Recording Handbook - Hol.gr

Finally, it just feels good. It's validating: "Yes, I really AM a musician, not just some boob
with a guitar."
1.2) Why should my band record in a studio?
One word: QUALITY. Even the worst studio can give you a product that is FAR better than a
four-track. Mind you, I'm not disrespecting the shoestring demo; almost every band records a
practice and shops clubs with the tape. In fact, recording practices is a great way to prepare for the
studio.
If you just want something to practice against, don't go to a studio; it's too expensive for something
you're only going to practice your wicked licks with. But if anyone else is going to listen to your
music, it needs to be something that doesn't have room noise, airplanes flying over (Led Zeppelin's
Black Country Woman notwithstanding), noise, and muddy drums.
If you haven't been to a studio, you may not be aware of the things that they can do with sound --
it's pretty amazing.
1.3) What is the general process involved in recording?
There are 7 stages: Deciding, Preparing, Recording, Overdubbing, Mixing, Mastering, and
Reproducing. (If you're with a label or have high aspirations, add Distribution at the end.)
Deciding: This is where you pick a format (CD/Tape), a length (two-song demo, five-song EP,
nine- to fourteen song project, twenty- to thirty- song double CD), songs, a studio, possibly a
producer and/or engineer, and a duplicator.
Preparing: This is where you practice, over and over and over again. Then you get together your
recording money, get your gear in shape, and book time. Then practice some more.
Recording: This is the time you actually spend in the soundproofed room, crooning, picking,
slapping, shaking, and doing that thing you do. Compared with the time invested in everything
else, it's woefully short. It's also the most fun.
Mixing: Once everything is tracked (put down on master tape), it needs to be prepared for
mastering. Everything is made to sound just right, noise is subtracted, reverb is added, and
everything ends up on a DAT.
Mastering: This is an optional (author's opinion: mandatory) step where engineers at the
reproducer run your tape through the appropriate filter for the format (CD, vinyl, or tape). The
dynamic range may be compressed or expanded, the whole mix is EQ'd, and everything ends up on
another medium. This may be DAT or hard disk (for CD, vinyl, or tape), or 1/4" tape (for
cassettes).
Reproducing: For CD's, they take the final master tape/disk and create a "glass master", the glass
disc that is the mirror-image of your CD. This is used to press the plastic for the CD. Cassettes are
reproduced by bin-loop, where they take the 1/4" master tape, make several copies, string them
together, and use that to feed a cassette-duplication machine. I'm not sure how vinyl is pressed, but
you can ask any reproducer how it's done.
1.4) What are the pros and cons of recording a live show?
Pros: You can capture the energy of a live show. Some bands find it difficult to take the live
energy and reproduce it in the studio. You can also capture the audience response. There's less
recording time involved, only a few hours on-site.
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