Oxtrack Studio - Preparing for your session

Getting ready for your first session

The best thing you can do to prepare for a recording session is to come prepared and relaxed.

Obviously, it helps if you bring your instruments along with you (and your accessories - a drummer without sticks is a ???) but more important still is the need to be well-rehearsed in the songs or pieces to be recorded. It is perfectly possible to use a studio as a practice room or to polish your arrangements but it's best left until you have your own studio. When it's someone else's studio you're using you'll usually run out of time or money long before you are ready to record the first note.

Read the advice on the following pages on how best to prepare yourself and your instruments for the session. You will also find it a great help to take a little time to read through the notes on the following pages on studio techniques and operating practices along with the hints and tips on how to give your best performance.

What’s that noise?

Recording microphones are very sensitive to the slightest rustle or tiniest tinkle of sound. The most practical clothing most performers can wear is a track suit or similar loose-fitting, comfortable garment. Please avoid fabrics that rustle or swish. Jewellery should also be left at home – charm bracelets don’t usually clink in time with the music and earrings are usually impractical and sometimes uncomfortable when you have to wear tight fitting headphones. Whatever instrument you play, please take the time to ensure that your belt buckle, cuff-links, buttons, watch-strap or necklace is not likely to add unintentional and unwanted noise to your performance.

If you have a mobile phone, alarm watch, computer game or anything that makes a noise or might interfere with the recording equipment, make sure it is turned off or left outside the studio.

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Last modified: 30 July, 2002