Step into the Studio for the First Time with Confidence
Confidence is key not only in the booth but throughout the entire recording process. Go into your studio session feeling like you own the room – because you do! This is your time, and your audio engineer is there to help you make the best song. Staying confident can be the difference between a soft, shaky take and a proud, bold recording of your vocals.
Here are some ways to stay confident while recording your first song:
If this is your first time in a recording studio, it can feel overwhelming to think about what it will be like. You know you have lyrics and some inspirational songs for what you’re going for. That’s great!
But how do you actually show up to the studio, and more importantly, how do you stay confident when you record?
Practice. Makes. Perfect!
The recording studio is not the place to be practicing your vocals or run through guitar riffs. Practice your parts long before stepping into the studio. Not only will you feel more confident recording your parts, but you’ll have a better understanding of how the song will progress, keeping the courage to give it all you’ve got.
If you are unsure of how to best practice for the recording studio, talk to your audio engineer to help guide you toward the best ways to practice.
2. Understand the Arrangement of the Song.
What is the arrangement of a song? Arrangement is the tempo, melodic rhythms, key, harmony, genre, groove, form, and instrumentation – all of which are important to creating a smooth, cohesive song.
Knowing the arrangement of the song will keep you on track during the recording session. If you are working with someone else on your product, talk to them about these important elements. Ask them about the structure of the song:
Intro
Verse
Buildup
Chorus
Breakdown
Drop
Outro
If you are the solo artist on the product, write these down with your lyrics. Understand other elements of the arrangement that you need in your product to have success.
3. Be prepared for changes before and during the session.
Ideally, you will go into your studio session with everything ready to go. However, your product may need changes up until studio recording – and that’s okay!
If you have changes to your piece, be sure to note them and know exactly what changes need to be made before stepping in. But there’s more to just knowing what changes you want to make.
More importantly, know why you want to make those changes.
The audio engineer will happily work with you to make the changes you need, but even more important is knowing your reason behind the change. Remember, if you are open to changes, your audio engineer may have some ideas themselves. Ask them for their thoughts, if you are open to it.
4. Tell Your Audio Engineer You’re Nervous
Audio engineers work with artists from a variety of backgrounds every day. They have worked with everyone from first-time singer-songwriters to decades-long professionals! They have seen it all. There are even horror stories from audio engineers who worked on celebrity songs!
Talk to your audio engineer if you are nervous about a particular part of the recording session. If you have never been in the studio before, ask to see the space before you record.
Ask where the bathroom is.
Know where to get water.
Know how often you’ll be able to break.
Ask your audio engineer any questions you can think of that may help ease your nerves. They have seen it all, so be sure to go into the studio with your head high, and it will help make a great product.
If you want a good laugh and feel more confident in the booth, watch celebrities have good and bad runs in the booth and live. Remember, we all mess up from time to time.
Confidence is key when entering the studio for the first time. Not only does courage make you a more professional artist, but it can increase the quality of your product. By practicing before your session, knowing important arrangement elements of your product, and having all of your changes ready to go – and why you want them – you’ll feel more prepared when you’re first studio session arrives.