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Twelve Steps to Recording

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Recording your first demo is essential to the development of any young artist. It's the ultimate reference to your sound/style/attitude. There are many ways to approach your first recording, these are a few tips that should make the recording a successful experience.

1. Establish who the tape is aimed at (record companies or venues/promoters). If it's a record company it needs to sound like a marketable product, if it's for a venue/promoter, it needs to sound like the best gig you've ever done.

2. Decide where you are going to do the recording (budget and availability will go towards determining this) meet the engineer and find out what other work she/he has done before.

3. Familiarise yourself with what the recording process is. (what is multi-tracking? What is an overdub? Can we play to a click? What is a click?

4. Record yourself rehearsing before you go into a studio situation, a portable cassette will do. (Now you have a reference to give the engineer)

5. Know what you want to sound like (bring reference CDs i.e. "I like the guitar sound on this" or "the drum sound on this is what I want". This can save hours of unnecessary time wasting).

6. How many songs do you include on your tape? Three songs is more then adequate, avoid the fifteen minute masterpiece ...a demonstration [DEMO] is all that's usually required.

7. Ensure that the songs chosen are well rehearsed and the structure/arrangement of the songs are familiar to all members of the group.

8. Have a copy of the lyrics/arrangement (of all songs) for the engineer recording the session.

9. Find out what the studio charge for the master tapes. (sometimes it's cheaper to purchase your own).

10. Always bring your own D.AT.. Some studios do not provide these tapes, if you want a cassette copy, bring your own cassettes (it's a recording studio, not a music supply shop!)

11. Do a thorough check on all instruments needed for the session. Re-string and set-up any stringed instruments, re-skin and re-tune drums, check all FX for batteries/ correct power supplies, have a spare set of batteries, guitar leads and straps, always have two good quality electronic tuners.

12. Come to the studio a little before the session and ensure that all members turn up on time.