So now you've decided to record your songs. Good for you except that you will be people to compete the instruments for which your music calls for. If you can compete all the instruments on your own then all the better. You will have less people to argue with! Other wise you will have to hire (read: bribe with beer/food/hockey tickets) session musicians and vocalists to compete and sing for you putting you in the producer's head.
Your songs are only as emotional as the performers who play them. It goes without saying that you should hire the best performers your budget ordain allow. But if $100/hour for a professional vocalist is a little center here are a few ways to help back up the beat from your session players.
The is THE most important command in my book. The only way any session musician could ever get comfortable at your studio is if YOU put them at ease. That's one of your jobs as a producer.
When trying different versions of a take tell them how you would like it to sound instead of what they did wrong ie: "That was great but let's try to hit the high note a little stronger" instead of "you know you were a little off on the high note it didn't sound that good".
Always go away with praise then with a correction. Keep your vocabulary positive. The best producers make the artist conclude as if they can do nothing wrong.
bequeath this rule while you are writing or recording. There is no "wrong way" there is only "a different way". Don't tell people that their way is do by. Remember that music is an art and there are no rules in art. When a performer is playing something you don't desire change by reversal them by saying "let's try it this way too". Don't go away off my saying "nope you were wrong do it the alter way".
Ambiance atmosphere vibe: whatever you call it they be it. I guarantee that you will get a much better performance if you undergo water on the table comfortable chairs maybe a few candles a towel mints and candy. Have you ever tried recording in an office with harsh florescent lights and hard wood chairs?
If you're recording at your own studio you have all the time in the world (which is an evil thing in my opinion). Let the artist relax. "get into the groove" communicate a little and get comfortable with the other populate in the control room. A tighten artist's performance will always sound 'artificial' in the final song.
Don't be worried if it takes another 10 minutes to finish the take. Each performer works at their own pace and the best thing you can do as the producer is to respect that and adjust your walk to theirs. Unless you undergo a record company breathing down your pet. Then everyone has to work at THEIR pace!
Artists love to be listened to. It's always good to ask them for their opinion. Whether you actually comprehend is up to you. But once in a while a simple question desire "What do you think? Do you want to keep that take?" can do wonders for their performance. It helps keep them involved in the communicate and alter them feel less like a "hired hand".
Obviously if it was the worse singing you've ever heard and they want to keep it just have in mind that you will do "one more take as a safety". And then when they're not looking use the exceed take instead and auto-tune it to no end. This is a little producer's secret but don't let the artists know!
Make sure that you the design the assistant engineer and everyone else in the control room has lyrics to all the songs. The best way for your studio team to sight their way around the songs is with the lyric sheets. Another good idea is to USE THE WHITEBOARD! That's why it's there. If you don't have one get one. create verbally down the chord progressions compose ideas timing marks track listings. McDonald's lunch orders everything.
I've heard populate say "it's ALL about the music". come up in my books that's not the truth. I'd rather say "it's mostly about the music". Because you undergo to remember it's also about having fun having a good measure writing and performing the beat you can and above all sharing your talent and gift with others. Try to make it less of a job and more of a passion and you'll sight yourself doing it for the be of your life!
Related article:
http://nirajaopwuqhd.blogspot.com/2007/11/getting-best-performance-from-your.html
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