The definitive Studio Checklist

[Ermz]

It's actually supposed to be 'make it through'.

 

[James Murphy]

just scanned it, as i'm mixing at the moment.. and it seems really good... only thing i'd say is some of the opening lingo seems really geared towards "first-timer" clients... as in it's written as though this is the first time whoever's reading it has been in the studio.... i'd modify that a bit. might have more comments later when i read it more thoroughly.

 

[AStacy2]

I think I'd get rid of the line about your sisters hair band and just buy a pack yourself if you really need them, sounds less professional then the rest of the paper to me, espescially with the little smiley face. Also, all guitarists might not know what quad-tracking is so you might want to explain that better. The line about singers bringing whatever soothes their throat could backfire on you, someone will eventually bring a bottle of Jack with them. hehe. Don't like the "unless the drummer is superman" line. Other than that, really good man.

 

[AdamWathan]

I think I'd get rid of the line about your sisters hair band and just buy a pack yourself if you really need them, sounds less professional then the rest of the paper to me, espescially with the little smiley face. Also, all guitarists might not know what quad-tracking is so you might want to explain that better. The line about singers bringing whatever soothes their throat could backfire on you, someone will eventually bring a bottle of Jack with them. hehe. Don't like the "unless the drummer is superman" line. Other than that, really good man.

Yeah, about the hair bands/moon gels/mute rings, that's stuff you should have on hand in the studio yourself IMO.

Otherwise it's solid man, nice job.

 

[Mikaël-ange]

I think that this is perfect.. Really good detailed enough and clear enough!
Great job on this one..

+1

 

[reg3n]

if i read it as a band player trying to get my songs on the radio, i'd go all excited about it, and the longer the better for me, kool list!

 

[Gomez]

@Gomez: Which parts do you find patronizing? I've presented a document that resembles this one very closely to many bands throughout the years and I've yet to receive any complaints. On the flip side, most welcome it as it gives them direction and clear tasks to perform prior to recording. I find many are kept in the dark about too many things, and I'm all about being upfront. If they can't handle it, then it's best they don't work with me.

Ermin, to start I want to emphasise that I'm just giving you my point of view in a constructive way.

I'm not sure if "patronising" was the right word - what I wanted to say is that you may be asking for too much. as I said, in ideal world you paper is great but my be a bit daunting for young bands.

If they can't handle it, then it's best they don't work with me.

Well, if you can afford to that, why not?

Otherwise I think you paper cover many good points and it's well written.

Cheers!

 

[Nebulous]

Maybe to touch on a further point about the tone of the checklist: I've worked with Ermin before over afew projects, he's very much like that in person (professional, calm, consice). By the time an artisit is given this list they would be pretty use to Ermin and that type of tone.
I definately agree with Ermin in saying that if they can't make it through the list at that stage of the process it would be worth reconsidering working with the client.

 

[Ermz]

@Gomez: Thanks, I get you. I'll have a look over it and keep in mind your and James' suggestions. I might rewrite that first general section if I can work out a way to make it less daunting or more applicable to a wider ranger range of bands - not just the very new ones. I can see how the language targets newer artists more specifically and I'll try to rectify that a bit.

@Forbidden: I agree totally, but I think it's good practice on behalf of the drummer to get used to carrying those things around, so he can make live sound engineers' lives easier too. The hair bands, cool, that probably has no purpose beyond the studio. The reason I threw that one in was to break up the mood of the paper a bit. I didn't want it to sound too daunting.

On that note, do you guys know anything that works better than hair bands for deadening guitar strings? Elastic bands etc.?

@James: If you can get around to the feedback that would be fantastic. I'm a bit stumped in how to go about rewriting that first section, including all the details, and somehow not only targetting newer artists. I think the assumption was that the more established ones would already have some idea of what the studio 'ground rules' are, so to speak.

 

[James Murphy]

do you guys know anything that works better than hair bands for deadening guitar strings? Elastic bands etc.?

i use a guitar polish cloth, folded so that it covers about half of the fretboard between the nut and the first fret, and i secure it with a standard velcro cable tie. Often i'll put a piece of the foam that comes with new EMG pickups under the cloth (the same foam i use behind the nut and between the bridge and tail piece), right on top of the strings... because it forms itself between the strings and really deadens the hell out of them... obviously it has to come off whenever open strings are needed.

@James: If you can get around to the feedback that would be fantastic. I'm a bit stumped in how to go about rewriting that first section, including all the details, and somehow not only targeting newer artists. I think the assumption was that the more established ones would already have some idea of what the studio 'ground rules' are, so to speak.

i'll read through it soon and see if i can come up with any specific suggestions.

 

[Cacoph0ny]

Since guitarists are commonly the only players burdened with the task of recording multiple takes
of the same parts on top of each other, we tend to nominate one rhythm player out of each band
to record all the rhythm tracks on the CD. This is for the purpose of consistency, clarity and
keeping the final mix uncompromised. Each player sounds different through the same gear, so it
makes sense to attempt to keep the record as consistent and sonically ideal as possible.

Do most bands really have one guy track all rhythm gtrs? I thought it would be split 50/50...

 

[AdamWathan]

Do most bands really have one guy track all rhythm gtrs? I thought it would be split 50/50...

It's really a lot easier when it's done with one dude... If the other guitarist bitches and he's at least solid as well then get them to split the tracks up, but either way, only one rhythm guitarist playing all the parts on one track. Even if both guys are super tight it will still sound way better with one dude doing the whole song.

 

[KeithReyn]

Cool read.

Reminds me of PipelineAudio's pdf.

 

[Styvo]

I like it Ermz

How you fine tune it is up to you,some of the replies have added some ideas towards that,but the meat and potatoes of what it's about is covered.
Good Work!

 

[black.death]

All of this is very good except the vocalist part stating

"Bring along some honey, tea, or whatever helps soothe your throat."

Honey is sugar. Sugar is not good for your singing. Tea does not help either. Water is the only thing good for your throat.
Tell them to bring water to drink instead.

Nicely put together document btw.

 

[John_C]

All of this is very good except the vocalist part stating

"Bring along some honey, tea, or whatever helps soothe your throat."

Honey is sugar. Sugar is not good for your singing. Tea does not help either. Water is the only thing good for your throat.
Tell them to bring water to drink instead.

Nicely put together document btw.

True. Although the best death metal vocalist i know uses all sortof of different drinks for different effects. A whole pint of milk and it sounds like the cookie monster killing people with a chainsaw

But yeah...in general water is the way to go

 

[Ermz]

Thanks guys! I didn't know that. I'll make that correction next time I amend the list.

 

[James Murphy]

room temperature water is best normally... but yeah, Ken Owen told me he used to eat a snickers bar to get those really sick nasty vox he did on the first few Carcass releases.

 

[Aaron Smith]

Often i'll put a piece of the foam that comes with new EMG pickups under the cloth (the same foam i u se behind the nut and between the bridge and tail piece), right on top of the strings... because it forms itself between the strings and really deadens the hell out of them... obviously it has to come off whenever open strings are needed.

I just thought of this a few days ago, and it has been working WONDERFULLY. I actually just weave it under a couple strings to hold it in place and change it up depending on the part. And actually, for playing octaves, you can even make it arch over the two strings being played while pinned on the outside strings and the "middle" string as well, which works perfectly for avoiding the annoying harmonics from that center string.

 

[::XeS::]

Have a single guy that records all the rythm guitars is better....but the 90% of the guys wanna split the recording like they are playing live...because they are stupid.