Preparation should be a high priority for artists headed into
the studio. The material that is to be recorded should be
well rehearsed. If you are in a band make sure all members
are comfortable with their parts. Take after take after take
not only costs you time and money, but it stifles the creative
process, often taking away that "magic" moment. Be
comfortable with your material prior to the recording session
to allow yourself room for creative expression.
Be on Time
Sound Check
Tracking
Mix Down
Mastering
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
COME PREPARED!!
Your recording session begins at the scheduled time you
have blocked. There is a grace period but we need to be
contacted if you are running late. We realize that problems
do arise and if you need to reschedule then we ask for 24
hours notice. If early set up times or extended sessions
are needed we will work around your schedule if it is at all
possible. Any special needs should be mentioned when
your time is booked to make sure this is a convenient
creative process for all involved.
Please be aware of the time it takes for the initial sound check.
Be comfortable with your guitar tone, bass tone, drum heads,
cymbals etc. This is one of the most crucial phases in the
recording process. Here at the Pit, we do not have a "fix it later
in the mix" policy. Problems and tone should be taken care of
during the soundcheck and NOT the mix down.
You can paint crap a different color, but in the end it is still crap.
During this process we will start fine-tuning everything to what
YOU think sounds good. We record you the way YOU want to
be recorded. We will give input and suggestions, but we are
basically there to interpret your ideas and make the
engineering process simple and understandable.
After the initial soundcheck is completed, we will begin the tracking
process. This step of the recording process can move very quickly or
very slowly based on the musician’s performance. If the artist is well
rehearsed, the tracking can go very quickly. Drums are generally the
most time consuming due to the precision and difficulty some drummers
have playing with a click track. At the Pit, we encourage the use of a
click track both for the smoothness of the recording and the benefits
during the mixing and editing process.
We generally start with Drums, then bass, then rhythm tracks such as
guitar, piano, synth, organ etc, then move on to lead vocal and solo
instruments. Sometimes lead vocal and solo instruments play off each
other so the nature of the song generally dictates the order of the two.
We usually finish up the tracking with backup vocals and ad-lib lead
vocal and solo instrumentation.
Sometimes we find magic in the first take, but it may take any number of
tries before we get it right. During tracking the on-site producer(s) will be
available to assist you and offer advice on “getting it right” the way you
want it. Don’t forget…we are here to help YOU achieve your vision.
process. This step of the recording process can move very quickly or
very slowly based on the musician’s performance. If the artist is well
rehearsed, the tracking can go very quickly. Drums are generally the
most time consuming due to the precision and difficulty some drummers
have playing with a click track. At the Pit, we encourage the use of a
click track both for the smoothness of the recording and the benefits
during the mixing and editing process.
We generally start with Drums, then bass, then rhythm tracks such as
guitar, piano, synth, organ etc, then move on to lead vocal and solo
instruments. Sometimes lead vocal and solo instruments play off each
other so the nature of the song generally dictates the order of the two.
We usually finish up the tracking with backup vocals and ad-lib lead
vocal and solo instrumentation.
Sometimes we find magic in the first take, but it may take any number of
tries before we get it right. During tracking the on-site producer(s) will be
available to assist you and offer advice on “getting it right” the way you
want it. Don’t forget…we are here to help YOU achieve your vision.
There are several stages we go through at GuitarPit Studios when it
comes to the mix down. Artist or band input is always welcome at any
stage of the process; however keep in mind that “too many chiefs”
usually ends up in more time and more cost for you.
It is generally best to leave the initial mix to the engineer and producer.
The engineer and producer will be thorough in determining from the artist
the expectations of the mix, i.e. Big Guitars, Big Vocals, Big Drums, etc.
Sometimes the client may be asked to review certain elements of the mix
in the early stages, but generally a “rough mix” will be produced for the
artist to critique and make suggestions for the fine-tuning so we can
achieve EXACTLY what the artist envisions. This may take several
attempts, but being careful to cross every T and dot every I at this point
is very important.
Once the artist is happy with the basic mix (including panning, effects,
EQ, etc.) it is time for the final stage…Mastering
comes to the mix down. Artist or band input is always welcome at any
stage of the process; however keep in mind that “too many chiefs”
usually ends up in more time and more cost for you.
It is generally best to leave the initial mix to the engineer and producer.
The engineer and producer will be thorough in determining from the artist
the expectations of the mix, i.e. Big Guitars, Big Vocals, Big Drums, etc.
Sometimes the client may be asked to review certain elements of the mix
in the early stages, but generally a “rough mix” will be produced for the
artist to critique and make suggestions for the fine-tuning so we can
achieve EXACTLY what the artist envisions. This may take several
attempts, but being careful to cross every T and dot every I at this point
is very important.
Once the artist is happy with the basic mix (including panning, effects,
EQ, etc.) it is time for the final stage…Mastering
Mastering is basically where we fine tune the recording through
equalization and audio level compression. More tasks such as editing,
pre-gapping, leveling, fading in and out, noise reduction and other signal
restoration and enhancement processes may occur at this stage,
however the process usually goes as follows:
Adjust volumes.
Edit minor flaws.
Apply noise reductoin to eliminate hum and hiss.
Peak Limit the tracks.
Dynamic compression.
Dynamic expansion.
Adjust stereo "width".
Add ambience.
Equalize audio between tracks
GuitarPit Studios offers these services as part of the recording package
at the same rate as the other stages, however we have several agencies
that we may recommend. See our Links Page for more details.
See? Easy as Pie! Don’t worry. Although these steps may sound a bit
intimidating, remember. Everyone here at the Pit is here to help. We will
guide you through with ease, and the results will be amazing!
equalization and audio level compression. More tasks such as editing,
pre-gapping, leveling, fading in and out, noise reduction and other signal
restoration and enhancement processes may occur at this stage,
however the process usually goes as follows:
Adjust volumes.
Edit minor flaws.
Apply noise reductoin to eliminate hum and hiss.
Peak Limit the tracks.
Dynamic compression.
Dynamic expansion.
Adjust stereo "width".
Add ambience.
Equalize audio between tracks
GuitarPit Studios offers these services as part of the recording package
at the same rate as the other stages, however we have several agencies
that we may recommend. See our Links Page for more details.
See? Easy as Pie! Don’t worry. Although these steps may sound a bit
intimidating, remember. Everyone here at the Pit is here to help. We will
guide you through with ease, and the results will be amazing!
The Process
