United States

We have selected a recording studio.
We have voted to suspend all other projects and work on recording untill we can compile a full CD.
We have not made up our minds just how to do it however.

Would you:

(1) Record one song at a time to compile a collection of single masters that we can mix and match any way we see fit in the future.

(2) Record one song first ( You Guide My Way seems to get the most plays and attention ) then do the songs in blocks of two or three.

(3) Record a full CD for master.

The studio operator said he prefers to record full band. Mix down the music. Then have the vocalist come back in to record the vocal mix and master.

We are considering just doing one up front as our bassest is the only member of the band with any studio time and experience.

1 at a time, until all songs meet your approval unequivocally. Set each finished one to the side and then put them altogether on your 1st CD.

With luck people will hear how GOOD they all are and buy your cd, not because of 1 tune, but because the whole thing is quality work.

Most bands that come to my studio that want to do a full CD anyway, do a song with all the parts, making sure that the rhythm section is OK (drums, bass, rhythm guitar). As long as the drums are right, everything else can be retouched later (if the studio has good separation and there's no bleedover on the drum mics). When they are sure the rhythm section is right, they move on to the next, doing the same thing on that one. After doing all the songs, if they have time, they go back and work on trouble spots as a whole band with everyone's input. Usually if one of the members has a tougher schedule, they work on getting his parts down then. That way, if someone has to come back later to work on parts, it's someone who has a looser schedule and more time. There's no right or wrong way to do studio work, just think it out and make the most of your money.

One at a time, for me, too. Get the basics down, at least, for each tune, then go back & tweak where needed, or add your sweetenings, later, with a fresh ear. It's perfectly alright to get the band recorded doing the basic tracks down for more than one song, if you're up to it, but don't try to complete too much at one sitting. Invariably, when you come back later, you'll hear things you would have done differently or better. Don't get too caught up in the sweeteners, though. I've heard too many recordings that ended up overproduced & junked up with too much stuff.

YEP, never produce that which cannot be reproduced LIVE.

That's just a scam and people will get pissed.

VERY GOOD NEWS! My opinion on recording: First learn all the songs you want to record TO PERFECTION. Know EXACTLY every part of EVERY song you want to record. Find a professional studio technician who knows their sh*t backwards and forwards. Tell them exactly what you want each song to sound like. You may want more reverb on some songs, less on othres, you may want to double track the lead vocals on some songs, etc. Figure out BEOFRE you get to the studio what your vision is for EACH song. Visit with the technician and go over what your vision is for EACH song. He (or she) might suggest a DIFFERENT approach for recording different songs. You might want more of a live feel on some. The entire band could be recorded together (with each instrument isolated) and then go back later and redo the vocals or certain individual parts. Some other songs might be better done putting down just the bass and drums first, then layering everything in separately. You have a vision for every tune and you all should get together BEFORE studio work and come to a consensus on what you want EVERY song to sound like. Don't let the technician dictate to you what he (or she) thinks the songs should sound like. This is YOUR band. These are YOUR songs. A pro tech should listen to YOU and help you achieve your goals...

amen bob..

I love it when people are so much more anal about the recording than I am, thus I sweat it less and just stress about playing it correctly..

IF YOU EVER leave a recording and you don't like what was done, that's a major slight especially if you paid $ for it.

That's a yelling/screaming moment there to be sure.

Thanks for the input gents.
We (the band) have already decided what we want from a recording.
We want a good representation of what you would hear if you were standing in front of us live. In a better quality of recording than we have been able to produce ourselves.

It's kinda scary, and exciting at the same time.
Hard for me to believe we have come to this point in just two years.

George, I firmly believe in laying down rhythm tracks and then coming back another day to complete them. Try to do as many as you can (5 or 6 seems to be an average number most bands shoot for). As was mentioned, just make sure the bass and drums arrangement is solid for each track, the guitars and vocals can be added/perfected later. I don't advise recording just one song.

As was mentioned, just make sure the bass and drums arrangement is solid for each track, the guitars and vocals can be added/perfected later.

Also, most studios would be glad to quick mix copies of the rhythm tracks for band members to take home and work on their vocals and solos so they can be more ready when they come in to put them down. All ya gotta do is ask.

Rehearse every song you have until the beginnings and ends are perfect.
Not "pretty good."
Not even 'very good.'
Practice it until it's excellent.
If it's not excellent now, then practice, practice, practice - until everyone can play the entire song with excellence.
Make the beginnings and especially the ends of all your songs perfect.
A word to the wise:
You just may have to redefine your idea of perfect.
There's tons of bands who get in the recording studio who think they have everything all worked out.
Then they spend 2 or 3 hours trying to record a 4 minute song.
Practice the song until you are sick of hearing it.
Practice it until it's nearly impossible for you to screw up.
Then - chances are that when you get in the studio, you won't mess up.
Pray that one of your band mates doesn't screw up the entire song when you're on a roll . . .
.
Make 5 songs perfect in practice.
Then I'd plan on recording 2 songs.
A big part of a recording is setting up the equipment and getting everything balanced just as you want it.
.
Once you've got everything perfect - you won't have to set it all up again for the next song you want to record.
Why wait a week and have to go through all the sound set-up again?
If you practiced as much as you should before even walking into the studio, then you might have enough time to cut several songs.

The first time I ever went into the studio with a band, we were on a budget and had 6 originals to record and we worked them up to perfection. But we also wanted some cover songs for a demo tape to give to club owners, but usually they don't listen to the whole song anyway, so we had rehearsed short versions of them (intro, verse, chorus, lead, end). After getting all the originals recorded to satisfaction, we told the studio guy that we had some covers to record. We went through each one as we had practiced them and nailed them all in single takes. When we finished, the recording guy was grinning from ear to ear and said that he had never had a band that had worked up short versions of songs like that. They always recorded the whole song and then had him cut out parts to make them short. He thought we really had studio savvy, but, truth is, we were just poor.

Rehearse every song you have until the beginnings and ends are perfect.
Not "pretty good."
Not even 'very good.'
Practice it until it's excellent.
If it's not excellent now, then practice, practice, practice - until everyone can play the entire song with excellence.
Make the beginnings and especially the ends of all your songs perfect.
A word to the wise:
You just may have to redefine your idea of perfect.
There's tons of bands who get in the recording studio who think they have everything all worked out.
Then they spend 2 or 3 hours trying to record a 4 minute song.
Practice the song until you are sick of hearing it.
Practice it until it's nearly impossible for you to screw up.
Then - chances are that when you get in the studio, you won't mess up.
Pray that one of your band mates doesn't screw up the entire song when you're on a roll . . .
.
Make 5 songs perfect in practice.
Then I'd plan on recording 2 songs.
A big part of a recording is setting up the equipment and getting everything balanced just as you want it.
.
Once you've got everything perfect - you won't have to set it all up again for the next song you want to record.
Why wait a week and have to go through all the sound set-up again?
If you practiced as much as you should before even walking into the studio, then you might have enough time to cut several songs.

This guy Alan knows what he's talking about. Thought it would be a good idea to quote it so y'all read it again..

I don't advise recording just one song.

Me either.. I would say 3-song minimum for a demo.

I'm listening !!

Thanks for the input dudes.