Preparing for Your Session

Guitars and Basses

Bring your own instruments to the sessions. For electric guitar players, be sure to bring your own guitar and amplifier, and also pre-amps and effects. It is nearly impossible to get the sound you want on different equipment from what you normally use. Bass players normally don’t need to bring anything other than their guitars.

Be sure to put new strings on your guitars one or two days before your session so they have time to stretch out. Also, tune your guitars several times so that they get used to being at the correct pitch.

Keyboardists

Bring your own keyboard and keyboard stand. Make sure you also bring your owner’s manual, power supply and accessories. Even though HOP Studios has a number of midi gear and voice modules available, we recommend using your own sounds as it will be much faster to set up and record.

Drummers

Bring your own sets. Make sure the heads on your drum set are fairly new, and the pedals don’t squeak. Microphones will be very close to each drum and the smallest rattle or buzz will ruin a take. Be prepared to spend up to two hours for drum set-up and tuning. Allowing time for this at the beginning will certainly payoff at the end of the project.

Vocalists

Know your songs! If you have back-up singers, have them practice with the lead vocalists so that their pronunciation and intonation is the same. Practice entrances and cutoffs of notes. The lead vocalist should direct the cutoffs.

For All Involved

Know your music completely! Your recording will be so much better if you are well prepared. Remember, the studio is not a place for you to be practicing – do that at home. The best sounding recordings are generally those that are best prepared.

Inviting friends to ‘watch’ the recording is a distraction to all and should be avoided.