in the studio because I want to work less and not fix it in the mix, and I usually take another take if it even remotely sucked.

I usually send a helluva long list in advance to the band what do like change the strings and skins etc, but when they arrive, I have a few rules simple rules I usually just go thru verbally like:

- no eating or smoking in the control/liveroom and no liquids anywhere near the gear and all the liquids must be in bottles, with cap on when not used (I am super strict with these)
- all sessions and discussions are confidential and videotaping the sessions is forbidden unless agreed otherwise (I am pretty strict with this one)
- the musicians (and me) must be completely sober (not even hangovered) and should also behave like grown ups (unless the musicians are kids)
- writing the songs to their final form and rehearsing them in advance saves a lot of your money, my time and everyones patience
- it is not for sale, if you break it, you pay it, but don't get to keep it

 

[JeffTD]

No mention of FDR's polio

...

 

[fade_2_black]

Ive been trying to come up with a checklist sort of thing to send to clients prior to recording, but am yet to come up with anything decent..

 

[greyskull]

ah yes...

no master cds or multi tracks will be delivered unless payment has been received in full.

 

[The-Zeronaut]

ah yes...

no master cds or multi tracks will be delivered unless payment has been received in full.

+1

until ive been totally paid i only give like 30 secs sections of songs or complete songs with voxengo beeper (check it out its free)
http://www.voxengo.com/product/beeper/

 

[CatharsisStudios]

can
-smoke tabbacy
-smoke pot
-drink
-eat
-go canooing in my huge ass pond
-sleep

Can not
-fuck with me when i am hooking up shit
-fart (unless i fart first) (lead by example
-do coke. heroin
-invite all of your friends
-make a mess
-drink my milk (seriously wtf)
-tell me what to do
-put a hole in my wall
- go into the micing room unless you are tracking

all this shit has happend before

 

[Skyweaver]

PORN ! how can a band possibly record a decent metal album without PORN !!!!!!

I don't think that any producer should let a band in the door unless they provide some form of porn

 

[Andy Sneap]

All drugs to be tested by producer first

 

[Vandyn]

-don't try to be DTesque.

 

[-Noodles-]

All drugs to be tested by producer first

Ah, yes - I thought that was an un-written rule??

 

[GarethSE]

No Marshall MG's
No ZOOM multi-fx pedals.
treat my belongings and equipment with respect and we will get along fine