James Lee Stanley

As I am in the middle of recording “backstage at the resurrection” it seemed appropriate to give you all some recording tips that you may not know.

When you begin make certain that you are already warmed up as a musician or vocalist, so that when the red light goes on you are ready.

For vocalists this means doing all that stuff that may seem silly but truly makes a difference in your performance and the stamina of your voice.

Don’t smoke in the vocal booth and if you can, don’t get high before the session. It may help you get into it, but you lose your discernment and your chops...you just THINK it sounds great.

Relax your shoulders, your throat (yawning, stretching, twisting, anything that allows you to relax).

Don’t sing too loud and watch your distance from the mic.

For musicians, it means having your instrument ready to go, set up, newer strings (I find that if you put brand new strings on and then start recording, it’s hard to match the tone of the string in later takes for punch ins, so make certain that the strings are settled in, but new enough to still have that jangle)

If you are a reed player than you want the reed warmed up and moist so it will respond to your every whim. I like to play a favorite song that I know I do well. It’s an easy way to get into playing for me.

Also remember to have extra strings, reeds, drum heads, whatever you normally use for and with your instrument with you.

Make sure that you are rested. You can do the most with your gifts if you are rested. Trust me.

And always record everything that you can, first takes, false starts, everything. You never know where the magic is and it’s about emotion not technical perfection, and there are so many bands out there right now proving that!

Remember, it’s easier to rerecord something that doesn’t sound right than it is to futz with it for hours afterwards. If the instrument isn’t sounding right, then try replaying it slightly differently, harder, softer, a different distance from the mic, pick instead of fingers for guitar, even a different part if you have to.

If you are using an engineer and not your own studio, make certain that he or she knows what you want to sound like. Bring recordings in of what you like and the direction you want to go in, so that you are both on the same page from the start.

More tips after the weekend...