Preparation is Always Key
by Ivan Valles
Even though I've had more experience producing individual artists than bands, I picked this topic because I wanted to share the basic production principles involved in the production of a live band. Nowadays fewer bands seem to emerge into the music business for many reasons, but let me assure you, as a former band member, that there is nothing that can be compared to the raw power of a band performing together live and in the studio. So here are a few pointers for all producers and bands that wish to work on an album.
Preparation is Key
Always do your homework before you even think about looking for a studio. Record rehearsals or live gigs with any recorder available so that you can get an idea of which parts need to be worked on, and work on them until you are ready to hit the studio. In case you want to use loops and sequences, work on them before you attempt tracking, and practice playing with them—this will save you a lot of money and time in the studio. If you will be recording to a metronome, your drummer should be totally comfortable and practice the songs at their chosen tempos. Make sure you've chosen the right studio to work with, and make sure that the studio can handle all of the band's needs in terms of inputs, microphones and other recording gear. Ask for samples from the person who will engineer your sessions to get an idea of his/her level of proficiency.
Set Up Efficiently
Be prepared at least one day before coming to the studio. Recording should be fun, but keep in mind each hour costs money, so arrive at the studio early and make the most out of it. Set up the gear and environment so that everyone is comfortable. Have ready sets of new strings, drum sticks and heads, as well as spare ones.
Tracking Music
Normally, when producing bands, I prefer to at least record drums and bass together. Sometimes I record the whole band with each member isolated to eliminate bleed-through between the mics. When tracking the band, I first focus on getting the drums' performance and sound close to perfection. If I recorded with a click track, I will shoot several takes if necessary and edit between them. A tool on the computer can help you correct timing issues, and you should do all this before tearing down the drum set, in case you need to re-record certain parts. I then listen to the bass tracks and decide which bass tracks will be definitive and which need to be recorded again. When producing live bands, drums and bass are usually the foundation of the music, so you must make sure you have their best possible performances before moving on.
Guitar parts are now ready to be laid down. You should record the tracks that give the most support to the song first, like basic rhythms and distortions. Tune as much as possible to avoid waking up to out-of-tune guitar tracks, and use a professional precision tuner. If you have a choice of several good guitars and amplifiers, you should test them for each guitar part to figure out the best possible sound. Several plug-ins are also available for you to enhance the music with cooler effects. Tracks should be doubled if the song calls for it.
Vocal tracking plays a very important part in the overall feel of the music, so make sure you have enough studio time to record it properly. Vocalists will typically need an extra day after laying down the final vocals to perfect several parts of the songs once they've listened to the recording.
Serve the Music
Always have in mind, while recording, that recording is about emotion and feeling, so focus on getting the most out of these elements. Don't overplay your parts. Instead, play what the songs really need. Egos contribute nothing to the music creation process. So find the decisions that work as a band. On several occasions, I've even been forced to substitute a band member with a more professional musician. Even though you should use this as a last resort, be aware that someone who is not contributing to the music being made will only slow you down and thus affect the final result, so address this issue with the band members as early as possible to get a consensus on what needs to be done in this respect.
Mixing Your Music
When mixing, everyone's feedback is important, but try to maintain an objective point of view. Guitarists, for instance, will always ask for more guitar level, while drummers will ask for more drums, etc. So try to keep the right balance and objectivity. Typically, it is good to have one spokesperson for the band to tell you their opinion on the mix. Make sure each one of the elements that is in the music comes across and contributes to the music. If there are elements that are only clouding up the mix, don't be afraid to eliminate them. Always listen to mixes with fresh and rested ears.
