Finding a Studio to record tracks

[JayKeeley]

Case in point: An unsigned band is looking to finance a demo. They have the songs written, rehearsed etc.

How do they go about finding a studio and producer? Is it all about contacts in the industry, or is it as simple as looking up the yellow pages?

Also, how important is it to find a producer that knows 'metal' - for a demo that is.

Finally, what does it cost? Is it expensive to get studio time? And does the type of studio or producer fluctuate the cost?

:Spin:

 

[NAD]

Yellow pages or the bulletin board in front of Guitar Center.

I know that a lot of studios chart a flat fee for X amount of songs, usually a few hundred bucks for 4 songs or so. Around here anyhow.

With most demo studios it seems that you're stuck with whatever engineer/producer that works for the studio, which can be good or bad. A buddy's band of mine recently went to a studio and the guy fucked up the mastering, so he just took the originals home and mastered them himself on his computer. I still haven't heard the finalized version, but he usually does good work, especially considering his budget setup.

 

[JayKeeley]

With most demo studios it seems that you're stuck with whatever engineer/producer that works for the studio, which can be good or bad.

That seems like the key component. Do producers ever contract their time out so you can hire them for X hours in a particular studio. It's expensive but at least you get a decent engineer at the helm.

A buddy's band of mine recently went to a studio and the guy fucked up the mastering, so he just took the originals home and mastered them himself on his computer. I still haven't heard the finalized version, but he usually does good work, especially considering his budget setup.

When interviewing signed bands even, such as Soilwork or Edguy, they ALL use home computer equipment before entering the studio. What they do on the PC, I have no idea, but with all this MIDI stuff, I bet you can produce some cool stuff at home nowaday.

 

[Ayeka]

You could do what my band are doing, and use a karaoke machine

We are fairly lucky out here in that there are two recording studios geared pretty much for underground local bands. I don't think it's too pricey - some kids my brother knows put together a three or four track CD, production wasn't amazing but better than mediocre. Couldn't have cost 'em a bomb as they were only aged 12/13, or 13/14 ^_^

 

[HarmonyDies....]

You can produce some good quality stuff at home with an 8-Track recorder. It all depends on what type of music. And it saves a bundle it is worth investing in.

 

[Papa Josh]

I am lucky in that I have often heard many of King's X songs before they are released.. and alot of their stuff is done at home first. Some of the home recordings are better...

 

[Nate The Great]

Listen up!

We live in the digital world. People can EASILY record their own stuff for not a lot of money. Anaal Nathrakh does this. So do many other bands you probably listen to. However, if you don't know how to take advantage of all the equipment, don't go that route. People should definitely learn, though. I could point somebody in the right direction for that route (books, magazines, websites, equipment, etc.)

If you're going to go to a studio, don't waste money on a producer for a demo. Just record it and listen in while they mix. You can tell them to boost the guitars, cut back the vocals, add some reverb, etc.

If you're doing more than just an average demo, I still wouldn't waste money on a producer. But if you do want a producer, get one that at least understands what type of music you're doing. That is VERY important. If the producer only know pop music, your demo will SUCK.

 

[JayKeeley]

Good advice from all thanks.

npearce - I like the home route idea. Very briefly, if you did this at home, I guess you need a PC, software, some kind of MIDI interface yeah?

What's the software package called? Is there one particular good one, or is there a bunch?

 

[Erik]

Case in point: An unsigned band is looking to finance a demo. They have the songs written, rehearsed etc.

How do they go about finding a studio and producer?

*looks at computer with attached V-Amp 2 and microphone, then at self*

 

[Erik]

You can produce some good quality stuff at home with an 8-Track recorder. It all depends on what type of music. And it saves a bundle it is worth investing in.

4/8-tracks are obsolete. We have fast computers nowadays, and 80 gigabyte disks cost $80-90. That's a lot more audio than you could ever store on an 8-track machine, digital or not.

 

[JayKeeley]

*looks at computer with attached V-Amp 2 and microphone, then at self*

What is a V-Amp 2? Is it the interface between instrument and PC?

I'm trying to figure out how you get the music you play into the PC itself. Do you play directly into the PC, or do you record on to tape first, and then use the playback input to create the .WAV files or whatever?

And how does that work for acoutsic instruments, such as flutes or violas?

 

[Erik]

A V-Amp 2 is, as the name implies, a virtual guitar amplification device. It has rather authentic modellings of 32 different classic amplifiers/cabinets (of interest to metal people, we have for example some Mesa Boogie, ENGL, Soldano, the Peavey 5150 and Marshall JCM900 I think...) with 9 types of reverb, EQ, noise gate, and 10 effects (delay, chorus, phaser, compression...). Stereo line-outs for recording into a computer or whatever and headphone jack for practicing etc. Can be controlled by MIDI and comes with a pedal for changing presets (25 banks of 5 presets each). You can also run a microphone through it with the effects etc as it has an emulation of a tube pre-amp. Oh, and they threw in a decent guitar tuner.

All this costs about $140. I love it. It's a lot like a Line6 POD, only a lot cheaper.

 

[JayKeeley]

Anyway... You would just run this into your sound card's line in jack and then use whatever recording software you want to record it.

Does the V-Amp or POD come with recording/mixing software?

For the Nasheim promo, we used the free and most excellent multitracker GoatStudio. I didn't have the V-Amp back then though, so we ran the guitars through a DOD FX-86B Death Metal distortion pedal straight into the line-in jack.

So before V-Amp, how did you hear what you were playing when you went direct to the sound card? Is the PC acting as an amplifier through its speakers whilst it records your playing?

I assume with V-Amp or POD, you can just plug in your headphones while playing.

 

[Erik]

Does the V-Amp or POD come with recording/mixing software?

No. At least I know the V-Amp doesn't. If you want MIDI capability or flashy plug-ins etc, "buy" Cubase or its little brother Cubasis if you're "short on cash." I just use GoatStudio which is small, simple, easy to use and does its job well. It's like a virtual multitrack tape machine, nothing fancy, but I add effects BEFORE the signal goes into the PC, so I don't care much. If you had Cubase or something (the professionals use something called ProTools mostly) you could've tweaked the effects after recording with VST/DirectX plugins.

So before V-Amp, how did you hear what you were playing when you went direct to the sound card? Is the PC acting as an amplifier through its speakers whilst it records your playing?

Yes, pretty much. In your Windows sound mixer you'll see a control labeled "Line-in" or "Aux". That's where you'd control how much of the input will be monitored through your speakers. But to say that the PC is acting as an amplifier is wrong, 'cause it isn't. The MICROPHONE input on your sound card has a pre-amp but the LINE-IN hasn't. The V-Amp or distortion pedal is doing the amplification.

 

[JayKeeley]

Merci Erik.

 

[Nate The Great]

JayKeeley: How much do you want to know about this home recording stuff? I could point you to a forum based website that will blow your mind.

www.homerecording.com

I'm still learing after a year of this stuff. If you have the time and motivation, you can buy your gear and record a damn good demo in a couple weeks.

You'll need these at the least:

1) Good computer.
2) Recording software (Cool Edit Pro 2.0, Sonar 2.0, etc.)
3) Good soundcard (I'll tell you exactly what to get to start with)
4) Headphones (unless you want to spend money for monitors)
5) Reason 2.0 (you'll thank me later for this)

 

[Erik]

1) Good computer.

Yeah, such as the Pentium ][ 266 MHz I use for everything.

 

[Nate The Great]

I summarized several things by saying "Good Computer". You can get by with something like Phyre has, but if you're going to be doing a lot of editing and playing-back, you'll be glad you have a fast computer with plenty of RAM.

By good, I meant:

- large hard drive(s)
- plenty of RAM
- large monitor is an advantage if you're going to be doing a lot of editing. Your eyes will like it. I have a 17", and that is what I would consider the minimum. If you're going to simultaneously be using editing software, mixing software, and soft-synths, lots of monitor space would be great.

Of course, the faster your computer, the faster you'll be able to work. Less frustration should equate into more production.

 

[JayKeeley]

JayKeeley: How much do you want to know about this home recording stuff? I could point you to a forum based website that will blow your mind.

www.homerecording.com

First of all, with work and the webzine, I need more hours in the day. However, with all the time I've spent playing guitar over the years, I'd like to try writing some stuff and getting it recorded.

Everything at home starts after 9pm once baby is asleep. I will check out this website too.

I'm still learing after a year of this stuff. If you have the time and motivation, you can buy your gear and record a damn good demo in a couple weeks.

You'll need these at the least:

1) Good computer.
2) Recording software (Cool Edit Pro 2.0, Sonar 2.0, etc.)
3) Good soundcard (I'll tell you exactly what to get to start with)
4) Headphones (unless you want to spend money for monitors)
5) Reason 2.0 (you'll thank me later for this)

I'd like to have fun doing it. At least to begin with, I just want to 'mess around'. I'm sure you can spend hours and hours on this.

However, I am looking into buying a new PC, and I can add this recording requirement into the spec. (Something I had not considered before).

By the way, I have a Line 6 POD already. I swear, I bought it about a year ago for all the different amp selections, and now Erik tells me that I can use this to plug into my PC. I had not considered that when buying it.

I do not have a bass. I don't have a drum machine. Still, I'll start with just the guitar tracks and play around. (Can you digitally emulate a guitar to sound like a bass out of interest?)

What do you play npearce?

 

[Nate The Great]

I am new to this too, but here's something you will like.

There are software programs that will play bass, drums, keyboards, etc. for you. Reason 2.0 is BY FAR the best and most popular of these. It's in the $200 range, if you buy it.

Even if you bought a stock computer from Dell (which I did), you could still learn the in's and out's of digital recording.

Here's what I would recommend you do.

1) Good workstation computer.
2) Cool Edit 2.0 (or whatever the newest version is)
- This program is for recording and editing of audio only. Anything you do from Reason 2.0 - drums, bass, etc. - will have to be imported into Cool Edit. That's no big deal, though. If you wanted to spend the money and were going to be doing a lot of MIDI (which you probably won't), I'd tell you to get Cakewalk Sonar 2.0 or better.
3) Reason 2.0 (or whatever the newest version is).
- This is an easy to understand and use program that will enable you to do everything from drums and bass to so much more. I downloaded mine and have never been able to crack it. As soon as I get the money, I'm buying it. I'm currently using the very limited demo version.
4) M-Audio Audiophile 2496
- This is an outstanding soundcard for digital recording. You can play audio and midi through it at the highest bit rates available. It's also the cheapest soundcard you'll find. You could use a crappy Soundblaster, but don't waste your money on one.
5) Headphones
6) Shure SM57 microphone
- This mic will record vocals and insturments at a very high quality. It's also very cheap. It's the industry standard.


All that will get you started. The software is the only expensive part. I downloaded all mine for free. Try demos of the software before you buy . . . if you buy.

At this very moment, you could download Cool Edit 2.0, plug your guitar into your POD, plug into the aux-in on your soundcard, and record your guitar.

I play guitar. I've been in bands my whole life. I'm currently solo. I've recorded a demo in a "real" studio, but other than that I'm no expert on this stuff. That sight mentioned above will really help.